Skip to content

Government of Nunavut appoints new information and privacy commissioner

The legislative assembly has unanimously approved the appointment of Graham Steele as the territory's new information and privacy commissioner for a five-year term.

Steele, who holds four university degrees, including a master of laws from Dalhousie University, replaces Elaine Keenan Bengts, who is retiring after a tenure that stretches back to Nunavut's inception as a territory.

The commissioner monitors government compliance with the Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Steele's term is effective as of Jan. 11, 2021.

“Graham Steele’s professional background in law, academia and public service make him very well-qualified for this important position,” Speaker Paul Quassa said Monday, adding his thanks to Keenan Bengts for her service over the past two decades.

Steele has also worked as a law clerk at the Federal Court of Appeal; served as chairperson of the National Administrative Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association; was general counsel of the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia; was assistant professor of business law at Dalhousie University’s Rowe School of Business; and served as a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, where he was named Minister of Finance.