Nunavut government creates new associate deputy minister positions

Role designed to increase Inuit representation at executive levels of government

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

The Government of Nunavut is looking to increase Inuit representation in higher levels of government through the creation of the associate deputy minister positions for Nunavut’s departments and agencies.

The new role is structured to help enable qualified Nunavut Inuit to assume senior level responsibilities over time and the position can be assigned for up to three years.

“Mr. Speaker, I’m excited to demonstrate our government’s commitment to Inuit employment at the highest levels of the public service,” said Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok in the legislature on Feb. 27.

The role of the assistant deputy minister will not change and the associate deputy minister will work alongside them, it is to help increase leadership capacity for the Nunavut government’s various departments. This is part of a commitment by the current government’s Katujjiluta mandate to have a representative public service.

A Sept. 30, 2022 public service report, Towards a Representative Public Service , identifies overall lower representation of Inuit at the executive levels of public service in Nunavut.