Yellowknife (July 05/04) - A week after narrowly winning a fifth term in the House of Commons, Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew says it would have been a lot easier if the premier had been on her side.

Last week, she accused three Yellowknife MLAs and Hay River's Paul Delorey of almost costing her the election. On Friday, she took aim at Premier Joe Handley.

Blondin-Andrew is angry with one story appearing in News/North on election day where Handley endorsed the NDP's vision of the North, but said he would've preferred a Liberal majority government in the following Friday's Yellowknifer.

"That's not the way to get (a majority government)," said Blondin-Andrew.

"You can't get one by putting conditions out there that diminish those chances of it happening. You can't have it both ways."

She said her government has come to the GNWT's aid numerous times in recent years -- whether it be $91 million for pipeline work or an extra $20 million for health care.

She said she can't understand why Handley and his government didn't offer its support.

"If that's not a good vision for the North, what is?" said Blondin-Andrew.

"For 35 days I was out there, and I never received a request for clarification or for my position."

She said the closest the territorial government came to asking her in writing about her position on the North was when someone delivered a questionnaire to her door the day before the election.

"What is that all about? In the 11th hour of the election?" she asked.

"My campaign office was open. My fax line was open. All the public information was there to reach me."

Blondin-Andrew said she is also "befuddled" by the territorial government's claim to consensus government, when it appears party politics are alive and well, at least among some MLAs and cabinet ministers.

"Are they in party politics or consensus government, because I really find it hard to tell the difference," said Blondin-Andrew.

"If their government prefers the NDP vision they should declare themselves the NDP. Show your true colours, show who you are. No one will criticize you for that."

Blondin-Andrew said she has no immediate plans for herself in Prime Minister Paul Martin's minority government other than whatever assignment he intends to gives her.

As for running for a sixth term, for which she will likely have to make a decision sooner rather than later, Blondin-Andrew said right now she just wants to "savour the moment."

"I'd like to consider all the things I have to do in the next little while," she said.

"I just want to think about how to re-engage and get organized and start up again," said Blondin-Andrew.

"That's all I want to think about right now."