Yellowknife (Dec 04/06) - Hay River resident Wayne Keefe wants an investigation into the town's election practices and a judicial recount for the Oct. 16 municipal election he told Northwest Territories Supreme court Friday.

Justice Louise Charbonneau adjourned proceedings until Dec. 15 to give Keefe a chance to determine how many witnesses he plans to call, adjust his affidavit if he chooses and whether or not to obtain legal counsel.

Both Charbonneau and laywer Michael Hansen, representing Hay River South elections returning officer Selena Pukanich urged Keefe - currently representing himself - to get a lawyer.

"There's some confusion about what you want the court to do," said Charbonneau referring to Keefe's affidavit in which he asks the court for a recount and an investigation into local election practices.

However, there is nothing in the Local Authorities Election Act that could trigger such an investigation.

Keefe brought the challenge before supreme court after receiving information mayor-elect John Pollard's daughter Kailey was counting ballots.

Other evidence Keefe plans to present include poor voter access for elderly and disabled voters at the Vale Island polling station. In court Friday, Keefe stated he had evidence of seven instances of election act violations.

"You're asking for something much more significant than a recount," Charbonneau told Keefe. "I sense the case you want to bring to court is a challenge to the election itself."

The next court date is scheduled for Dec. 15 in Yellowknife, however both Keefe and Hansen agreed the case should be heard in Hay River.