Voters rout incumbents in Yellowknife
Five new faces headed to assembly; Bob McLeod defends Yellowknife South seat
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Monday, November 30, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
As the results on election night trickled in on Nov. 23, it became apparent the city would be waking up the next morning with a transformed legislative assembly.
Bob McLeod watches live coverage of the election on Nov. 23 in Yellowknife. He was able to preserve his Yellowknife South seat against two challengers, Nigit'stil Norbert and Samuel Roland. - Walter Strong/NNSL photo |
There will be five new faces representing the city's eight electoral districts when the 18th Legislative Assembly meets, based on unofficial Elections NWT results.
The results of two ridings in Yellowknife are expected to undergo a judicial recount because they were so close, says the territory's chief electoral officer. Nicole Latour told News/North the day after the Nov. 23 votes in Range Lake and Yellowknife North that the top two candidates were so close they require a recount.
Those recounts were expected to be carried out within a week likely in the city, she said.
Kieron Testart, Julie Green and Caroline Cochrane-Johnson toppled incumbents in city districts, with Cochrane's victory subject of one of four recounts across the territory. Green and Cochrane-Johnson were the only women elected across the territory.
"I'd say the clear message (was) wanting change and the same old was not going to serve any longer," outgoing Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley said in the Great Hall of legislative assembly after results were published.
Testart defeated former Industry, Tourism and Investment and Justice Minister David Ramsay in Kam Lake by 78 votes. Green upset Robert Hawkins in the Yellowknife Centre riding by 91 votes while Cochrane-Johnson won by 10 over Daryl Dolynny in the Range Lake riding.
Yellowknife area MLAs returning to the assembly are Tom Beaulieu from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, Glen Abernethy from Great Slave and Bob McLeod from Yellowknife South. McLeod, who served as premier in the last assembly, told those celebrating at his election headquarters he intends to seek an unprecedented second term in the premier's office. That decision is up to MLAs.
Newly elected MLAs are expected to have a three-day orientation meeting starting Nov. 30.
MLAs will be sworn in Dec. 8 with the speaker, premier and cabinet selected Dec. 16.
In Frame Lake a close race saw environmentalist Kevin O'Reilly edge out three others in the district Wendy Bisaro held before announcing she wouldn't run again.
The new district of Yellowknife North saw a close finish between two former city councillors. Cory Vanthuyne, who had served as deputy mayor earlier this year, topped Dan Wong by 16 votes. The thin margin has forced a recount.
Bromley, a two-term MLA who also said he would not run this time, had represented most of the district previously.
Chris Clarke lost in Great Slave to Abernethy, who had served as health minister in the last government. Abernethy said he knocked on 1,384 doors in the campaign with the common theme being mental health and education.
"Most were pretty excited by the move to develop a mental health strategy in the Northwest Territories," Abernethy said.
"That's gotta be a priority move for us, gotta be."
Turnout in electoral districts across the city was down from 2011 in all but Yellowknife Centre, with between 25 to 44 per cent of registered voters casting a ballot.
Key dates for 18th Legislative Assembly
- Nov. 30 - First-time MLAs head to Yellowknife for three-day orientation
- Dec. 3 - Two days of meetings for all MLAs start
- Dec. 7 - MLAs meet for briefing
- Dec. 8 - MLAs sworn in in the legislative assembly
- Dec. 14 - Public meeting to come up with priorities for new government
- Dec. 16 - Select speaker, premier and cabinet
- Dec. 17 - Assembly sits to ratify selection of cabinet, cabinet is sworn in
- January - Interim budget established
- February - Likely the first sitting of 18th assembly
- Source: Assembly clerk Tim Mercer
