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Territorial

Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories

  • French: Assemblée législative des Territoires du Nord-Ouest

Governs Northwest Territories

Official website (ntlegislativeassembly.ca) Report a problem with this page

Source: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca, checked

At a glance

What it's for

The Legislature of the Northwest Territories makes laws for the territory on subjects that Parliament has given it, including municipal institutions, education, hospitals, property and civil rights, the administration of justice, wildlife, water, public lands and natural resources.

Northwest Territories Act, ss. 18 and 19

What it can't do

Its powers come from an Act of Parliament rather than the Constitution, and they are no greater than those of a province. If a territorial law conflicts with a federal law, the federal law prevails.

Northwest Territories Act, ss. 25 and 31

Who it answers to

Voters elect the Legislative Assembly at least every five years. The Commissioner is appointed by the federal government (the Governor in Council), which can direct the Commissioner to withhold assent to a bill and can disallow a territorial law within one year of it being made.

Northwest Territories Act, ss. 4, 11, 29 and 30

Where its money comes from

The territory raises money through direct taxes, licences and taxes on natural resources, and it can borrow up to a limit set by the federal government. It also receives Territorial Formula Financing payments from the federal government.

Northwest Territories Act, ss. 18(1)(f), 19(3) and 28; Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, Part I.1

Shares responsibility with

Federal laws prevail over territorial laws. The Legislature can also make laws to implement Aboriginal land claim and self-government agreements.

Northwest Territories Act, ss. 26 and 31

Next vote

  • in 40 days By-election · Member of the Legislative Assembly · Inuvik Twin Lakes
Later (1 more scheduled)
  • General election · Member of the Legislative Assembly

Who sits on it

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Sources for who sits on it

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What it can do

  • Electing the Premier and Cabinet

    Under consensus government the Members of the Legislative Assembly choose the Premier and the six Ministers by secret ballot and can remove them; there are no parties and no official opposition. Regular (non-Cabinet) Members hold Cabinet to account through standing committees.

  • Lands, waters and natural resources (devolution, s. 19-20, 51)

    Since devolution on 1 April 2014 (Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement, implemented by the Northwest Territories Devolution Act, S.C. 2014, c. 2) the Legislature makes laws on onshore exploration for and development, conservation and management of non-renewable resources and forestry, onshore pipelines, electricity generation sites, resource exports and resource taxation (s. 19), access to federal lands (s. 20), and the public lands and waters under the Commissioner's administration and control (ss. 18(1)(n),(q), 51-52). Offshore resources and some federal lands remain under federal control.

  • Territorial lawmaking (Northwest Territories Act s. 18)

    The Legislature (the Commissioner and the Legislative Assembly) makes laws on the subjects Parliament delegates in s. 18(1) of the Northwest Territories Act: elections and the Assembly, the Executive Council, public offices, municipal and local institutions, direct taxation and licensing, property and civil rights, administration of justice and territorial courts, prisons, wildlife conservation, education (with denominational minority school rights), hospitals and charities, agriculture, intoxicants, marriage, local companies, territorial spending and all matters of a merely local or private nature. Its powers can be no greater than those of a province under ss. 92, 92A and 95 of the Constitution Act, 1867 (s. 25), and Parliament keeps the power to legislate for the territory.

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Sources for what it can do

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Sources

  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked territorial: Northwest Territories Act ss. 10-17 (Legislative Assembly continued; Legislature = Commissioner + Assembly) For: Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Northwest Territories Act, S.C. 2014, c. 2, s. 2: Northwest Territories Act, ss. 18 and 19. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it's for
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Northwest Territories Act, S.C. 2014, c. 2, s. 2: Northwest Territories Act, ss. 25 and 31. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it can't do
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Northwest Territories Act, S.C. 2014, c. 2, s. 2: Northwest Territories Act, ss. 4, 11, 29 and 30. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Who it answers to
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-8: Northwest Territories Act, ss. 18(1)(f), 19(3) and 28; Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, Part I.1. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Where its money comes from
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Northwest Territories Act, S.C. 2014, c. 2, s. 2: Northwest Territories Act, ss. 18(1)(f), 19(3) and 28; Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, Part I.1. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Where its money comes from
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Northwest Territories Act, S.C. 2014, c. 2, s. 2: Northwest Territories Act, ss. 26 and 31. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Shares responsibility with
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked territorial: Northwest Territories Act, S.C. 2014, c. 2, s. 2 (current to 2026-05-26) For: Electing the Premier and Cabinet, Lands, waters and natural resources (devolution, s. 19-20, 51), Territorial lawmaking (Northwest Territories Act s. 18)
  • justice.gov.nt.ca · checked territorial: office and selection method For: Member of the Legislative Assembly
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked territorial: office and selection method For: Speaker
  • electionsnwt.ca · checked territorial: Elections NWT, 2023 Territorial General Election official results report For: Sheryl Yakeleya as MLA, Dehcho, Julian Morse as MLA, Frame Lake, Kate Reid as MLA, Great Slave, R.J. Simpson as MLA, Hay River North, Vince McKay as MLA, Hay River South and 13 more
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Sheryl Yakeleya as MLA, Dehcho
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Julian Morse as MLA, Frame Lake
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Kate Reid as MLA, Great Slave
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: R.J. Simpson as MLA, Hay River North
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Vince McKay as MLA, Hay River South
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Denny Rodgers as MLA, Inuvik Boot Lake
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; acclaimed in the 2023 general election For: Caitlin Cleveland as MLA, Kam Lake
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: George Nerysoo as MLA, Mackenzie Delta
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; acclaimed in the 2023 general election For: Jane Weyallon Armstrong as MLA, Monfwi
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Shane Thompson as MLA, Nahendeh
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Lucy Kuptana as MLA, Nunakput
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Kieron Testart as MLA, Range Lake
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Daniel McNeely as MLA, Sahtu
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Jay Macdonald as MLA, Thebacha
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Richard Edjericon as MLA, Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Robert Hawkins as MLA, Yellowknife Centre
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; elected in the 2023 general election (14 November 2023) For: Shauna Morgan as MLA, Yellowknife North
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly; acclaimed in the 2023 general election For: Caroline Wawzonek as MLA, Yellowknife South
  • ntlegislativeassembly.ca · checked territorial: 20th Legislative Assembly For: Shane Thompson as Speaker
  • electionsnwt.ca · checked territorial: Elections NWT news release, 9 October 2026 For: By-election, November 24, 2026
  • justice.gov.nt.ca · checked territorial: Elections and Plebiscites Act s. 39(5): first Tuesday in October in the fourth calendar year after the last general election For: General election, October 5, 2027
  • electionsnwt.ca · checked territorial: Elections NWT home page countdown: Territorial General Election October 5th, 2027 For: General election, October 5, 2027

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