List of premiers of the Northwest Territories
The Premier of the Northwest Territories is a title given to the head of government in the Northwest Territories of Canada when the territory is using an elected system of responsible government. Throughout its history, the territory has been governed by various combinations of locally elected governments and administrators appointed by the federal government of Canada.
Upon creation, the Northwest Territories were governed by Manitoba's Lieutenant Governor, a representative of the federal government and the Queen of Canada for the newly created province of Manitoba. Six years later in 1876, the territory was given its own Lieutenant Governor, separate from that of Manitoba.[1] These Lieutenant Governors presided over an assembly with members both elected and appointed by the federal government. Before 1888, the territory required electoral districts with an area of 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi) to contain at least 1,000 people. When this quota was met, a by-election was held to elect a member to replace an appointed one.
The Northwest Territories held its first general elections to a territorial legislative assembly in 1888 when it considered the population to be sufficient.[2] After this election, the Chairman of the assembly's Executive Committee (analogous to a cabinet) assumed the role of head of government.[3] From 1898 to 1905, the chairman used the title "premier", the same title used by the heads of government in the Canadian provinces.[4]
In 1905, the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta were created from the most populated regions of the Northwest Territories. With a much lower population, powers of the territory's head of government reverted back to a federal and Crown representative appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada, this time with the title "Commissioner of Northwest Territories". [1] Beginning in 1951, and increasingly in 1967, powers were transferred back to an elected assembly. In 1980, the head of this assembly regained the title of premier, and in 1985 the premier became chair of the Executive Council and full head of government.
Because the Northwest Territories has a consensus government, the Premier is elected by and from the members of the Legislative Assembly, and are not divided into parties.[5] This list contains only those government leaders who governed under an elected system of responsible government. For the heads of government before and in between these times, see List of Commissioners of Northwest Territories.
Contents |
Premiers of the Northwest Territories
| Premier | Period | Assemblies | Elections | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| See List of lieutenant-governors of Northwest Territories for the heads of government before 1888. | ||||||
 |
— | Robert Brett (Chairman of the Lt. Governor's Advisory Council) |
June 30, 1888 November 7, 1891 |
1st (NW) | Elected June 30, 1888 | |
 |
— | Frederick Haultain (Chairman of the Executive Committee) |
November 7, 1891 1897 |
2nd (NW) 3rd (NW) |
Elected November 7, 1891 Re-elected October 31, 1894 |
|
| 1st | Frederick Haultain | October 7, 1897 August 24, 1905 |
4th (NW) 5th (NW) |
Re-elected November 4, 1898 Re-elected May 21, 1902 |
||
| See List of Commissioners of Northwest Territories for the heads of government between 1905 and 1980. | ||||||
| 2nd | George Braden[N 1] | June 16, 1980 January 12, 1984 |
... | Designated June 16, 1980 | ||
| 3rd | Richard Nerysoo[N 1] | January 12, 1984 November 5, 1985 |
10th ... |
Elected November 21, 1983 Resigned November 5, 1985 |
||
| 4th | Nick Sibbeston[N 1] | November 5, 1985 November 12, 1987 |
... | Designated November 5, 1985 | ||
| 5th | Dennis Patterson[N 1] | November 12, 1987 November 14, 1991 |
11th | Elected October 5, 1987 | ||
 |
6th | Nellie Cournoyea[N 1] | November 14, 1991 November 22, 1995 |
12th | Elected October 15, 1991 | |
| 7th | Don Morin | November 22, 1995 November 26, 1998 |
13th ... |
Elected October 16, 1995 Resigned November 26, 1998 |
||
| Acting | Goo Arlooktoo | November 26, 1998 December 10, 1998 |
... | Appointed Acting Premier | ||
| 8th | Jim Antoine | December 10, 1998 January 17, 2000 |
... 14th ... |
December 10, 1998 Re-elected February 15, 1999 Resigned January 17, 2000 |
||
| 9th | Stephen Kakfwi | January 17, 2000 December 10, 2003 |
... | Designated January 17, 2000 | ||
 |
10th | Joe Handley | December 10, 2003 October 18, 2007 |
15th | Elected November 24, 2003 | |
|
11th | Floyd Roland | October 19, 2007 present |
16th | Elected October 1, 2007 | |
Living former premiers
As of January 2010[update], nine former premiers are alive, the oldest being Nellie Cournoyea (1991-1995, born 1940). The most recent premier in acting to die was Goo Arlooktoo (1998), on April 30, 2002.
| Name | Term | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| George Braden | 1980–1984 | November 4, 1949 |
| Richard Nerysoo | 1984–1985 | 1953 (age 57–58) |
| Nick Sibbeston | 1985–1987 | November 21, 1943 |
| Dennis Patterson | 1987–1991 | December 30, 1948 |
| Nellie Cournoyea | 1991–1995 | March 4, 1940 |
| Don Morin | 1995–1998 | 1954 (age 56–57) |
| Jim Antoine | 1998–2000 | Birthday Unknown |
| Stephen Kakfwi | 2000–2003 | November 7, 1950 |
| Joe Handley | 2003–2007 | August 9, 1943 |
See also
- List of Northwest Territories general elections
- List of Northwest Territories commissioners
- List of Northwest Territories lieutenant-governors
Notes
References
- General
- "Territories" (PDF). Government of Saskatchewan. http://www.saskarchives.com/web/seld/1-00.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
- "The Office of the Lieutenant Governor". Legislative Assembly of Alberta. http://www.assembly.ab.ca/lao/library/lt-gov/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
- Specific
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The Northwest Territories". Library and Archives Canada. 2005-05-02. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-2245-e.html. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
- ↑ Thomas, Lewis Herbert (1978). The Struggle for Responsible Government in the North-West Territories, 1870-97. University of Toronto Press. p. 193. ISBN 9780802022875. http://books.google.com/books?id=h1oGAAAAMAAJ&pgis=1.
- ↑ "The Honourable Dr. Robert G. Brett, 1915-25". Legislative Assembly of Alberta. http://www.assembly.ab.ca/lao/library/lt-gov/brett.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
- ↑ "The North-West Territories (1870–1905)" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada. http://www.lac-bac.gc.ca/obj/002013/f2/H-26_en.pdf?PHPSESSID=4056qtj4vq5glp674mokqgdsq2. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
- ↑ "The Premier of the Northwest Territories". Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/_live/pages/wpPages/Premierfacts.aspx. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
External links
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