SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Joe Handley didn't stay out of politics for very long.

At a barbecue on 55 Street Saturday, the former premier announced his intention to seek the Liberal party nomination as its Western Arctic candidate in the next federal election.

Joe Handley is back and running for office. On Saturday, the former premier announced his intention to seek the Western Arctic Liberal party nomination in the next federal election. Handley said his focus would be on the economy and creating jobs for NWT residents. - Herb Mathisen/NNSL photo

"I'm getting ready to file my papers," he said. "We're just getting ready for whenever the election happens - whether it's fall or spring."

Handley spent 14 years as a deputy minister in the GNWT, and another eight as an MLA including four years as premier.

Since leaving office in the fall of 2007 at the end of the 15th legislative assembly, Handley has done consulting work around the North.

Most notably, he has worked for ATCON, the company that signed a $132-million contract to build the Deh Cho Bridge, for which he was a major proponent as premier. He has also consulted for aboriginal organizations such as the Deton' Cho Corporation, the Norman Wells Metis and other groups.

"They phone me and want me to give them a hand on something," he said. "I'll continue that until there is a nomination meeting or election."

If chosen, he said "all of that (consulting) stuff would have to come to a stop."

He said he has missed politics, particularly "the opportunity to develop policy and to be part of implementing it."

Handley said he wants to run because he's concerned about Ottawa's lack of attention and commitment to the NWT, including the slow movement of the proposed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline.

"I'm equally concerned with the lack of progress with land claims and devolution," he said, adding the territory came close to a deal with the last Liberal government.

He said a Liberal government would be more open to devolving responsibility to the territory. He added the NWT was "still a ways away" from any resource-revenue sharing deal with Ottawa.

Handley said he has been a card-carrying Liberal most of his life and likes the party's leader Michael Ignatieff and the position the Liberals are in heading into the next election - whenever that may be.

"I believe the Liberals will form the next government," he said, adding "the North should have a member who is part of the party in power."

He said he thought he would get broad support across the territory if named the Liberal candidate.

"I'm known and the Liberal party is showing tremendous poll results."

Handley said he hoped his announcement would spur others to put their names forth for the position.

"Let's get the best person we can find for the Liberals," he said.

Lana Roeland, president of the Western Arctic Liberal Association, said she has heard from other people interested in running, but no one other than Handley had given a definitive answer so far.

"A race is always healthy," she said.

Gabrielle Mackenzie-Scott ran as the Western Arctic's Liberal candidate in the last federal election.

Roeland said she didn't expect an election to be called this summer but speculated it could happen as early as this fall.

She said the party will decide on its candidate later this summer - most likely at the end of August.