Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Monday, February 12, 2007

INUVIK - Residents of small NWT communities might soon have to jump through hoops before voting in Federal Elections, according to Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington.

The Federal government is debating a change to electoral law, which would require photo identification or recognition by a Chief Electoral Officer for all voters.

While most people in big cities have photo ID, Bevington said, this is less common in isolated regions.

Furthermore, since there is only one Chief Electoral Officer per riding - and the one for Western Arctic resides in Yellowknife - those without ID would need to mail or fax two proofs of residence and await a reply. Bevington said this might cause people to be turned away on election day. "Let's say you don't know if you're on the voting list and you show up. You might not be able to vote, even if the people there recognize you from birth," he said.

While Bevington said the NDP is "dead set against" the legislation, he said it is likely to pass.

"We're hopelessly outgunned on this," he said, adding Northerners should prepare well in advance and make sure they are registered. "People need to realize the mess this could create in the voting system."

Raymond Kaslak, who is acting SAO of Sachs Harbour, also said he's against the legislation.

He said few people in the hamlet have photo IDs, since the closest government station for drivers's licences is a plane ride away in Inuvik. "I think it's a bad idea," he said of the proposed legislation, adding plane tickets cost several hundred dollars.

"Under the Charter every citizen has the right to vote and if you don't have a photo ID that is infringing on your rights and freedoms," he said.

Bevington said the current system of Statutory Declaration - wherein an official town witness such as a mayor or electoral officer could assert someone's identity on the day of the vote - doesn't need to be changed. "We don't find this law was well thought out or necessary," he said.

The change to the electoral law, called bill C-31, was introduced earlier this year as a proposed measure to combat voter fraud.

The proposed legislation has Northern MPs on different sides of the fence.

Nunavut MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell supported the bill, known as Bill C-31, because she said it will help to crack down on possible electoral fraud. Yet she acknowledged the legislation could be perceived as another hardship for Northerners.

Karetak-Lindell took offence to the way Bevington has characterized some Northern residents. She said she didn't like his assertion that "aboriginal people and older people who live a simple life" may have trouble providing identification at the polls.

"I take offence at that because we're always being typecast as people who just can't take care of their own affairs," Karetak-Lindell said.

- with files from Chris Windeyer