Frequently Asked Questions

Each Member's biography page contains addresses, telephone numbers (constituency and office) and fax numbers, and an email address. Just click on the Members link on the main menu, then on the photograph of the Member you wish to contact.

The Public is welcome to stop by. The Legislative Assembly building is located right in downtown Iqaluit, building #926. Members of the public may sit in the Public Gallery to observe the proceedings in the Legislative Chamber at any time the House is sitting. Contact Public Affairs by phone (867) 975-5000 or email leginfo@assembly.nu.ca to find out when the next sitting will be.

Free tours of the Legislative Assembly are available throughout the year by appointment. Call 975-5000 for more information.

The Orders of the Day is the official agenda of the House. Published by the Office of the Clerk for each sitting day, it is also an overview of the status of business before the Legislature for that day.

The role of a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) can be described in two ways. 1. MLA acts as a spokesperson for the people in his/her constituency. 2. The Member acts as a representative of his/her constituencies, acting in sound judgment to defend their interests. MLAs play a critical role in keeping the people of their constituencies informed of the work undertaken by the government, and, on the other hand, of keeping the government informed of their constituencies' needs and reactions to the current issues facing the government. Members of the Legislative Assembly contribute to the legislative process through debate in the Legislative Assembly, by introducing their own bills, and by participating in the committee system. Standing and Special Committee activities have become a major part of Members' responsibilities.

Standing and Special Committees of the Legislative Assembly are formed to focus on various issues in greater detail than can be done in the House. Procedural rules in the committees are much more flexible than those of the Legislative Assembly, and committee members are allowed to hear the views and explanations of Ministers, officials, and other interested parties. Standing Committees fulfill three important functions: the study of legislation, the examination of policy issues and the review of government spending proposals. Standing Committees deal with Assembly business of a continuing nature. Special Committees may be created to undertake special tasks. Special Committees gather information and public input on particular issues or subjects and report to the Assembly, which debates and either adopts or changes their recommendations.

The Cabinet (or executive council) is selected by Members of the Legislative Assembly from within their own ranks. The Members of the Legislative Assembly meet in a forum known as the Nunavut Leadership Forum. Within this forum, Members nominate one another to the Executive council, then each nominated Member has the opportunity to speak briefly before the Assembly. A secret ballot is then held to finalize the selection of the Executive Council.

The Clerk of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut is John Quirke.

In 12th century, the role of the Sergeant-at-Arms was to protect the King or Queen by using the mace as a weapon. Today, the Sergeant-at-Arms is in charge of ceremonially carrying the mace into and out of the chamber at opening and closing of each sitting day. He or she is also responsible for safeguarding the mace, keeping order in the Public Gallery, directing Pages, ensuring the security of the chamber, and protecting Members and staff.

The Commissioner of Nunavut is The Honourable Nellie T. Kusugak

Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun and English are the primary languages spoken within the House. French is also an official language of Nunavut and may also be spoken in the House.

The creation of Nunavut was the result of over thirty years of hard work on the part of individuals, organizations and government, united by a vision and by their determination to realize a dream. The concept of dividing the NWT dates back to the 1950s when non-aboriginals in the Mackenzie Valley in the western part of the NWT pushed to divide the territory, arguing the move would allow the West to move more rapidly to responsible government. The idea to split the Northwest Territories into two territories was first introduced as a bill in the federal House of Commons in 1963. The bill was, at this time, however, cancelled after the first reading. In 1971, the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (ITC) was formed with the responsibility to pursue and negotiate a land claims agreement with the federal government for the Inuit of Northern Canada. In 1973, Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (ITC) began a study of Inuit land use and occupancy, which formed the geographic basis for the new territory. Three years later, ITC formally proposed the creation of a Nunavut Territory. The argument for creating two new territories in Canada's North centered around the desire of people in Nunavut to have their own government, one that is closer to the people and more culturally-based, including the use of Inuktitut as the working language of the new government. In 1982, the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut (TFN) was incorporated to pursue land claims negotiations on behalf of the Inuit of Nunavut, taking the mandate from the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. In a boundary plebiscite, 56% of voters in the Northwest Territories voted in favour of creating Nunavut on April 14, 1982 and in November of that year, the Canadian government announced that Nunavut would be created. On May 14, 1992, the majority of N.W.T. residents voted in favour of the proposed boundary between Nunavut and the Western Arctic. The Inuit of Nunavut ratified the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement in November of 1992. Subsequently, the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement was signed by the Prime Minister of Canada on May 25, 1993 in Iqaluit, and passed through the Canadian Parliament in June of the same year. The $1.1 billion Nunavut Land Claims Settlement Agreement was proclaimed at a special ceremony in Kugluktuk on July 9, 1993. As part of the Nunavut Act, the Government of Canada agreed to provide $150-Million to cover the costs associated with the creation of Nunavut. The Territory of Nunavut was created on April 1, 1999. New boundaries were drawn in Canada's North created two new territories, a new NWT and Nunavut (which means "our land" in Inuktitut). With this change, the map of Canada was redrawn for the first time since 1949, when Newfoundland joined confederation.