Jason Unrau
Northern News Services
Friday, January 26, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Former premier Stephen Kakfwi says he believes he could win the Western Arctic seat back for the Liberals in the next federal election, but is waiting to hear if anyone is interested in him running.

"I basically said if people out in the communities want to see me run, I'm interested," said Kakfwi, referring to comments he made earlier on radio.

"I just wanted people to know if they want to win, I could do it for them but I don't think there's going to be an election this spring."

Even as federal Liberal Party leader Stephan Dion dismissed any ambition to push for a spring federal election, there was much talk in Yellowknife of who would vie for the Western Arctic seat in the next election.

And this isn't the first time Kakfwi has expressed interest in running for the Liberals.

Kakfwi pressured long-term MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew to vacate her seat during her last term in office so he could run, saying he would've got more votes.

He said his past service in Northern politics will bode well in the federal realm and if elected, he believes he could get a cabinet post.

"I have a high profile, considerable experience as a politician and a presence in Ottawa and a presence here," he said.

"I know Paul Martin and have a good relationship with former prime minister Jean Chretien."

In addition to Kakfwi, rumours are swirling that Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee wants a shot to run for the Liberal Party in the Western Arctic.

"People have been asking me about it but the point is until Ethel Blondin- Andrew states what her intentions are I support whatever she wants to do," said Lee, adding she's "touched" that people would consider her as a federal candidate.

She was Blondin-Andrew's campaign manager in the January 2006 federal election that saw NDP candidate Dennis Bevington head to Ottawa.

Lee said she's focused on her work in the legislative assembly, with an eye on a cabinet post if she successfully retains her seat following the October territorial election.

"There are no hypotheticals, there is no election and no vacancy (for the Western Arctic Liberal candidacy)," said Lee, who declined to speculate what she would do if Blondin-Andrew declined to seek the nomination again.

"A lot of people are asking me about federal politics but I have work to do in Northern politics."

Blondin-Andrew recently indicated she is not ruling out another run. She told a radio station that she has yet to make a decision until consulting with her Liberal Party associates in the North and in Ottawa.

For the Conservatives, NWT Justice Minister Brendan Bell has been touted as that party's great Northern hope. However, in a conversation with Yellowknifer this week, Bell stated his intention to remain in territorial politics.

"I will say a number of people from the party have approached me to gauge my interest," said Bell, a supporter of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party.

"It's flattering but really I've got a job to do with eight or nine months left to go (in the 15th legislative assembly). There's a number of things we've got to deliver on and I really have to focus on that but in the future, who knows?"

Richard Edjericon, Conservative candidate in the last go-around, was unavailable for comment as of press time.

Dave Ramsay, Kam Lake MLA and Conservative Party member, told Yellowknifer that the "Conservative camp is looking for a candidate and that interest was expressed by a couple of people."

Ramsay said he expects a leadership meeting to take place in four to six weeks and, "By the end of February there will be something done."

As for his own interest in the spot, Ramsay said he's interested but wants to garner more experience at the territorial level and believes he has something to offer.

"I've been interested in being a candidate at the federal level for some time but I like my job and see some places where I think I can make a difference," he said.

"So in the foreseeable future I'm going to run for re-election this fall and that's where my heart is right now."

As for the NDP, current Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington was acclaimed last week as the party's Western Arctic candidate.