PM appoints former Nunavut premier as territory’s new commissioner

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed a former Nunavut premier as the territory’s next commissioner.

Eva Aariak, who served as Nunavut’s second premier from 2008 to 2013, will take over the job from Nellie Kusugak, whose fiveyear term expired in June.

A commissioner of Nunavut is similar to a province’s lieutenant-governor.

Territorial commissioners give royal assent to bills passed by the legislative assembly and swear in newly elected members.

Trudeau describes Aariak as a lifelong champion for Nunavut, and its Inuit languages and culture.

Aariak, who served as the territory’s first languages commissioner, was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2018 for her work to protect Inuit languages.