Legislative Assembly of Nunavut

The Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, a short walk from the centre of Iqaluit, is one of the youngest and most unusual legislatures in Canada. Nunavut became a territory in 1999, and this building was purpose-built to house its 22-member assembly. The architecture draws on Inuit design principles, and the interior incorporates traditional materials and artwork.

Public gallery visits are possible when the assembly is in session (typically February–June and October–November), and guided tours of the building are available. The assembly chamber, with its semi-circular arrangement and striking Inuit art and carvings, is genuinely worth seeing. The building overlooks Frobisher Bay, and on a clear day the view across the water to the hills beyond is striking.

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A story
The Nunavut Legislative Assembly operates on a consensus model borrowed from traditional Inuit decision-making: there are no political parties, and all 22 MLAs sit as independents. The Premier and cabinet are chosen by all members rather than by a majority party. The assembly building was designed to reflect this principle — the horseshoe seating arrangement places all members on equal footing, facing each other without the adversarial setup of a Westminster-style chamber.