Nunavut premier outlines territory's new tasks ahead of devolution agreement

It took a crane and some hammering to take Canada off the Kimujuk building in Iqaluit last month. It's been a symbol of the federal presence in the capital since Nunavut's creation. But the building is set to transfer to the government of Nunavut with the territory just six months away from devolution, a formal process of transferring powers from the federal to the territorial government. It's going to be a monumental day, April 1st, 2027. Premier John May notes the territory will take over much more than a building. Try 1.7 million square kilometers of crown lands, over 80% of Nunavut's total landmass, with the rest belonging to Inuit organizations. It represents a maturing for our territory and for the government. Inuit-owned land is where all four of Nunavut's mines lie. In 2024, they earned Inuit organizations over $100 million in royalties. Now, as Nunavut is taking over public lands, it might soon get some mining money as well. There's a very real possibility that the future Nunavut government minister will have to make some very difficult decisions around development in the territory. Mayne says that Jan is getting ready to manage the new responsibilities. It's creating a new department that he hopes today's federal workers will join, becoming employees of Iqaluit, not Ottawa. We really need them to make devolution a success, and we hope that they'll commit to transferring. And now, Nunavut will have to get ready to mirror a raft of federal legislations to provide what Maine calls a seamless transition of power, all of which must be done before the final deadline. The April 1st date is not flexible. We can't ask for an extra month or two or three. Draft legislations for devolution have been published already, including acts over archaeological sites, public lands, and waters. A few weeks from now, those acts will be up for a vote at the Legislative Assembly, as legislators build a new way of governing Nunavut. Ardy Sarkissian, CBC News, Iqaluit.