What is the territorial government of Canada?

Role of the Commissioner

There is a Commissioner for each territory, responsible for the administration of the Government of that territory. Each Commissioner is appointed as a representative of the Government of Canada (unlike the provinces, territories do not have a vice-regal representative of Her Majesty the Queen), by the Governor General-in-Council. The Commissioner acts on the orders of the Governor General-in-Council, and the Honourable John Duncan, P.C., M.P., the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Many of the commissioner's functions are exercised on the advice of the Executive Council, the members of which are appointed by the Commissioner on the advice of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. These Executive Councillors are the premier and ministers of the Government of that territory. Some executive functions are performed by the Commissioner only on the advice of the Executive Council.