Jason Unrau
Northern News Services
Friday, April 13, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - There has been much talk about who may run as the Western Arctic Conservative candidate in the next federal election, but according to David McPherson, riding president, nobody has stepped forward for consideration.

"We've had people that have called us, but to date no nomination papers have been filed," said McPherson.

He declined to comment on who has expressed interest since the riding's nomination process began in the new year.

Since then, territorial industry minister Brendan Bell and Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay have been touted as possible contenders, despite both NWT politicians' expressing their intentions to continue their work in the territorial political realm.

Other possibilities include former Dene Chief Richard Edjericon, who remains the riding's "candidate of record" after running in the last federal election. However, he has not made his intentions known to either the party or media and calls to Edjericon were not returned by press time.

On Wednesday, federal Health Minister Tony Clement attended a party luncheon and hinted an elected Conservative member from the Western Arctic could be a contender for cabinet.

That would depend on two factors: a re-elected Conservative government and elected Conservative from the Western Arctic.

"Running is not for the faint of heart, it's not for the amateur," cautioned Clement who won a tight 28-vote margin race in 2006 against Liberal incumbent

Andy Mitchell in Ontario's Parry Sound-Muskoka riding.

In an interview following the luncheon, McPherson qualified "amateur" as it relates to potential Conservative candidates for the NWT.

"Amateur doesn't mean you have to be an existing politician but we want somebody who knows what it takes to win and put in the hard work that is necessary to get people to vote for you," he said.

"We're looking for somebody who knows the issues, can relate to problems that we have up here with our federal programs and services and is credible both in the aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities."

McPherson said there is no closing date, as of yet, for nominations and that the majority of ridings across Canada without elected Conservative members have not been released to hold nomination meetings.

According to Conservative Party rules, party members must be given 30-days notice of a nomination meeting.