Honourable Joseph (Joe) Handley, MLA, Weledeh

Joseph (Joe) Handley is the ninth Premier of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Handley was first elected as the Member for Weledeh in the 14th Legislative Assembly on December 6th, 1999 after serving as a Deputy Minister for the Government of the Northwest Territories for more than 14 years.

In January 2000, Mr. Handley was appointed Minister of Finance, Chairman of the Financial Management Board and Minister Responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. In November 2001, Mr. Handley was appointed Minister of Transportation and Minister Responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.

Born on August 9, 1943 in Meadowlake, Saskatchewan, Mr. Handley moved to the Northwest Territories in 1985 to assume the position of Deputy Minister of Education with the Government of the Northwest Territories. He has also served as the Deputy Minister for the Departments of Renewable Resources, Transportation and Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development as well as the President of the NWT Housing Corporation.

Prior to moving north, Mr. Handley was the official trustee and superintendent of the Frontier School Division in Manitoba for nine years. He was an Assistant Professor at both the University of British Columbia and the University of Manitoba.

He served for two years as a lecturer at the Cape Coast University and Winneba Teacher Training College in Ghana, West Africa and was a teacher and vice-principal at schools in Saskatchewan.

Mr. Handley and his wife Theresa have two children Michael and Michelle and four grandchildren who all live in Yellowknife.