Yellowknife (Feb 23/04) - Despite wild rumours, former premier Stephen Kakfwi said Saturday he won't be seeking a seat in the House of Commons.

Former premier, Stephen Kakfwi, was all smiles at a party held in his honour Saturday night in Yellowknife. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

A media report, Friday, quoted an unnamed official with the Western Arctic Liberal Association, claiming Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen had taken out nomination papers for the former premier.

But when approached at an event to celebrate Kakfwi's 30 years in territorial politics, Saturday, the former premier said he had no plans to contest the nomination of four-term Liberal MP for the Western Arctic, Ethel Blondin-Andrew.

He said the event held at the Multiplex arena in Yellowknife, which drew hundreds of well-wishers from abroad and across the territory, was by no means a staging ground for any re-entry into politics but merely a party in his honour.

"This has nothing to do with it," said Kakfwi. "We had one for one for (former premier, Jim Antoine) in December. It has nothing to do with federal politics."

Groenewegen said she believes rumours that she had taken out nomination papers for the former premier started when she enquired about taking out a membership with the Liberal party about a month ago.

"I was considering buying a Liberal membership but I did not make a decision on that," said the former cabinet minister in Kakfwi's government. Groenewegen said even if she wanted to nominate Kakfwi, she wouldn't know how to do it.

"I don't even know how the process works," she said. "I've never been to a Liberal nomination meeting or any other political party nomination."

Lana Roeland, secretary for the Western Arctic Liberal Association, said as far as she knows, the only person to file nomination papers was Blondin-Andrew on Friday.

She did say, however, rumours about Kakfwi making a run have been rampant as of late. "That's the word, I just don't know how credible it is," said Roeland.

As for the party Saturday night, Kakfwi said he was pleased to see so many people in attendance.

"It's great. I think they all came to dance," he said.