NNSL (June 04/97) - Monday's federal election was more important to some Yellowknife voters than past elections, in part because national issues were at stake.

"I think it was more important to vote this election than others," said Elvis Brown. "We need to get the Liberals back in to complete their mandate."

Some voters, like Brown, said they believed the Liberals should remain in power to complete the mandate they began in 1993. Others said it was an important vote for national unity.

Still others were looking for a change in the political landscape, which to some degree they got when the Liberals were held to just a slim majority, the NDP and PC parties each regained party status and Reform garnered enough public support to form the official opposition.

"I think it was more important to vote this time. There's a lot of disgruntled people out there because everything seems to be going downhill," said Pedro Teensma.

"There are a number of important issues in our country we shouldn't ignore -- the deficit, jobs, and I'm particularly worried Canada stays in one piece," said Mary Brant. "We need to have the right leader in place as we approach the (new) millennium."

Fewer voters across the Western Arctic turned out this year compared witho the turnout in 1993, however, the decline wasn't by much -- from 14,193 that year to about 13,369 this time around.

Roy Desjarlais, who worked the polling station at Sir John Franklin high school, one of three stations in Yellowknife, said early Monday the number of voters in the hours between 8 and 10 a.m. were down about 30 per cent.

At the Ndilo polling station, which in past elections has been set up at Prelude Lake, scrutineer Gabby Amero said voters seemed to have an easier time voting this election compared with past elections.

"It seems to be that they're making it easier for people to vote. It's easier to vote even if you weren't enumerated."

Mary Pepper, also a scrutineer at the Ndilo station, noted that turnout was pretty steady from her perspective.

"We've had quite a few people turn out that weren't on the list. One half to two-thirds of the polls have turned out (by a half-hour before polls closed)."

There were two Dogrib speakers at the polling station to assist those who needed help with the process of voting.

Both scrutineers said that the turnout seemed good, with a lot of young people turning out to vote.

Across Yellowknife, about 5,500 voters cast ballots, making up about 40 per cent of the Western Arctic electorate. Nearly 1,900 Yellowknife voters cast their ballots for Ethel Blondin-Andrew, the incumbent and Western Arctic winner.

Nationally, the Liberals returned to power with 155 seats. Reform won 60 seats, the BQ won 44 seats, NDP won 21, PC took 20 and one seat was won by an independent candidate.