Nunavut

The idea of creating a new territory in Canada's Far North goes back to 1976. In that year, the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, the national political organization representing the Inuit, proposed this approach as part of a comprehensive settlement of the land claim of the Inuit in the Northwest Territories. The goal was then to provide the Inuit with a territory within which their economic, political and cultural rights would be protected. In 1992, the Inuit residing within the boundaries proposed for Nunavut voted to accept a land claim agreement with the federal government. Nearly 85% of the voting Inuit accepted the agreement. Since April 1, 1999, Nunavut has had its own public government that serves all the residents of the territory, 85% of whom are Inuit.

Elected for a four-year term, the Nunavut government has 19 members in its legislative assembly. These representatives of the people sit as independent members, since there are no political parties in this territory. Like its counterpart in the Northwest Territories, the Nunavut legislature operates on the principle of consensus. The Cabinet consists of seven ministers and a premier, who is chosen by the members of the legislature. Since there are 10 departments, some ministers manage more than one portfolio.