Premier R.J. Simpson today announced the appointment of Brad Patzer as Deputy Minister of Justice for the Government of the Northwest Territories, effective November 2, 2026.
Mr. Patzer brings more than two decades of experience serving the people of the Northwest Territories through various roles with the Department of Justice. He most recently served as Assistant Deputy Minister and Attorney General, a position he has held since July 2020. In this role, he provided leadership and support to the Department in delivering justice services and advancing legislative initiatives.
Mr. Patzer began his legal career in Manitoba, working in private practice in Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie. In 2001, he and his family moved to Yellowknife, where he joined the Legal Division of the Department of Justice. He maintained a primarily litigation and advisory practice, appearing in communities across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
He has appeared before all levels of court in the Northwest Territories, including the Territorial Court, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, and has appeared twice before the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2011, he was appointed Director of the Legal Division, where he oversaw approximately 20 lawyers providing in-house legal services to the territorial government.
Mr. Patzer has also been active in the NWT legal community. He served as President of the Law Society of the Northwest Territories in 2020 and currently serves as Treasurer.
In his new role, Mr. Patzer will provide leadership and direction for the Department of Justice. He is a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Manitoba.
He succeeds Charlene Doolittle, who is retiring after more than 25 years of service to the GNWT, including in a number of progressive senior management roles.
Quote
“Brad Patzer brings a wealth of legal experience and a deep understanding of the Northwest Territories to this role. Over more than two decades with the Department of Justice, he has worked across the territory, taken on increasingly senior leadership responsibilities and developed a strong understanding of the legal and operational realities of government. I am confident he will provide strong leadership to the Department as Deputy Minister.”
“I also want to recognize Charlene Doolittle, who is retiring from the Deputy Minister role after over 25 years with the Government of the Northwest Territories. Charlene provided steady leadership and made important contributions to the public service throughout her career. On behalf of Cabinet and the Government of the Northwest Territories, I thank her for her many years of service and wish her all the best in what comes next.”
- R.J. Simpson, Premier of the Northwest Territories
Quick facts
- Deputy Ministers are the non-elected heads of GNWT departments.
- The Commissioner in Executive Council appoints Deputy Ministers on the advice of the Premier.
- Deputy Ministers serve at the pleasure of, and are accountable to, the Premier for the performance of their duties.
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