YELLOWKNIFE (November 24, 2021) – Today in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Stephen Dunbar was appointed as the Northwest Territories Chief Electoral Officer.
By way of a motion in the House, Mr. Dunbar’s appointment has been recommended to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, Mrs. Margaret Thom, pursuant to Section 5 of the Elections and Plebiscites Act. The appointment takes effect on November 25, 2021.
This position is an independent statutory officer of the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Electoral Officer is the head of Elections NWT, and is responsible for the administration of general elections, by-elections, and plebiscites in the Territory. The Chief Electoral Officer serves the Assembly until March 31, 2025.
Mr. Dunbar was born and raised in the Northwest Territories and his professional experience is steeped in understanding of consensus government. He has a master’s degree in political science and completed his thesis on the evolution of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly and its use of consensus government. His work history has garnered him experience on both sides of parliamentary support, first as a principal political advisor for multiple Ministers over three Assemblies, then as the Assembly’s Director of Research and Committee Advisory Services, serving Regular Members and the Standing Committees of the Legislative Assembly.
On top of completing work in relation to the Report on the Administration of the 2019 Election, Mr. Dunbar looks forward to creating a five-year strategic plan to guide the work of Elections NWT through the next election cycle.