Commissioners of The Northwest Territories

Commissioners Of The Northwest Territories

The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories is the Canadian federal government’s representative in Northwest Territories (NWT) and the territory's Chief Executive Officer. Similar in certain functions to a lieutenant governor, the Commissioner swears in the Members of the Legislative Assembly, swears in members of the Executive Council, assents to bills, opens sessions of the Legislative Assembly, and signs other government documents such as Orders in Council.

As Commissioners are appointed by the Canadian federal government it is a misnomer to consider the office the Monarch's viceregal representative in the territory--that is, unlike in Canada's provinces, there is no such thing as a "territorial Crown" analogous to the provincial Crowns. The Commissioner must follow any instructions of the Cabinet or the relevant federal minister, currently the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

Since 1980, the territories have had self-government, with the legislature choosing a Government Leader or Premier, in addition to electing Members of Parliament to the Parliament of Canada.

Read more about Commissioners Of The Northwest Territories:  Commissioners of The NWT, Living Former Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners

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