SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Conservative candidate Brendan Bell doesn't expect a contribution from Joe Handley next election.

Handley, the newly-minted Liberal candidate for the Western Arctic, put down $500 towards Bell's election run last year, according to Elections Canada.

Bell served as minister of Industry, Tourism, and Investment and the Justice department during Handley's premiership from 2003 to 2007. Both were elected as Yellowknife MLAs in 1999, and both exited territorial politics in 2007.

"Brendan worked for me for a long time as a minister and I like him, I consider him a friend," he said of his relationship with Bell.

"I knew he needed money so I helped him out in a small way."

Bell took in $47,150 in private donations last year - more than three times the amount reported by the NDP's Dennis Bevington, who was re-elected.

Handley said he has donated to both the Conservatives and Liberals in the past, and his choice to contribute to political parties centres around who he believes will do the best work for the NWT in the House of Commons. In 2008, Bell was his man, he said.

Bell said he still meets with Handley time to time, and their political differences make for great conversation.

"In talking to Joe he just felt the Conservative Party had the best vision for the North," Bell said of Handley's party choice last year.

"We both agree we're not well served with one seat and occupied by the fourth-place party (the NDP) in government, but we disagree on who has the better view for the North and he no longer believes it's the Conservatives. We can still agree on a number of fronts and have a social relationship."

Handley said making political contributions is an important part in ensuring that democracy flourishes.

"If we don't do our part the whole system doesn't work. I feel it's a responsibility we all have to make sure these things work," said Handley.

"I take a look at it and see if it's worth me spending some money. I get a tax rebate on a portion of it and I contribute to a campaign. I've done it for the Liberals and the Conservatives in the past."