The Northwest Territories division plebiscite was a stand-alone, territory-wide
plebiscite
A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a direct vote by the electorate (rather than their representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either binding (resulting in the adoption of a new policy) or adv ...
conducted on April 14, 1982. This was the first territory-wide plebiscite conducted in
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal Provinces and territories of Canada, territory of Canada. At a land area of approximately and a 2021 census population of 41,070, it is the second-largest and the most populous of Provinces and territorie ...
history. The results of the plebiscite would eventually lead to the creation of
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and northernmost Provinces and territories of Canada#Territories, territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the ''Nunavut Act'' and the Nunavut Land Claims Agr ...
, and spawn three other plebiscites during the creation process of the new territory.
Background
The question was a culmination of nearly twenty-five years of debate at the federal and territorial level of government. A bill was tabled in the House of Commons that would have divided the territory in 1963, but it died on the
order paper
The Order Paper (also known as the Order of Business in the UK, the Notice Paper in Australia, and the Order Paper and Notice Paper in Canada) is a daily publication in the Westminster system of government which lists the business of parliament fo ...
. In 1966 the
Carrothers Commission
The Carrothers Commission, formally The Advisory Commission on the Development of Government in the Northwest Territories, was a commission set up by the government of Canada to study the future of government of the Northwest Territories. It was l ...
released a report that stated division of the Northwest Territories was not in the best interests of the Territories for the short term.
In the
1967 election a council was elected that was generally opposed to the division. In the late 1970s and in the 1980s a number of proposals were made on how to divide up the territory, and the question was finally put to the voters.
Results
Aftermath
In the aftermath of the referendum, the Legislative assembly agreed to accept the results, and the Federal government agreed on the following conditions: continued support from the electorate; all parties would agree on a new boundary, all parties would agree on the division of powers between all levels of government, and the settlement of land claims.
This would happen seventeen years later when
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and northernmost Provinces and territories of Canada#Territories, territory of Canada. It was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the ''Nunavut Act'' and the Nunavut Land Claims Agr ...
was carved out of the Northwest Territories.
See also
*
1992 Nunavut creation referendum
*
Nunavut Land Claims Agreement
The Nunavut Land Claims Agreement (NCLA, ) was signed on May 25, 1993, in Iqaluit, by representatives of the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut (now Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated), the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Terri ...
References
External links
Nunavut the emerging north.
{{Northwest Territories elections
Referendums in the Northwest Territories
Politics of Nunavut
History of Nunavut
Northwest Territories division plebiscite
Northwest Territories division plebiscite
Division plebiscite
Northwest Territories division plebiscite
Administrative division referendums
Political history of Nunavut