The territory of Nunavut celebrated yesterday, Monday, the 25th anniversary of the founding of the territory, as Nunavut became a territory on April 1, 1999, reshaping the map of Canada with an area of about two million square kilometers, equivalent to one-fifth of the country's area, enabling the Inuit territory to control their own destiny.

Nunavut is considered not only the "youngest" territory in the Canadian federation, but its demographic composition is also distinguished by its youth. About one in every two people is under the age of 25, according to the latest census.

This is embodied by Premier P. J. Akiugak, who was elected at the age of 37 in 2021, making him the youngest premier at that time in Canada.

About twenty years ago, Paul Okalik was the first to hold the position of Nunavut premier. He broke a similar record in the country at the age of 34.

P. J. Akiugak believes that it is no longer appropriate to describe Nunavut as a youthful territory.

He added: "I think we have passed the initial stage of growth," comparing the progress made in the region to the stages of building an igloo.

Overcrowding, which still affects one in every two Inuit residents, represents a challenge with a compounded impact, as it significantly affects mental and physical health, according to a damning federal housing advocate report published last November.

Financial dependency on Ottawa complicates the possibilities for improvements, as nearly 80% of Nunavut’s revenue comes from federal transfers.

Premier P. J. Akiugak confirms that his government is well aware of these problems and has made them a top priority. He summarized by saying: "There are still many challenges to overcome, but I remain optimistic."

According to the premier, many recent initiatives show that Nunavut is moving in the right direction.

In October 2022, his government launched the Nunavut 3000 strategy, which aims to build 3,000 new housing units across the territory by 2030.

Nunavut Housing Company indicated that 151 public housing units were built in 2022, then another 119 units in 2023. By the end of 2024, it is expected that 152 new housing units will be built.