Elections NWT
Encyclopedia
Elections NWT is an independent, non-partisan public agency responsible for the administration of territorial general elections, by-elections, and plebiscites in accordance with the Elections and Plebiscites Act. Elections NWT is headed by the Chief Electoral Officer, an officer of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.
Responsibility for the management of territorial elections was devolved to Elections NWT from Elections Canada in 1997.
The election legislation established basic parameters for the creation of electoral districts, eligibility of electors and how the ballot casting process was to be conducted. Oversight was held by the Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories to royally proclaim electoral district boundaries on the formula of 1000 electors per 1000 square miles (2,590 km²). Other responsibilities included issuing writs and appointing Chief Returning Officers to oversee each election.
The first legislation passed by the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly regarding election administration was An Ordinance respecting controverted elections. This piece of legislation was given Royal Assent
on August 6, 1884. The ordinance was put in place to deal with potentially corrupt electoral practices. The ordinance required a valid elector to petition the Lieutenant Governor, with a sworn affidavit stating the offense and a fee of $10.00 Canadian dollars to be presented within two months of the writ being returned.
In 1888 the Lieutenant Governor ceded his powers of electoral district creation. The powers instead came under federal control with the passage of the North-West Representation Act through the Parliament of Canada
. The formula for representation of the electoral districts was revised to 2500 electors per district and no size restriction. The first comprehensive legislation detailing electoral procedures was passed by the Legislative Assembly, An Ordinance respecting Elections to the North-West Legislative Assembly was given Royal Assent on December 31, 1892. This legislation formed the basis of electoral law that is in current use today in the territories as well as Saskatchewan
and Alberta
.
In the years from 1881 until 1905 the Chief Returning Officer for each electoral district was responsible for certifying returns and publishing them in local journals of records. No official publications on election wide statistics and returns were compiled into a single source until the resumption of elections in 1951.
, Ontario
. Another general election was not held for 46 years. An Elections Ordinance was introduced in 1951 that, among other changes enfranchised women. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada then oversaw territorial elections. Revision of territorial electoral districts remained subject to an act of the Parliament of Canada.
in 1987 to create an independent agency to oversee elections. The agency was intended to run the 1991 Northwest Territories general election
, but was not ready in time. Elections Canada continued to run elections in the territory until 1997, with the last general election under federal authority occurring in 1995.
Elections NWT was supposed to take full control of election regulation in time for the 1995 Northwest Territories general election
. Among other issues, lack of funding prevented the Legislative Assembly from appointing a resident Chief Electoral Officer.
Instead, the 1995 general election was run by Elections Canada. Jean-Pierre Kingsley
served as the Chief Electoral Officer to oversee electoral operations and resident staff. Elections Canada was also responsible for publishing reports and returns related to the election.
was carved out of the eastern portion of the Northwest Territories
. A general election was called to elect members to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
.
Elections NWT was mandated to oversee the first Nunavut general election
because an agency had not yet been created in the new territory, and the election laws of the Northwest Territories were still in use. The agency also ran Nunavut's first by-election held in the electoral district of Quttiktuq
on December 4, 2000.
After the general election, David Hamilton, Chief Electoral Officer (NWT) recommended the creation of a similar non-partisan agency for Nunavut. This recommendation helped to establish Elections Nunavut
. The recommendations were subsequently adopted
Amendments in early 2007 entrenched fixed election dates into law and gave the Chief Electoral Officer the power to issue writs on order of the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. The move towards a fixed election date followed a Canada-wide trend, but also avoided the next election being held in December, in conflict with scheduled municipal elections as well as the darkest and coldest day of winter.
Responsibility for the management of territorial elections was devolved to Elections NWT from Elections Canada in 1997.
Early history
The first provisions in legislation regarding the oversight of Northwest Territories elections was adopted in 1880 with an amendment to the Northwest Territories Act passed by the Parliament of Canada. The first election legislation was known as Section 15 under the Act.The election legislation established basic parameters for the creation of electoral districts, eligibility of electors and how the ballot casting process was to be conducted. Oversight was held by the Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories to royally proclaim electoral district boundaries on the formula of 1000 electors per 1000 square miles (2,590 km²). Other responsibilities included issuing writs and appointing Chief Returning Officers to oversee each election.
The first legislation passed by the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly regarding election administration was An Ordinance respecting controverted elections. This piece of legislation was given Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
on August 6, 1884. The ordinance was put in place to deal with potentially corrupt electoral practices. The ordinance required a valid elector to petition the Lieutenant Governor, with a sworn affidavit stating the offense and a fee of $10.00 Canadian dollars to be presented within two months of the writ being returned.
In 1888 the Lieutenant Governor ceded his powers of electoral district creation. The powers instead came under federal control with the passage of the North-West Representation Act through the Parliament of Canada
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
. The formula for representation of the electoral districts was revised to 2500 electors per district and no size restriction. The first comprehensive legislation detailing electoral procedures was passed by the Legislative Assembly, An Ordinance respecting Elections to the North-West Legislative Assembly was given Royal Assent on December 31, 1892. This legislation formed the basis of electoral law that is in current use today in the territories as well as Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
and Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
In the years from 1881 until 1905 the Chief Returning Officer for each electoral district was responsible for certifying returns and publishing them in local journals of records. No official publications on election wide statistics and returns were compiled into a single source until the resumption of elections in 1951.
Chief Electoral Officer of Canada
In 1905 the populated regions of the Northwest Territories were carved out to form Alberta and Saskatchewan. The territorial government was reduced to an appointed council, and the Lieutenant Governor replaced by a Commissioner. The Council and Commissioner were moved by the federal government to the nation's capital, OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Another general election was not held for 46 years. An Elections Ordinance was introduced in 1951 that, among other changes enfranchised women. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada then oversaw territorial elections. Revision of territorial electoral districts remained subject to an act of the Parliament of Canada.
Establishment of Elections NWT
The Northwest Territories Legislature passed an amended Elections Act in the 10th Legislative Assembly10th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly
The 10th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly was the 17th assembly of the territorial government held between 1983 and 1987.-3rd Session:...
in 1987 to create an independent agency to oversee elections. The agency was intended to run the 1991 Northwest Territories general election
Northwest Territories general election, 1991
The Northwest Territories general election, 1991 was the 17th general election in the Northwest Territories history. The election took place on October 15, 1991.Twenty four members were elected to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly....
, but was not ready in time. Elections Canada continued to run elections in the territory until 1997, with the last general election under federal authority occurring in 1995.
Elections NWT was supposed to take full control of election regulation in time for the 1995 Northwest Territories general election
Northwest Territories general election, 1995
The Northwest Territories general election, 1995 was the 18th general election in the Northwest Territories history. The election took place on October 16, 1995. This was the last election before the Northwest Territories was split in two with the creation of Nunavut.The big issue this election was...
. Among other issues, lack of funding prevented the Legislative Assembly from appointing a resident Chief Electoral Officer.
Instead, the 1995 general election was run by Elections Canada. Jean-Pierre Kingsley
Jean-Pierre Kingsley
Jean-Pierre Kingsley was the President and CEO of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. He was the Chief Electoral Officer of Elections Canada, before he stepped down in December 2006. On April 28, 2009 he announced his resignation as President of IFES. He was succeeded by Bill...
served as the Chief Electoral Officer to oversee electoral operations and resident staff. Elections Canada was also responsible for publishing reports and returns related to the election.
Nunavut
On April 1, 1999 the territory of NunavutNunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
was carved out of the eastern portion of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. A general election was called to elect members to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
Legislative Assembly of Nunavut
The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Canada, is located in Iqaluit, and is the territory's parliament.The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, on 7 October 2002, during her Golden Jubilee tour of Canada...
.
Elections NWT was mandated to oversee the first Nunavut general election
Nunavut general election, 1999
Nunavut, Canada conducted its first general election on 15 February 1999, to elect the members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.Although Nunavut did not become a territory until 1 April 1999 the election was held early to enable the members to assume their duties on that date.The territory...
because an agency had not yet been created in the new territory, and the election laws of the Northwest Territories were still in use. The agency also ran Nunavut's first by-election held in the electoral district of Quttiktuq
Quttiktuq
Quttiktuq is a territorial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Canada.The riding consists of the communities of Arctic Bay, Grise Fiord, Nanisivik and Resolute.The current Member of the Legislative Assembly is Ron Elliott....
on December 4, 2000.
After the general election, David Hamilton, Chief Electoral Officer (NWT) recommended the creation of a similar non-partisan agency for Nunavut. This recommendation helped to establish Elections Nunavut
Elections Nunavut
Elections Nunavut is an independent agency that oversees elections and plebiscites in Nunavut, including:* all general elections and by-elections for the 19 Members of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, according to the Nunavut Elections Act....
. The recommendations were subsequently adopted
Recent developments
Amendments to the Elections and Plebiscites Act in 2010 introduced voter identification requirements into territorial elections.Amendments in early 2007 entrenched fixed election dates into law and gave the Chief Electoral Officer the power to issue writs on order of the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. The move towards a fixed election date followed a Canada-wide trend, but also avoided the next election being held in December, in conflict with scheduled municipal elections as well as the darkest and coldest day of winter.