Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 16/06) - Conservative candidate Richard Edjericon is not worried that two aboriginal candidates in the Western Arctic riding may divide the aboriginal vote, and result in neither being elected on Jan. 23.

Richard Edjericon Party: Conservative Age: 43 Occupation: Management consultant Marital status: Divorced Children: One son Place of birth: Fort Resolution Place of residence: Ndilo

"I'm not really concerned by that," says the former chief of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. "Anything can happen in an election."

In the last election, he notes the Conservative candidate was not well known, but still finished a respectable third. Back then, Edjericon says many Conservative supporters and disaffected Liberals voted for New Democrat Dennis Bevington as the only logical choice to unseat long-time Liberal MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew.

"This year, the dynamic is different," Edjericon says.

His campaign has been going well, he says.

"It's been really positive. A lot of people are looking for change."

Edjericon lists devolution of powers to the GNWT from Ottawa and resource revenue sharing as the top campaign issue.

"Devolution and resource sharing are going to be key for the GNWT and for aboriginal groups," he says.

As for how that could happen more quickly, he points to the existing Aboriginal Summit.

"Take a look at that and see how we can fast track that process," he says.

The second main election issue is the proposed Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline, he says, noting many people hope to benefit from the project, but are concerned they are not getting the needed training.

The third major issue is land claims, he says.

"We need to resolve these issues once and for all."

Edjericon says he has not been closely following national opinion polls, which show the Conservatives surging to the lead.

However, he says the polls show Northerners that the Conservatives can form a government.

"It means that here in the North we do have a choice," he says, listing those choices as supporting him, or a Liberal who has been in Ottawa too long, or an NDP candidate in the fourth-place party in the House of Commons.