On January 14, 1969, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories announced the formation of the Northwest Territories Historical Advisory Board. The function of the Board was to advise the Commissioner on issues concerning the preservation of the history of the north. The Board was composed of nine members appointed by the Commissioner and a permanent secretary. The members' terms were limited to a maximum of five years and each member, with the exception of the Chairman, represented the interests of a specific region of the Northwest Territories. Each member would be responsible for informing the Board on historical matters in their area. The first Chairman of the Board was Alexander Stevenson, who worked out of Ottawa. The NWT Historical Advisory Board was responsible for all aspects of the preservation of history in the Northwest Territories and was given the authority to acquire artifacts and archives on behalf of the government. Furthermore, the Board made recommendations regarding the naming of geographical features, researched and counseled the Commissioner on the advisability to issue permits for archaeological research, started a programme to plaque and commemorate historical sites and undertook the task of planning the construction of a museum in Yellowknife. In 1975, the Historical Advisory Board was transferred from the Executive Secretariat to the Department of Natural and Cultural Affairs and replaced with Museum and Historical Programs.
The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) was created in response to a 1972 report from a Northwest Territories Council Task Force on Housing. One of the recommendations in the report called for the creation of a housing corporation similar to the federal Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) that would assume responsibility for all government-housing programs in the Northwest Territories. The Northwest Territories Council approved the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Ordinance on October 10, 1972. Roy S. McClure was appointed as Advisor to the Corporation and preparations for the establishment of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation were initiated. The Territorial Housing Division of the Department of Local Government was subsequently dissolved and its personnel transferred to the new Corporation. Operations commenced on September 1, 1973, although the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation did not officially operate as a Crown Corporation of the Government of the Northwest Territories until Oct. 1, 1974.
The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation is responsible for ensuring that an adequate supply and standard of housing is available to residents of the Northwest Territories. It provides financial assistance for the purchase, rental and construction of housing units through public housing projects, small settlement home assistance grants, rural and remote housing programs and non-profit and co-operative housing and mortgage programs. The Corporation provides support to local housing associations and authorities and encourages home ownership in the Northwest Territories. Between 1973-1983, it delivered the following programs: the Northern Rental Housing Program on behalf of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, which provided housing for aboriginal peoples; the Senior Citizens Housing program which aimed to provide adequate accommodation at adequate rates for seniors and the Public Housing program.
In 1982, the NWT Housing Corporation became independent from the Department of the Executive. Devolution of responsibility to community housing associations became one of their main objectives, as did training local people in property management operations within the communities.
The NWT Housing Corporation was reorganized in 1983; a Finance and Administration Division carried out the administration and planning of all financial matters relating to housing programs. The Property and Contract Management Division was accountable for the management, coordination and control of the Corporation's construction, preventative maintenance and property management systems. The Program, Planning and Research Division was responsible for the planning of new housing programs and the development and evaluation of policies and procedures. The Rental Housing Program was the central focus in 1984-85. It was aimed at families and individuals where alternative affordable housing was unavailable and provided support programs to encourage increased homeownership levels within the Northwest Territories. The Homeownership Assistance Program was developed to recognize this priority.
In 1986-87, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation was made up of the Executive, Programs and Planning (Policy and Planning, Homeownership Programs and Rental Housing Programs), Finance and Administration, (Personnel and Administration section and Finance and Materials Management section) Construction/Development and District Operations. The Finance and Administration Division was responsible for the preparation and implementation of an Affirmative Action Plan to ensure the participation of aboriginal northerners in the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. District Operations provided direct support to communities in the delivery of the Corporation's Rental and Homeownership Programs. Specific training initiatives in the areas of Administration, Finance and Technical assistance were delivered through this activity to help community organizations operate efficiently.
Between 1987-88, the Housing Corporation was reorganized to include a Human Resources Program to ensure the affirmative action initiatives would be met and provide assistance to local housing organizations in the area of human resource management and development. The Finance and Administration Division was renamed Finance and Corporate Services at this time; its role expanded to provide financial management and accounting of the NWT Housing Corporation's financial and material resources.
The Programs and Planning Division became the Community and Programs Services Division between 1988-89. Its functions remained the same and central task was to monitor the operation of all Corporation programs and to ensure effective delivery in terms of government policy and direction. In the early 1990's, there was an urgent need to meet housing requirements for the growing population at both ends of the demographic scale. Consequently, the Policy and Evaluation Division was introduced in 1989-90. Its primary function was to draft the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation Policy that would clarify the responsibilities of the Housing Corporation in meeting housing needs of Northwest Territories residents.
Two new program initiatives were introduced during 1991-92. The Access Program offered homeownership counseling, a home buy-back guarantee, supplementary financing and the sale of Homeownership Assistance Program units. The Rent Rebate Program enabled high income, public housing tenants to be reimbursed for a portion of rent payments made while completing or awaiting the delivery of their new homes.
Between 1992-1994, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation reorganized in order to deal with the removal of funding by the Federal Government through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Due to the funding cutbacks, the department focused on social housing for those most in need and homeownership was given a higher priority. The responsibility for GNWT housing was also transferred from the Department of Public Works and Services to the NWT Housing Corporation during this time. Because the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation was taking on more responsibility, but had fewer financial resources, the Community Development Division was established to facilitate the transfer of greater levels of authority and accountability to housing programs in communities. The Amortization budget was also introduced to provide for payment of principal and interest on loans from Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The Local Housing Organizations Division was created and became responsible for the delivery and management of the Housing Corporation's rental housing programs at this time.
In 1996-97, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation was downsized and restructured in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The goal was to make programs more community-development based, maximize the number of new homes built each year, reduce per unit costs of new homes and reduce utility costs in public housing. The Policy and Planning Division and Human Resources Division were joined to form the Policy and Human Resources Planning Division; however, these two functions became separate divisions again in 1998. The Operations Division (Operations West, Operations East) was created at this time and became responsible for developing and carrying out programs and technical support, training and assistance in the course of enabling community groups to deliver all housing programs at the local level.
The Controllership Division was created in 1997-98. This division became accountable for the loan and mortgages administration, debt payments and banking services, preparation of annual financial statements for the Housing Corporation and Amortization. This division was renamed the Finance Division in 1999-2000 and Amortization Activity was moved from the Finance Division to its own division between 1998-1999. This activity provided funding for repayment and interest on long-term loans from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Human Resources and Administration and Policy became two separate divisions in 1998 with the Policy Division being responsible for the development of Corporate policy and strategic planning, as well as representing the Housing Corporation on inter-departmental committees participating in GNWT initiatives. The Human Resources and Administration Division provided human resource advice and assistance to Local Housing Organizations through District Offices. Some of the activities of this section included recruitment and transfer of staff, classification of positions, labour relations advice, administration of employee pay and benefits, Human Resource Planning and employee assistance. This section was also responsible for records management for the Corporation, telecommunications and maintaining the Corporation's computer systems and services.
Between 2000-2001, the department underwent some minor organizational changes. The Policy Division was renamed Policy, Programs and Informatics to reflect the added responsibility for the Corporation's computer systems and services, as well as the development of new housing programs and provision of support, direction and training to the Local Housing Organizations. The Administration function from Human Resources and Administration Division was also transferred to the Finance Division at this time. The division was renamed the Finance and Administration Division.
In the early 1870s, the Northwest Territories had the status of a colony and was governed by Ottawa. The Privy Council of Canada appointed the Commissioner who was responsible to the federal minister in charge of administering the northern territories when residents had no elected representation. In 1905, the Northwest Territories Act provided a four-member appointed Council to assist the Commissioner in administering the Northwest Territories, but no members were named until 1921. Under Sections 4 and 5 of the Northwest Territories Act, the Commissioner had sole Executive authority for the Government of the Northwest Territories subject to instructions that he was given by the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs or the Governor in Council. Between 1905-1919, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had widespread power and influence extending from the community level to the senior levels of government. During this time the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police was the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. In 1919, the Deputy Minister of the Interior became the Commissioner, beginning a practice that lasted until 1963.
In 1964, the position of Commissioner became a full-time responsibility. The Territorial Government for the first time since 1905 opened offices completely separate from those of the Department of Northern Affairs.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the gradual transfer of power from the Commissioner to elected ministers was evident. In 1980, the Commissioner was still the formal head of government in the Northwest Territories and chaired the Executive Committee and the Financial Management Board. The Commissioner also had line responsibility for the Department of Finance and the Department of Information. In 1981, the role the Commissioner played in the governing of the Northwest Territories was changing. Although the authority of the Commissioner, as defined by the NWT Act remained unchanged, executive members to the Northwest Territories Council began to assume increased responsibility for departmental and executive functions. 1981 was the first year an elected member assumed senior financial departmental responsibilities. Following this partial reassignment of portfolios, the Commissioner retained direct responsibility for the Departments of Information and Personnel and continued to chair the Executive Committee and the Financial Management Board.
During the 1980s, the devolution of responsibilities from the Commissioner's office to elected ministers continued. The Departments of Information and Public Works administered by the Commissioner and Deputy-Commissioner, respectively became the responsibility of elected members of the Executive Council, and therefore all but the Department of Personnel was under ministerial control. The Minister of Finance assumed the chairmanship of the Financial Management Board and the Commissioner took over the deputy chairman's position. 1984 marked the first time that an elected Government Leader was chosen by the full caucus, and the first time that all eight of the Executive Council members were elected. The Commissioner continued to chair the Executive Council, with the Government Leader taking the role of deputy chairman. With the devolution of portfolios to elected ministers of the Executive Council, the Commissioner ceased sitting with members of the Legislature in committee of the whole. These steps represented recognition by Ottawa of the increased political maturity of the Government of the Northwest Territories and signified a process leading towards full responsible government.
In 1986, the Commissioner turned over the chairmanship of the Executive Council to the Government Leader. With this symbolic act, the Northwest Territories, in practice, achieved responsible government, as elected ministers took full responsibility for the conduct of government. Furthermore, the responsibility for the Department of Personnel, which was held by the Commissioner, was taken over by the Government Leader in 1986.
In 1988, the Commissioner and staff moved to new offices in the Courthouse building. The relocation represented a small but important constitutional step because the physical separation helped to define more clearly the distinct and differing functions of the Commissioner and Executive Council.
An important function that was consistent within the office of the Commissioner was the presence of the Commissioner within the lives of the people of the north. The Commissioner spent much time traveling to all communities in the north, which facilitated an on-going dialogue with residents in the communities. Travel provided an opportunity to meet with band and municipal councils, private groups and citizens and to hear individual and community concerns. The Commissioner was also present at many official openings and speaking engagements and toured the north with royalty, Prime Ministers and Governor-Generals of Canada. The office of the Commissioner also operates the Commissioner's Awards Committee. This committee considers nominations and makes recommendations to the Commissioner regarding awards, which are presented to people who have done an exceptional public service or by acts of bravery. Today the Commissioner's role is largely one of ceremony. The Commissioner continues to travel the north, grant the Commissioner's Award, opens each session of the Legislature and signs territorial bills.
The following were the Commissioners of the Northwest Territories: Adams G. Archibald (1870-1872), Alexander Morris (1872-1876), Hon. David Laird (1876-1881), Hon. Edgar Dewdney (1881-1888), Hon. Joseph Royal (1888-1893), C.H. Mackintosh (1893-1897), F.W.G. Haultain (1897-1905), Lt. Col. Frederick White (1905-1919), W.W. Cory (1919-1931), H.H. Rowatt (1931-1934), Dr. Charles Camsell (1936-1946), Dr. Hugh L. Keenleyside (1947-1950), Major-General Hugh A. Young (1950-1953), R.Gordon Robertson (1953-1963), B.G. Sivertz (1963-1967), Stuart M. Hodgson (1967-1979), John H. Parker (1979-1989), Daniel L. Norris (1989-1994), Helen Maksagak (1995-1999), Daniel Joseph Marion (1999-2000), Glenna F. Hansen (2000-2005), Anthony W.J. Whitford (2005-2010), George L. Tuccaro (2010-present).
The NWT Official Languages Act created the position of Language Commissioner and in December 1991, the Legislative Assembly appointed the first NWT Languages Commissioner, Betty Harnum. The Languages Commissioner is appointed for a four-year term and he/she is responsible for the following: promotion of the eight official languages in the NWT, ensure the recognition of the status, rights and privileges of Official Languages speakers and the spirit and intent of the Official Language Act, and encourage the advancement of activities in aboriginal languages. In addition, the Language Commissioner acts as an impartial mediator to resolve complaints about Official Languages and the Act, and conducts investigation ensuring that the rights, status and privileges of each of the eight official languages in the Northwest Territories are protected within government institutions. The Language Commissioner also monitors quality of services in the eight official languages provided to the GNWT and the Legislative Assembly and is responsible for making recommendations to the government or the Legislative Assembly to improve or change services or programs. An annual report from this office is submitted to the Legislative Assembly in order to report on activities and make suggested changes to legislation.
The Northwest Territories Options for Women group was formed in 1976. It was a group established to offer support and address issues pertaining to women such as single parenting, childcare and health care.