Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 14, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Former premier Joe Handley said Wednesday he would not run as a Liberal in the coming federal election.

"Given the potential of an election coming soon, I'm just not ready for it," he said.

Joe Handley - had been rumoured to be considering a federal run with the Liberals in an upcoming election.

While Handley said the time was not right for a federal run, he wouldn't rule anything out for the future.

"Once it's in your blood it's in your blood," he said. "We'll just have to wait and see."

Handley has long been rumoured to be one of the candidates considering a federal run with the Liberals in an upcoming election.

Another is former premier, public speaker, negotiator and musician Stephen Kakfwi.

"I don't have a comment on anything today," Kakfwi said from the road when contacted by Yellowknifer.

In January, Kakfwi not only expressed interest in running, but was certain he could take the election.

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

He said he was waiting for an expression of interest from the Liberal party.

In a previous interview, Lana Roeland, president of the Western Arctic Liberal Association, said there were "two strong candidates" in the waiting for the Liberals, and the nomination process would happen in the new year.

She did not return calls by deadline.

Both the NDP and Conservatives have declared their candidates for any potential election.

While he's looking forward to some down-time on the road, Handley said he has figured out how he will keep busy post-politics.

"I have signed on with Pacific Western Bank as a special advisor on the North"

The London, Ont., based company, which owns Discovery Air, is poised to make major investments into infrastructure in the North, potentially in highways and a future expansion of the Taltson River project, he said.

"I've always been interested in infrastructure," Handley said. "You need that to manage the cost of living, and if you're going to have a strong economy."