5th Northwest Territories Legislative Council
Encyclopedia
The 5th Northwest Territories Legislative Council was the 12th assembly of the territorial government. This council's members were elected and appointed in the 1964 general election
and served until it was dissolved for the 1967 general election
. He left office on January 16, 1967 and was replaced by Deputy Commissioner Stuart Milton Hodgson
on March 2, 1967.
The Deputy Commissioner at the beginning of the council was Wilfred G. Brown who left office on July 23, 1965. He was replaced by Hodgson in that role who then went on to replace Sivertz as Commissioner. Hodgson was replaced by John Havelock Parker who served as Deputy Commissioner from March 2, 1967 until dissolution.
.
The council also passed two motions without debate, the first introduced by appointed member Frank Vallee that called for an amendment to the Northwest Territories Act to increase council representation to 13 men with expansion of electoral districts to the east arctic. A second motion introduced by Robert Poritt called on the federal government to drop its plans to divide the Northwest Territories into two territories.
commencing on October 31, 1966. The session included the new eastern arctic members of the council that had been elected in the September by-elections. This session was the first time since 1905 that elected members held a majority.
A set of three historic by-elections took place on September 19, 1966. The Carrothers Commission
recommended that electoral districts be established in the eastern arctic which had previously been unrepresented in council and disenfranchised from territorial voting.
The result was the creation of three electoral districts; Central Arctic, Eastern Arctic and Keewatin. A by-election was held on September 19, 1966. Only Eastern Arctic was contested which resulted in the first elected Inuit to serve on council who won in a three way race. It would also mark the first time since elections were established in 1881 that the entire Northwest Territories had representation on council.
Northwest Territories general election, 1964
The Northwest Territories general election, of 1964 took place on March 31, 1964. This was the tenth general election in the history of the Canadian Northwest Territories.-Appointed members:-Elected members:...
and served until it was dissolved for the 1967 general election
Northwest Territories general election, 1967
The Northwest Territories general election of 1967 took place on July 4, 1967. This was the 11th general election in the history of the Northwest Territories....
Leadership
The incumbent Commissioner of the territory at the beginning of the council was Bent Gestur SivertzBent Gestur Sivertz
Bent Gestur Sivertz, O.B.E., B.A. was a Canadian sailor, teacher, soldier, and civil servant.He was Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from July 12, 1963 to January 16, 1967....
. He left office on January 16, 1967 and was replaced by Deputy Commissioner Stuart Milton Hodgson
Stuart Milton Hodgson
Stuart Milton Hodgson, OC was Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from 1967 March 2 until 1979 April 6...
on March 2, 1967.
The Deputy Commissioner at the beginning of the council was Wilfred G. Brown who left office on July 23, 1965. He was replaced by Hodgson in that role who then went on to replace Sivertz as Commissioner. Hodgson was replaced by John Havelock Parker who served as Deputy Commissioner from March 2, 1967 until dissolution.
First session
The first session of the 5th Council resulted in Royal Assent for 15 bills. Among the legislation was a $75 per month Old Age Pension allowance with additional living subsides for disabled persons. A bill that allowed commercial sports to be played on Sunday, a bill appropriating $210,000 from the federal government to fund a first mortgage housing program and an increase in big game hunting quota's for the Mackenzie DistrictMackenzie District
Mackenzie District is a political district in New Zealand's South Island. It is part of the larger Canterbury Region.-Principal settlements:*Fairlie*Twizel*Cave*Mount Cook Village*Albury*TekapoAlso*Burkes Pass-Geography:See Mackenzie Basin,...
.
The council also passed two motions without debate, the first introduced by appointed member Frank Vallee that called for an amendment to the Northwest Territories Act to increase council representation to 13 men with expansion of electoral districts to the east arctic. A second motion introduced by Robert Poritt called on the federal government to drop its plans to divide the Northwest Territories into two territories.
Third session
The third session was held in Resolute BayResolute Bay, Nunavut
Resolute Bay, Nunavut may refer to:*Resolute Bay a rocket launching site*Resolute, Nunavut, a common misnaming of the community*Resolute Bay Airport, the airport that serves the community...
commencing on October 31, 1966. The session included the new eastern arctic members of the council that had been elected in the September by-elections. This session was the first time since 1905 that elected members held a majority.
Appointments
| Date | Name | Appointed on the advice of | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 1965 | Stuart Milton Hodgson Stuart Milton Hodgson Stuart Milton Hodgson, OC was Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from 1967 March 2 until 1979 April 6... |
Appointed Deputy Commissioner | ||
| October 18, 1965 | Abraham Okpik Abe Okpik Abe "Abraham" Okpik, CM was an Inuit community leader in Canada. He instrumental in helping Inuit obtain surnames rather than disc numbers... |
Lester Pearson | First Inuit member of the Council | |
| March 2, 1967 | John Havelock Parker John Havelock Parker John Havelock Parker, OC was Commissioner of the Canadian Northwest Territories from April 15, 1979 to July 31, 1989. He had previously been Deputy Commissioner of Northwest Territories from 1967 to 1979.... |
Appointed Deputy Commissioner |
By-elections
| Date | District | Member | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 19, 1966 | Central Arctic Central Arctic The Central Arctic was an electoral district of the Northwest Territories, Canada created in 1966 and abolished in 1983. The district consisted of Pelly Bay, Spence Bay, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay, Bathurst Inlet, Bay Chimo, Coppermine and Holman. For the 1983 election Holman was moved to the... |
Duncan Pryde Duncan Pryde Duncan Pryde was a hunter, trapper, lexicographer and politician from Northwest Territories, Canada. He served as a member of the Northwest Territories Council from 1966 to 1975.-Early life:... |
New electoral district |
| September 19, 1966 | Eastern Arctic | Simonie Michael | New electoral district |
| September 19, 1966 | Keewatin | Robert Williamson | New electoral district |
A set of three historic by-elections took place on September 19, 1966. The Carrothers Commission
Carrothers Commission
The Carrothers Commission, formally The Advisory Commission on the Development of Government in the Northwest Territories, was a commission set up by the government of Canada to study the future of government of the Northwest Territories. It was led by A.W.R...
recommended that electoral districts be established in the eastern arctic which had previously been unrepresented in council and disenfranchised from territorial voting.
The result was the creation of three electoral districts; Central Arctic, Eastern Arctic and Keewatin. A by-election was held on September 19, 1966. Only Eastern Arctic was contested which resulted in the first elected Inuit to serve on council who won in a three way race. It would also mark the first time since elections were established in 1881 that the entire Northwest Territories had representation on council.