Welcome to the Government of Nunavut

Government Management Structure

The primary role of the public service is to translate the government’s (Cabinet’s) priorities and decisions into actions. Public servants develop options for consideration by Ministers and implement the course of action determined by Cabinet.

Under our parliamentary system, Cabinet has the authority to make decisions on day-to-day government matters. Cabinet sets the legislative agenda for the Legislature, it sets the government priorities, defines the policy framework and recommends the mandates and budgets for each department. Cabinet Ministers are selected by the Legislature; the Premier assigns each Minister a department(s). Ministers represent their department(s) in the Legislative Assembly and table legislation affecting their department(s) as necessary. Ministers are accountable to the Legislature for all actions carried out in their name by their departmental officials.

Deputy Ministers are appointed by the Premier. They work closely with their Ministers and report to them on day-to-day matters. A Deputy Minister provides technical, managerial, legal and financial advice to the Minister and is expected to be politically sensitive, though politically neutral. Departmental officials take their direction from their Deputy Minister, who in effect is the department’s Chief Executive Officer.

There is an accountability relationship between the public service, a Minister, Cabinet, the Premier and, ultimately, the public. This relationship requires special consideration in setting up the internal management structure of the government. In April 1999, Cabinet adopted a structure to guide the activities of senior government officials in the administration of their responsibilities.