Who will run for NWT MP?
Bevington on the fence on whether he will run for re-election as NWT Liberal Party President Kieron Testart and former NWT Conservative Party president Floyd Roland confirm they're seeking nomination
Randi Beers
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 13, 2014
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Depending on whether Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls an early election, NWT MP Dennis Bevington may not seek another term in the House of Commons.
Dennis Bevington: NDP MP will not commit to running for another term. He says if the fixed election date of October 19, 2015, stands he will decide in the new year. If an election is called this fall, he says he's in. - NNSL file photo |
Northwest Territories residents could be heading to the polls anytime between 36 days from today and the fixed election date of Oct. 19, 2015.
No party has elected their nominee yet, but potential candidates are beginning to materialize.
Bevington, the incumbent MP, says he will likely run if Harper calls an election this fall or next spring.
However, if the prime minister waits for his term to run out in the fall of 2015, Bevington is not yet willing to commit.
"I worked very hard to get here but I'm also cognizant of the time and work involved to do this job," he said.
"It's been an honour and a privilege to serve the people of the NWT, there's no doubt about that."
Bevington said he will announce his final decision early in the new year.
Liberal Party president Kieron Testart told News/North Thursday he is taking a leave of absence from his post in order to run for the Liberal candidacy.
"For me, as a long time Northern resident and somebody who has been working for two years to engage Northerners on the issues, there's only so long before you feel like you have a contribution to make," he said.
"I care a lot about this community and I want to see it doing better than it is."
So far, Testart is the only person to file nomination papers with the Liberals, but at least one other person said he is considering a run.
"It's been heavily on my mind for some time," said Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins.
"I have gotten a lot of feedback from people whenever I've visited communities in the territory that it is something I should look at."
Hawkins said the issue is "weighing heavily on his shoulders" and he will take some time to consider whether he's in a position to commit the time and energy it takes to be a Member of Parliament.
"I still have a young family and I'm trying to balance that," he said.
As for former premier Stephen Kakfwi, he's putting to bed rumours he might seek the Liberal nomination.
"I haven't thought of it, not at all," he told News/North.
"I left politics, I had enough, I gave it everything I had for almost 20 years with no breaks and almost no holidays.
"I've been lucky to have been elected for that long but it takes a toll. There can be a really ugly side to politics and after awhile you don't feel like doing it anymore."
Kakfwi described the lifestyle of an MP as "spending 25 per cent of your life on a plane" and said he'd rather spend that time in Yellowknife supporting his wife and caring for his grandchildren.
NWT Conservative Party president Ray Decorby said his party will be starting the "vigorous nomination process in the not too distant future."
He was unwilling to say who has come forward as potential nominees, but confirmed the party
is considering more than one person for candidacy.
Inuvik Mayor Floyd Roland told News/North Friday he is one of the potential nominees preparing the paperwork to seek the Conservative Party nomination.
"I've had a lot of people tell me we need positive representation that represents the whole of the North in a positive way," said the former premier.
"My experience from a community to territorial level provides me with a good cross reference of the people and issues.
"It's a continuation of something I pushed in my previous life in the legislative assembly is to build a stronger, more sustainable territory."
In an e-mail statement, Merven Gruben, former mayor of Tuktoyaktuk and vice president of E Grubens Transport Ltd., confirmed he is not seeking the Conservative nomination.
Dennis Bevington won the last federal election for the NDP in 2011 with 45 per cent of the vote with Conservative candidate Sandy Lee in second place with 32 per cent.
Behind them was Joe Handley with the Liberals, Eli Purchase with the Green Party and Bonnie Dawson, who ran with the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada.
- with files from John McFadden
