Office of the Public Guardian

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) provides a range of support services to vulnerable Nunavummiut through its Guardianship Program. The Public Guardian is responsible for ensuring the health and wellbeing of Nunavummiut who, in the eyes of the Court, are unable to make decisions for themselves. The provision of support provided by the Public Guardian is holistic in nature, taking into account the client’s medical, physical, emotional, psychosocial, and behavioral issues. 

The OPG assesses the care and supervision needs of vulnerable adults under the care of the Public Guardian and works with various departments and organizations to ensure the needs of the vulnerable adults are appropriately met. 

Any adult can act as a guardian if they have had friendly, personal contact with the person for whom the guardianship order is sought within the previous 12 months, will act in the best interests of the person, have no interests in conflict with the interests of the person, will be easily accessible, are of suitable character, and live in Nunavut. 

If a person needs a guardian and there is no eligible adult available to act, the Public Guardian will apply for guardianship. If there is a private person available to act as guardian, the Public Guardian will usually be appointed as the alternate guardian and will assist in making the application to the Nunavut Court of Justice.