Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - With the territorial race under way, one candidate is getting a bit more exposure than expected from her former employers.

Carol Morin, former host of CBC's Northbeat, has been popping up in promotional ads for the show every afternoon, long after she had taken a leave of absence from the station to run as an MLA candidate for Weledeh - something CBC is attributing to a "scheduling error."

"We went to great lengths in Yellowknife to make sure that wouldn't happen," said John Agnew, regional director for radio and television with CBC North.

He said a request had been placed to the CBC offices in Toronto, who co-ordinate the northern broadcasts, to have the promo cut.

"Maybe our scheduling system isn't working as it should," he said. "It's not where we want to be.

"CBC goes to great lengths to make sure that people can't capitalize on their position at CBC for political means."

Several community members have contacted CBC about the problem, Agnew said, some of whom work with Weledeh candidates.

However, most of the candidates said they aren't taking the promos too seriously.

"We're not that interested in making this a big issue," said candidate Bob Bromley. "We're focusing on the campaign ourselves and taking the high road here. "

"In all fairness to Carol, she's the one that should be dealing with this issue," said fellow candidate Andy Wong.

"It offends some of the voters, and I don't think that is what she wants."

Weledeh candidate Jonas Sangris, meanwhile, said he wasn't aware of the promos at deadline.

However, neither was Morin, who said she had not heard of the problem until Yellowknifer raised it.

Morin said she gave CBC ample notice, as early as June, of her intention to run, and followed their procedures as best she could.

"They've had plenty of time to prepare," she said. "I'm sure they'll take care of it."

However, she said she wished someone had contacted her about the issue.

While she acknowledges the confusion the promos might have created, Morin said she trusts voters to know the difference between Carol Morin, Northbeat host and Carol Morin, MLA candidate.

"I think people understand that was the position that I was in previous to the campaign," she said. "The two are separate. They've been separate for several weeks."

Agnew said the public broadcaster has a clear policy when it comes to their employees entering politics.

"When people run for office, they need permission from the corporation," he said.

"Basically, they need permission to be freed up from their employment," he said. "When they do that, they take an unpaid leave of absence from the corporation.

"Should they win, they resign."

If they aren't successful at the polls, he said the employee could return at management's discretion. This depends in part, he said, on the "political profile" the employee raises.

The NWT territorial election is Oct. 1.