Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Apr 07/04) - The heat is being turned up in Nunavut for the next federal election.

Former Education Minister Manitok Thompson has announced she is no longer seeking Nunavut's Liberal nomination and will run as an independent candidate.

Thompson became upset when the Liberals changed the party's nominee selection date to April 29 from March 31.

"I worked hard getting support and got a lot of response to my efforts," said Thompson.

"It was an educational experience for a lot of our elders who didn't really understand how the process works."

Thompson said she has a problem with the deadline being extended because of current Nunavut Member of Parliament (MP) Nancy Karetak-Lindell's schedule.

She said this is the first time in her political career a date was changed to an election process that had already been set.

"I respected the party's rules and accepted the original dates, but I don't know what the rules are any more.

"In light of the circumstances, I felt it would be better for me to run as an independent candidate.

Make their own choice

"Now, Nunavummiut who are eligible to vote can make their own choice as to who they think will better serve Nunavut's needs in Ottawa."

Karetak-Lindell said she's not concerned with Thompson's contention that the nominee selection date was delayed due to her busy schedule.

"She's (Thompson) going to make any comment she can trying to ruin my reputation, but I just try and stay above that type of thing and concentrate on what I have to do to make sure I win the next election," says Lindell.

"Sometimes that's the ugly part of politics in that you're always a target and you're not going to please everyone no matter what you do."

Lindell said she received tremendous support from across Nunavut during the nomination process and was not overly concerned with getting the Liberal nomination.

"This nomination process really helped get us ready for the big one.

"I'm just waiting to hear when the federal election will be and concentrating all my energy and resources on my re-election bid.

"As far as Thompson is concerned, she's just another candidate to me."

Thompson said she originally wanted to run as a Liberal because she saw Prime Minister Paul Martin as a leader open to new ideas, and was impressed with the way he was dealing with party scandals across the nation.

However, she said there are still a lot of people in Nunavut who don't fully understand party politics.

"They're used to our consensus style of government in which you vote for the person you think will best do the job," she said.

"That may be good for me in the election."

Now that she's announced she will run as an independent, Thompson said she would not be swayed if another party courted her as a candidate.

Best deal for Nunavut

"We need to find the best deal for Nunavut and I'll concentrate on that if I'm fortunate enough to be voted in to go to Ottawa.

"But, I'm here for the people, who I believe are used to voting for the person, not the party.

"I've got my name forward and we'll see what the people say."