The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, or Legislative Council of the Northwest Territories, is the legislature and the seat of government of Northwest Territories in Canada. It is a unicameral elected body that creates and amends law in the Northwest Territories. Permanently located in Yellowknife since 1993, the assembly was founded in 1870 and became active in 1872 with the first appointments from the Government of Canada.
The Executive Council of the Northwest Territories or cabinet consists of six Ministers and a Premier elected by the 19 members of the Legislative Assembly.
Representation by women has been a significant issue in Canadian politics since 1900.
The 2011 Northwest Territories general election was held on October 3, 2011. Nineteen members were returned to the 17th Legislative Assembly from single member districts conducted under first-past-the-post voting system.
Caroline Cochrane is a former Canadian politician, who served as the 13th premier of the Northwest Territories, from 2019 to 2023. She is the second female premier of the Northwest Territories after Nellie Cournoyea, who served from 1991 to 1995.
Julie Green is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2015 election. She represented the electoral district of Yellowknife Centre. Green was re-elected in 2019. She was acclaimed to the Executive Council in August 2020 and was subsequently appointed Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister Responsible for Seniors and Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities.
Kieron Testart is a Canadian politician serving in the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, representing the riding of Range Lake. He is currently serving his second non-consecutive term, having first been elected in the 2015 to the riding of Kam Lake in 2015. Defeated in Kam Lake in the 2019 election by Caitlin Cleveland, Testart sought and won the open seat of Range Lake in the 2023 election four years later.
Kevin O'Reilly is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2015 election. He represents the electoral district of Frame Lake.
Rocky "R.J." Simpson is a Canadian politician, the 14th and current premier of the Northwest Territories since December 2023. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2015 election. He represents the electoral district of Hay River North.
Shane Thompson is a Canadian politician, who is a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories for the district of Nahendeh. He was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in 2023.
The 2019 Northwest Territories general election was held on October 1, 2019. Nineteen members were elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.
Paulie Chinna is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2019 election. She represents the electoral district of Sahtu, and was selected to become part of Premier Caroline Cochrane's cabinet by her fellow 19th Assembly MLAs on October 24, 2019. Her Cabinet portfolio includes Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Minister of Housing, and Minister Responsible for Homelessness.
Caitlin Cleveland is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2019 election and re-elected in the 2023 general election. She represents the electoral district of Kam Lake.
Katrina Nokleby is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2019 election. She represented the electoral district of Great Slave, and she was elected to the territorial executive committee on October 24, 2019. Until August 2020 her Cabinet portfolio included Minister of Infrastructure, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and Minister Responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, but was removed from such ministerial positions by Premier Caroline Cochrane citing a “failure to manage her office”. On August 26, 2020 the Legislative Assembly voted 16 to 1 to remove Ms. Nokelby from cabinet.
Diane Archie, formerly Diane Thom, is a Canadian politician in the Northwest Territories. She is a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories and the current Deputy Premier of the Northwest Territories.
Rylund Johnson is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2019 election. He represented the electoral district of Yellowknife North.
Pierre Michael "Rocky" Simpson is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2019 election. He represented the electoral district of Hay River South for one term, until being defeated in the 2023 election.
Steve Norn is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2019 election. He represented the electoral district of Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh.
Ronald Bonnetrouge is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories in the 2019 election. He represents the electoral district of Deh Cho.
The 2023 Northwest Territories general election was held on November 14, 2023. Nineteen members were elected to the 20th Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly. The Assembly is run on a consensus government system, in which all MLAs sit as independents and are not organized into political parties.
