Is NWT election-ready?
No candidates declared for main political parties with federal election approaching
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Although a federal election is at most less than six months away, there are still no declared candidates for the main political parties in the NWT.
Incumbent New Democrat MP Dennis Bevington told Yellowknifer Monday that if Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls a snap spring election in the next few weeks then he will likely run.
"Once the window for a spring election closes, (by the third week of May) I'll be letting people know one way or another," Bevington said.
Harper could still call a snap election with 60 days notice but Bevington and other political observers said that appears unlikely.
The election is currently scheduled for Oct. 19.
There are two candidates for the Liberal nomination, Kieron Testart, a former NWT Liberal Association president, and Gail Cyr, a former Yellowknife city councillor.
Yellowknifer pointed out to Testart that the contact information for the Western Arctic Liberal Association on the Liberal Party of Canada website has not been updated.
In fact, at the time of the interview, it listed Jeremy Weyerman as its president and uses his e-mail for contact information.
He is the past president and it is unclear where e-mails to him go or even whether they will be answered.
"There's no obligation for the party to issue press releases or to communicate leadership changes at the local riding level to members of the public," Testart said. "All the members of the riding association, all active liberal members in the NWT are aware of who is on the executive and changes to the executive."
Testart pointed out that the correct e-mail address is listed on the Liberal Party of the NWT's Facebook page.
"If you are concerned that so close to an election there is no ability to contact the association, I would say that's false because it's always better to contact the organization than an individual because it is tracked and a response will be given in a timely fashion," Testart said.
"The NWT Liberal Association website is maintained by the National Liberal Association and I can't speak to why the local executive hasn't told the national office to update the website."
Testart stepped down as local liberal association president in October when he declared his intention to seek the liberal nomination.
He was then replaced by Weyerman who has since been replaced by Rosanna Nicol. She declined to comment to Yellowknifer before any questions could be asked.
Former Liberal MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew also declined to comment before any questions were asked.
Yellowknifer asked Bertha Rabesca Zoe if she was considering a run for the liberal nomination.
She didn't say no but has been unavailable for further comment since.
Inuvik Mayor Floyd Roland has previously told Yellowknifer he is interested in seeking the nomination for the Conservative Party but he was not been available for comment last week.
The NWT Conservative Association's website asks supporters if they have ordered their lawn signs yet even though the party has no official candidate.
David Connelly is the NWT's national councillor for the Conservative Party of Canada and said lawn signs can't go up until the election is officially called.
"You can still order a lawn sign now without knowing who the candidate will be," Connelly said.
"Although there is no one who has handed in their papers yet to seek the Conservative nomination in the NWT, there is interest from a number of candidates, including Floyd Roland."
The Liberal Party of Canada website indicates 246 candidates are declared for the fall election.
Two-hundred-and-thirty-four Conservatives have been nominated, according to the Conservative Party website.
There will be 338 seats up for grabs in this election.
