Jack Danylchuk
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 16/06) - The swing toward the Conservatives reported in national polls can be felt in the Northwest Territories, says Premier Joe Handley.

"That's probably having a bearing on a lot of voters because I get the sense many are still undecided," Handley said after the televised debates last week.

"There are a lot of people who feel there is a need for change, so the last days of the campaign will be interesting."

In the last two federal elections, Reform-Canadian Alliance-Conservative party candidates have finished a distant third to Liberal incumbent Ethel Blondin-Andrew and her strongest challenger, the NDP's Dennis Bevington.

The question that will hang in the air until Jan. 23 is: will the rising tide of support for Conservatives float Richard Edjericon's boat, or will the wave break before election day?

"He's certainly a credible candidate with good experience as a chief," said Handley. "He seems to be gaining momentum, in my estimation."

Edjericon has worked at taking aboriginal support from Blondin-Andrew in Rae-Edzo where she dominated the polls in June 2004, but Leon Lafferty thinks that, so far, voters aren't ready to reward his efforts.

"I think a lot of them will vote the same way they did in the last election," said Lafferty, chief of the Dogrib Rae Band, and a former MLA.

Voters have sought his opinion, "but I'm not telling them how to vote," Lafferty said. "I'm not like past leaders who told people you have to vote this way or that."

Inuvik Mayor Peter Clarkson said the Mackenzie Delta town is in a quiet two-way race between Bevington and Blondin-Andrew.

"There is strong support for Ethel and Dennis in the community, but I haven't met anyone who say they are a strong supporter for the Conservatives," he said.

Commitments to the Mackenzie Gas Project, the social impact fund and Northern platforms are big with voters in Inuvik, he said.

"I've heard some fear that a Conservative government could set back negotiations and discussions between Ottawa and the Territories," Clarkson said.

In Yellowknife, Mayor Gord Van Tighem said all three parties appear confident.

The Liberals report that people are happy with the status quo; the NDP say support is growing and the Conservatives are confident that they have the right candidate, he said.

"There are other undercurrents," said Van Tighem.

"One is that Dennis peaked the last time and may be struggling for votes that Rick will take back.

"If enough of those wander away, Ethel will continue her legacy."

Bill Erasmus, regional vice-chief for the Assembly of First Nations, said the "Conservatives are peaking, but it may be too soon. There is still a week to go."

Blondin-Andrew lost some support among aboriginal voters in June 2004 and Erasmus wouldn't predict whether they will return next Monday.

"I think Bevington took some of the vote last time and you have to question how and why he got the vote."

"Was it a protest vote against Ethel and will they go back to her?"

Erasmus said that aboriginal voters have not traditionally supported Conservative candidates in the Western Arctic.

"In the late 70s we made a conscious decision to participate in the vote and we got our own candidates. Wally Firth (NDP) was the first," he said.