Paul Okalik
Encyclopedia : P : PA : PAU : Paul Okalik
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| Rank: | 1st Premier |
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| Term of Office: | March 5, 1999 – Present |
| Predecessor: | none |
| Successor: | incumbent |
| Date of Birth: | May 26, 1964 |
| Place of Birth: | Pangnirtung, Northwest Territories |
| Spouse: | |
| Profession: | Lawyer |
| Political affiliation: | Nil |
Paul Okalik (Inuktitut syllabics: ᐹᓪ ᐅᑲᓕᖅ, IPA pronunciation: ['ukælɪk]) is the Premier of the Canadian territory of Nunavut.
Okalik was born on May 26, 1964, in Pangnirtung, Northwest Territories (now Nunavut). In the early 1980s, he worked for the Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut, as a deputy negotiator on the land claim which eventually created Nunavut. That claim, the largest in Canadian history, was signed in 1993. Okalik also served as a representative on the Nunavut Implementation Panel, the body which oversees and provides direction on the implementation of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement.
Returning to school during the early 1990s, he obtained a B.A. in Political Science at Carleton University in Ottawa, and an LL.B. from the University of Ottawa. In 1999 he was called to the Bar, becoming the first Inuit lawyer in NWT/Nunavut history.
On February 15, 1999 Okalik was elected to represent Iqaluit West in the first Legislative Assembly of Nunavut. Nunavut's government runs on a consensus model, with the assembly choosing the premier from among its elected members, and on March 5 Okalik was voted the first Premier of Nunavut.
He stood for reelection in the 2004 general election, and was returned to the Legislative Assembly. On March 5, 2004, the Legislative Assembly again elected him premier over challenger Tagak Curley, making Okalik the first territorial premier in Canadian history to serve two consecutive terms.
On June 18, 2005, Okalik received from Carleton University an honorary doctor of laws degree.
Okalik has three children, Shasta, Jordan and Béatrice. In English his surname translates to rabbit or Arctic Hare.
External links
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| Stephen Harper (Prime Minister of Canada) Pat Binns (PE) | Lorne Calvert (SK) | Gordon Campbell (BC) | Jean Charest (QC) | Gary Doer (MB) | Dennis Fentie (YT) | Joe Handley (NT) | Ralph Klein (AB) | Bernard Lord (NB) | Rodney MacDonald (NS) | Dalton McGuinty (ON) | Paul Okalik (NU) | Danny Williams (NL) | |
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