SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Joe Handley says it doesn't bother him that he donated money to Conservative Brendan Bell last year – a candidate Handley could very well be squaring off against come the next federal election.

Newly acclaimed Liberal candidate Joe Handley donated to Conservative Brendan Bell's campaign last year. - NNSL file photo

Handley donated $500 towards Bell's election campaign last fall, according to an Election Canada report on individual contributors. Last month, the former premier was acclaimed as the Liberal Party's candidate for the Western Arctic.

Handley said he has donated to both the Conservatives and Liberals in the past. He said his choice to donate centres around who he thinks will best represent the NWT in the House of Commons and, in 2008, Bell was his man.

"Brendan worked for me for a long time as a minister and I like him, I consider him a friend," said Handley.

"I know he needed money so I helped him out in a small way."

Bell received a total of $47,150 from 95 individual donors for last year's campaign – more than three times the amount received by the NDP's Dennis Bevington, who was re-elected.

From 2003 to 2007, Bell worked under Handley as minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and the Justice department. Both were elected as Yellowknife MLAs in 1999, and both exited territorial politics in 2007.

Handley said donating to election campaigns is an important part of maintaining a strong political system.

"If we don't do our part the whole system doesn't work," said Handley.

"I feel it's a responsibility we all have to make sure these things work. I take a look at it and see if it's worth me spending some money.

"I get a tax rebate on a portion of it and I contribute to a campaign. I've done it for the Liberals and the Conservatives in the past."