SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Fort Simpson businessman Chuck Blyth did not intend to become the second most powerful Liberal in the NWT after MP Michael McLeod.

He said he became president of the NWT Federal Liberal Association because he wanted to help out. Blyth was acclaimed as association president at a meeting of the association's executive late last month.

He took over after what some are calling a bloodless coup that forced previous president John Dalton of Yellowknife from the position. Blyth said he will stay on at least until the association's annual general meeting in November.

Blyth helps run Blyth and Bathe, a consulting firm specializing in archaeology, biology, traditional land use and environmental education.

John Dalton, a longtime Yellowknife politician, businessman and trustee of the Yellowknife Catholic school board, resigned as president of the association at that same meeting. Judging by responses to an e-mailed motion obtained by News/North calling for his ouster it appears he had little choice.

The association also lost its vice-president at the meeting when Kam Lake MLA Kieron Testart stepped down from the position citing work and family commitments. He insisted his resignation from the executive had nothing to do with the Dalton controversy.

According to the e-mails, the motion to remove Dalton as president was introduced by association executive member David Monroe. He took Dalton to task in a scathing e-mail dated June 20.

"Since assuming the position of president, Mr. Dalton has failed to effectively communicate with the members of the executive in an effective manner," Monroe stated in his e-mail. "Communications to Mr. Dalton by e-mail from both fellow members of the executive and regular members have been completely ignored. Requests have gone unanswered and either through negligence or ignorance, answers to queries have been completely ignored."

Monroe went on to question Dalton's continued service as a returning officer for the district of Yellowknife Centre despite the NWT's Elections and Plebiscites Act prohibition of any partisan activity by returning officers in territorial elections. Nonetheless, this was not the most serious allegation Monroe made against Dalton.

"Mr. Dalton has displayed his disgusting misogyny on repeated occasions and treats any woman who disagrees with him with scorn and disrespect," Monroe's e-mail states. "For the reasons listed ... I believe the executive has more than sufficient cause to remove Mr. Dalton."

Dalton said in an interview that Monroe is entitled to his opinion but added his critic cited no evidence of the alleged sexist behaviour.

"I think that the individual that would be willing to put that in writing has some problems," said Dalton. "I think it's just the ramblings of someone who has a great deal of inner problems. He will be held accountable at some point."

Dalton had no comment when asked whether he is considering legal action.

Monroe did not respond to a request for comment by deadline. Neither McLeod nor Testart were willing to address Monroe's accusations in an interview with News/North.

Testart, who was Michael McLeod's campaign manager, said he could not comment because he is no longer on the executive. Testart added that McLeod would not be addressing the issue because officially only Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can speak on behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Testart stated in a response to the e-mailed motion that he did support the motion to remove Dalton as president.

"There has been no apparent change in the conduct of the president and (association) business continues to fall behind," wrote Testart. "All efforts have been made to correct the issues contained in the motion without success, which is why I am supporting the motion."

In another response, Bill Braden, chair of the association's fundraising committee, said dealing with the issue via e-mail is inappropriate and that Liberals in the NWT were shooting themselves in the foot.

"This is bizarre. Declaring John unfit for office and dealing with it via 'chiming' on e-mail is at the very least a demonstration of how undemocratic and dysfunctional our executive is," Braden wrote.

"I suggest the cleanest and most open way of resolving this would be for the entire executive to submit our resignations."

Braden would not comment further to News/North deferring instead to the new association president.

Blyth told News/North that he had no comment on Dalton's resignation.

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