Nunavut MLAs add one minister, agree to nine-member cabinet

Nunavut’s newly-elected MLAs will gather at the legislative chamber in Iqaluit Nov. 15 to pick a speaker, premier and cabinet. (FILE PHOTO)

Nunavut’s newly-elected MLAs agreed to enlarge the territorial cabinet by one, for a total of nine members — eight ministers and the premier — for the next territorial government.

In previous 19-member assemblies, MLAs have opted for cabinets of eight and sometimes seven members.

MLAs will elect a speaker, premier and eight ministers in a leadership forum to be held Nov. 15, starting at 10:00 a.m. in the legislative chamber in Iqaluit.

MLAs will first appoint the speaker, who will preside over the leadership forum.

The next order of business will be selection of the premier, a process that usually attracts two or three candidates, said Cindy Rennie, a public affairs officer at the legislative assembly.

“Each nominated candidate will be permitted to deliver a formal speech,” the office said in the news release.

“MLAs not standing for the position of premier will be permitted to ask questions of candidates.”

MLAs will then elect eight cabinet ministers to the new cabinet, also by nomination and secret ballot.

On Nov. 19, the first sitting day of the fourth legislative assembly, all new MLAs will be sworn into office.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. in the legislative chamber, followed at 1:30 p.m. by motions to confirm the appointments of the speaker, premier and cabinet.

The leadership forum, swearing-in ceremony and formal motions will be open to the public, and will be broadcast live across Nunavut on the assembly’s cable broadcast channel.