Inuvik (July 02/04) - A day after Liberal incumbent Ethel Blondin-Andrew barely squeaked into her fifth term representing the Western Arctic, many political watchers in Inuvik were coming to grips with the results.

At the Cafe Gallery -- a good place to find a discussion on the issues of the day -- owner Rob Cook was skeptical about how long a minority government could function in Ottawa.

"It's a house of cards not destined to last long," he said. "The configuration of seats in Parliament is so tenuous that for the Liberals to get their way 60 to 80 per cent of the time, everything has to be perfect."

For Cafe customer Mike Whiteside, political parties on the fringe for the Western Arctic riding, such as the Green Party, took support from NDP candidate Dennis Bevington, who lost by 52 votes.

"I have no understanding of people's innate stupidity to miss an opportunity like this," he said of his hopes that Blondin-Andrew's reign would come to an end.

"People were living in a dream-world if they thought their vote for the Greens was going to matter one bit here. What a waste."

Customer Brian Terry took a slightly different take when sharing his dismay at Bevington's defeat.

"How the territory could not elect a three-time former mayor, who has been and continues to be politically and socially active and in touch with the issues of the North, is beyond me," he said.

Inuvik resident Peggy Jay says the slim victory for Blondin-Andrew should be a wake up call and hopes that the Liberal MP will take heed.

"This is a kind of report card for (Blondin-Andrew) and I hope she pays attention," said Jay.

And for all those who made the effort to vote, there is always the contingent who were completely disinterested and avoided the process altogether.

"I know it affects me, but I don't follow it," said Cafe Gallery employee Angela Dalby of why she didn't vote. "I just don't care about that stuff."