Nunavut

Cities, Towns and Villages Act

SNWT (Nu) 2003, c 22 (duplicated from NWT at division)

Read the statute →

Sunshine Score: 29/100 (weak)
29/100

Sunshine Score

29/100
Weak
Methodology v0.1
Advance Notice 1 day
Public Comment Not required
Closed Sessions 7 permitted categories
Minutes Required
Recording Not required
Remote Participation Allowed
Enforcement Voidable, legislature exempt

Agenda & Notice Requirements

Regular Meetings
1 day
Special Meetings
1 day

Online posting: Not required

Council adopts a procedure bylaw establishing regular meeting schedules and the procedure for special meetings. Special meetings typically require at least 24 hours' notice to council members and the public, stating the purpose, time, and place. Under the Nunavut Official Languages Act, notices may need to be published in Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, English, and French where applicable.

Public Participation

Public Comment
Not required
Written Comment
Not allowed

Council meetings are open to the public. The Act does not mandate public comment periods at regular council meetings.

Virtual Meetings

Member Remote Participation
Allowed
Counts Toward Quorum
Yes
Public Remote Comment
Not allowed

Electronic participation is permitted where the procedure bylaw authorizes it. Given Nunavut's geography, remote attendance has been particularly relevant for inter-community coordination.

Closed Sessions

Closed (executive) sessions: Allowed under specific circumstances

Permitted Categories

Meeting Minutes

Minutes Required
Yes

Online posting: Not required

Content requirements: The senior administrative officer must prepare minutes of each council meeting recording all resolutions and decisions. Minutes must be adopted at a subsequent meeting and are available for public inspection.

Recording & Broadcast

Recording Required
No
Broadcast Required
No

Enforcement

Violation Effect
Voidable
Standing to Sue
Any person may seek judicial review of a council decision made in violation of the open meeting requirements.
Enforcement Body
No dedicated open meeting investigator. Affected parties may seek judicial review in the Nunavut Court of Justice.

Scope

This law applies to:

  • City
  • Town
  • Village

Legislature: Exempt (follows own rules)

Accessibility & Language Access

Language access: The Nunavut Official Languages Act (SNu 2008, c 10) recognizes Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, English, and French as official languages. Municipal notices and publications may need to be provided in multiple languages depending on the community and the municipality's language policy.

Notes

Nunavut inherited NWT's municipal legislation on division (April 1, 1999) and has amended the duplicated statutes since. Only Iqaluit is incorporated as a city under this Act; nearly all other communities are hamlets governed by the Hamlets Act, SNWT (Nu) 2003, c 23, which contains parallel open-meeting provisions. Nunavut's unique governance context includes the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) principles, which shape community decision-making practices beyond what the statutory text captures.

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The specific rules for Nunavut may differ from this general description. Consult the full statute for details.