Yellowknife (Apr 18/05) - Premier Joe Handley says a better choice couldn't have been made in naming Tony Whitford as the new commissioner for the Northwest Territories.

The former speaker of the legislative assembly was appointed to a three-year term by Andy Scott, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, on Thursday.

He is already serving under current Commissioner Glenna Hansen as deputy commissioner, which he was appointed to last year.

"Tony is a real people person," said Handley.

"It's just his personality. He's always upbeat and very friendly, it doesn't matter who it is."

The job of commissioner is largely ceremonial. Legislatively, their most important role is to sign into law bills that have passed through the legislative assembly.

But as the Crown's representative in the Northwest Territories, Whitford will also be expected to roam among the people, attending various functions, and visiting classrooms.

It's there where Handley feels Whitford will excel.

"It's one of the things I want to see the commissioner do more of, explaining governance to young people," said Handley. "I have a notion young people don't really understand the evolution we're going through. Tony can do that without getting into the politics."

The 64-year-old was born in Fort Smith on June 11, 1941, and attended schools in Fort Resolution and Fort Smith before graduating high school in Yellowknife where he now resides. After working with the territorial government for 11 years, Whitford ran for MLA and won a seat in 1988, which he held until 1995.

In 1999, he made another run for MLA in Kam Lake and was re-elected with nearly 80 per cent of the vote. Shortly after, he was named speaker of the legislative assembly by his fellow MLAs, which he served until his retirement in 2003.

Whitford said he is looking forward to getting started.

"I'm very excited about what's going to be happening here over the next three years," said Whitford.