Elections Nunavut
Encyclopedia
Elections Nunavut is an independent agency that oversees elections and plebiscites in Nunavut
, including:
The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut appoints the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), who is the head of Elections Nunavut. It is headquartered in Rankin Inlet. The CEO appoints a returning officer
and assistant returning officer in each Nunavut constituency to oversee the election process in that constituency. A returning officer represents Elections Nunavut in each of the 19 constituencies.
Elections Nunavut has a commitment to provide user-friendly resources and information in plain language
, and offers services in English
, French
, and Inuktitut
.
in 1999.
. Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) belong to no political party and voting isn’t based on party politics. Nunavummiut (the people of Nunavut) elect each of their MLAs as an independent representative. The MLAs vote for and form the government from among themselves.
Soon after each general election the MLAs elect one of their Members to be Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
and another to be Premier of Nunavut
. They also elect from among themselves the Members of Cabinet that form the government. The Cabinet are a minority in the Legislature, so the majority of MLAs must agree upon and approve any legislative decision.
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, including:
- all general elections and by-elections for the 19 Members of the Legislative Assembly of NunavutLegislative Assembly of NunavutThe Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Canada, is located in Iqaluit, and is the territory's parliament.The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, on 7 October 2002, during her Golden Jubilee tour of Canada...
, according to the Nunavut Elections Act. - all plebiscites conducted according to Nunavut’s Plebiscites Act.
- any plebiscites that relate to the control or prohibition of liquor in Nunavut communities, according to Nunavut’s Liquor Act, and when the Minister of Finance requests.
The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut appoints the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), who is the head of Elections Nunavut. It is headquartered in Rankin Inlet. The CEO appoints a returning officer
Returning Officer
In various parliamentary systems, a returning officer is responsible for overseeing elections in one or more constituencies.-Australia:In Australia a returning officer is an employee of the Australian Electoral Commission or a State Electoral Commission who heads the local divisional office...
and assistant returning officer in each Nunavut constituency to oversee the election process in that constituency. A returning officer represents Elections Nunavut in each of the 19 constituencies.
Services
Elections Nunavut’s main services are to:- Administer elections in a fair, transparent, and accountable manner.
- Provide public education about the electoral process, in all of Nunavut’s official languages.
- Maintain an up-to-date electronic voter registration database and voters list.
- Develop and distribute information and forms for voters and candidates.
- Develop and provide training and manuals for election officers.
- Oversee the work of all election officers during elections.
- Publish and distribute maps, election returns and reports, candidate financial information, and annual reports.
- Maintain a comprehensive website and provide easy access to election information and resources.
- Support the work of the Nunavut Electoral Boundaries Commission.
- Cooperate with other jurisdictions to improve election services.
Elections Nunavut has a commitment to provide user-friendly resources and information in plain language
Plain language
Plain language is clear, succinct writing designed to ensure the reader understands as quickly and completely as possible.Plain language strives to be easy to read, understand, and use. It avoids verbose, convoluted language and jargon...
, and offers services in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and Inuktitut
Inuktitut
Inuktitut or Eastern Canadian Inuktitut, Eastern Canadian Inuit language is the name of some of the Inuit languages spoken in Canada...
.
History
Elections Nunavut started its work in 2000, following the first Nunavut general electionNunavut general election, 1999
Nunavut, Canada conducted its first general election on 15 February 1999, to elect the members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.Although Nunavut did not become a territory until 1 April 1999 the election was held early to enable the members to assume their duties on that date.The territory...
in 1999.
Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut is a public government and operates on the consensus modelConsensus government
Consensus government is a form of consensus democracy government in Canada in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, as well as Nunatsiavut, an autonomous area in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador....
. Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) belong to no political party and voting isn’t based on party politics. Nunavummiut (the people of Nunavut) elect each of their MLAs as an independent representative. The MLAs vote for and form the government from among themselves.
Soon after each general election the MLAs elect one of their Members to be Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut is the presiding officer of the territorial legislature. Since 1999 the position has been elected by Members of the Legislative Assembly using a secret ballot. -List of speakers:...
and another to be Premier of Nunavut
Premier of Nunavut
The Premier of Nunavut is the first minister for the Canadian territory of Nunavut. They are the territory's head of government and de facto chief executive, although their powers are considerably smaller than that of a provincial premier....
. They also elect from among themselves the Members of Cabinet that form the government. The Cabinet are a minority in the Legislature, so the majority of MLAs must agree upon and approve any legislative decision.