Question Period Note: Inuit Employment within Government (Implementation of Article 23) of the Nunavut Agreement

The Government is committed to implementing Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement in its entirety, and recognizes that establishing a representative Inuit workforce within the Nunavut public sector will promote greater Inuit self-determination.

We continue to work across government to advance the implementation of Article 23.
Canada is currently working with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the Government of Nunavut to resolve an ongoing dispute related to the implementation of Article 23.

Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement requires both Canada and the Government of Nunavut to increase and maintain a representative level of Inuit employment in government (currently 85% in all classifications and levels). Article 23 has historically been an area of contention between the parties, and featured prominently in Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated’s litigation launched in 2006 where they were seeking $1B in damages. This dispute was settled out of court via the Settlement Agreement in 2015.
Since 2015, Canada has worked diligently to implement Article 23 and the Settlement Agreement, and has made significant progress. Key actions include: the establishment of Pilimmaksaivik (Centre for Excellence in Inuit Employment) in 2016 to serve as the central coordinating office for Inuit employment in government, and the release of the Whole-of-Government Inuit Employment Plan in 2017.
On February 25, 2019, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated referred Canada and Government of Nunavut's Article 23 implementation efforts to dispute resolution, alleging that both governments failed to fully implement Article 23. Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated maintains that both governments are in breach of the Nunavut Agreement for failing to specify within their Inuit Employment Plans how each federal department operating in Nunavut will increase and maintain a representative level of Inuit employment in government. Canada is currently working with the Parties to resolve this dispute.

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