Changes to the Nunavut Coroners Act

The Department of Justice is advising Nunavummiut of upcoming changes to the Nunavut Coroners Act following recent amendments by the Legislative Assembly. 

These changes come into effect on August 31, 2024, and include:

• New requirements to report deaths to the coroner: 
  • The Director of Child and Family Services must report any death of a child or youth under their care or supervision.
  • The Public Guardian and private guardians must report the death of a person under a Guardianship Order.
  • The RCMP must report any death involving an on-duty police officer.
• Requiring a mandatory inquest for deaths involving an on-duty police officer.
• Allowing coroners to investigate a death without a body if it has been destroyed, has been found but cannot be recovered, or has been removed from the territory.
• Expanding the prohibition against interfering with a body to the immediate surroundings and associated wreckage unless doing so is needed to preserve the body, or to protect health or safety, or the action is taken by police.

Any questions about these recent legislative changes or questions about coroners, please contact the Chief Coroner’s Office at @email or 867-975-6562.