How Iqaluit City Council Makes Decisions

Public Service Announcement
How Iqaluit City Council Makes Decisions
August 7, 2025 – Iqaluit, Nunavut

The City of Iqaluit is sharing how City Council meetings operate and how decisions that shape the community are made, to support transparency, accountability, and public trust in local government.

City Council is made up of the Mayor and eight councillors. Together, they make decisions on a wide range of issues, from municipal services and bylaws to budgets and long term planning. These decisions are made during formal council meetings, which follow a clear set of rules that help keep discussions organized and fair. These rules are based on territorial legislation, such as the Cities, Towns and Villages Act and the City’s own Council Procedures Bylaw.

Before a meeting can begin, a majority of council members must be present. This is called quorum, and in Iqaluit, it means at least five of the nine members must attend. Without quorum, the meeting is postponed. This rule ensures that decisions are only made when a sufficient number of elected representatives are present to speak and vote on behalf of residents.

During meetings, councillors introduce proposals known as motions. Council then discusses and debates each motion before holding a vote. All councillors present must vote unless they have declared a conflict of interest and temporarily leave the room. If the vote results in a tie, the Chairperson casts the deciding vote. Council must give more complex matters, such as bylaw changes, three separate readings at different meetings. This staged approach gives councillors time to review the issue thoroughly and allows the public to provide input before council makes a final decision.

The system also includes important safeguards to keep council functioning during unusual or difficult times. If too many councillors resign, there may not be enough members to reach quorum. To address this, the Nunavut Legislative Assembly passed Bill 45 in 2024, which amends the Cities, Towns and Villages Act and the Hamlets Act. Bill 45 ensures that if a council falls below quorum, the remaining members can still meet to appoint new councillors and restore the council to full strength. This rule helps protect the continuity of local government; ensuring our community is always functioning with a Council.

The City of Iqaluit is committed to a governance system that is fair, democratic, and responsive to the needs of its residents. These procedures, though sometimes formal, help ensure that public decisions are made in a respectful, transparent, and lawful manner.

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For additional information, please contact:

Geoff Byrne
Manager of Communications and Customer Service
City of Iqaluit 867-979-5619 | G.Byrne@iqaluit.ca