Yellowknife (Sep 15/03) - The Northwest Territories will have a say in who becomes the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Thirty-nine delegates, including the Western Arctic MP and the NWT senator, will head to Toronto from November 12 to 15, 2003 to elect a new party leader and national executive.

Before that though, 21 will have to be elected on Sept. 20, 2003.

Liberal party members who want to be a delegate have to put their names on a ballot, said Lana Roeland, secretary of the Western Arctic Liberal Association.

The opportunity to vote for the new Liberal leader doesn't come cheap though, as the chosen delegates must pay a $595 registration fee to take part in the Liberal convention.

They must also pay for their own air fare, accommodations and food during the four-day convention.

Four youths, including one aboriginal, will also be selected.

Their transportation costs will be subsidized by the Liberal Party to the tune of 80 per cent, said Roeland.

They will be joined by about 2,000 riding delegates from around the country at the convention.

The automatic delegates include the presidents of the Western Arctic Liberal Association, the Western Arctic Liberal Association's youth wing, the women's commission and Aboriginal Peoples Commission, members of the territorial executive and ten delegates chosen by the territorial executive.

Paul Martin and Sheila Copps are running to replace Jean Chretien.