Joseph Paul Murdoch-Flowers appointed as Nunavut Ethics Officer

Iqaluit, Nunavut (February 20, 2024) – The Honourable Margaret Nakashuk, Minister of Human Resources, today announced the appointment of Nunavut resident Joseph Paul Murdoch-Flowers as the new territorial Ethics Officer. 

“Mr. Murdoch-Flowers has extensive legal expertise rooted in Inuit life and culture,” said Nakashuk. “His broad legal experience is matched by his work in restorative justice, an essential ingredient for the territorial Ethics Officer. Mr. Murdoch-Flowers’ role is to ensure public confidence in the administration of government departments, public bodies, and offices.”

Originally from Labrador and a Faculty of Law graduate of McGill University, Murdoch-Flowers is a practicing lawyer and has worked in the National Litigation Division for the Government of Canada’s Department of Justice. Prior to that, he worked in civil litigation with the Legal Services Board of Nunavut and as Acting Senior Justice of the Peace for the Nunavut Court of Justice.

“My intention is to bring a level of confidence, responsibility, impartiality, and leadership to a role designed to assist public service employees with a process in communicating serious and unresolved concerns without reprisal, and by doing so, ensuring transparency and fairness,” said Murdoch-Flowers.

The Ethics Officer appointment is for a term of five years and the officer may be reappointed. To ensure impartiality, the Officer is not a member of the public service.