Yellowknife (July 19/04) - A judge has ordered a recount of the nearly 14,000 ballots cast in the Western Arctic riding during last month's federal election.

The decision is a victory for the New Democratic Party and candidate Dennis Bevington, who last week raised allegations of vote tampering and intimidation of a scrutineer.

The Liberals and winning candidate Ethel Blondin-Andrew fought the call for a recount of the June 28 election, which saw them squeak by Bevington and the NDP by 52 votes -- one of the narrowest margins in the history of the Western Arctic.

"We're obviously pleased with the decision," said NDP riding president Mark Heyck after Supreme Court Justice Virginia Schuler handed down her ruling on Friday afternoon.

"We're not presuming the over-all results will change. (But) it's important to make sure democracy is served," he said.

During Friday's court session, a lawyer for the NDP questioned the election results based largely on the sworn statement of a scrutineer who said a spoiled ballot had been counted in favour of Blondin-Andrew.

The scrutineer also said she was told to "be quiet" and "keep your mouth shut" when she questioned the decision.

"Voters must able to have confidence in the system that compiles their votes," said NDP's lawyer Karen Lajoie.

The Liberal's lawyer wasn't buying it.

"(This is) an extremely weak basis on which to make this application," Gerard Phillips said of the scrutineer's sworn statement.

In her decision, Schuler said the NDP presented "just enough evidence" to grant the recount.

"It can be inferred (irregularities) may have happened in other instances as well," she said.

The recount is scheduled to begin this morning (July 19) in a Yellowknife courtroom.

Schuler, along with representatives from the Liberals, NDP and Green parties will meticulously count the 13,500 ballots cast during the election.

Party representatives will have an opportunity to challenge the way each ballot is assigned, with the final say resting with Schuler.

The only group that won't be present for the recount is the Conservative Party.

"We have been completely unable to find the Conservative candidate or the official agent," said Lajoie.

During the election, candidate Sean Mandeville -- who was living in Nova Scotia until early June -- was criticized for being a "parachute candidate."

The Western Arctic is the sixth riding to undergo judicial recount this year, Lajoie said.

Blondin-Andrew did not return a telephone call seeking comment.