Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that Edna Elias will serve as the next Commissioner of Nunavut.
“Ms. Elias’s work with Inuit language and culture is impressive,” said Prime Minister Harper. “Her experience as an educator and public servant makes her well-suited to serving as Commissioner of Nunavut.”
Ms. Elias has had a successful career as an educator, interpreter, translator and consultant in Nunavut and in other parts of Canada. She has overseen the delivery of Official and Aboriginal language services for the Government and Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, owned and operated her own business, and served her home community of Kugluktuk as a councillor and mayor.
Territorial Commissioners are appointed by Her Excellency the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and fulfill many of the same duties as the Lieutenant Governor of a province. They are responsible for swearing in Members of the Legislative Assembly and Members of the Executive Council, opening the Legislative Assembly and providing assent for legislation passed by the Assembly.
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to thank The Honourable Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, the outgoing Commissioner, for her dedicated service to Nunavut.
Biographical notes attached.
Articles - Backgrounder: Edna Elias
