SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The territorial Conservative association has its candidate now that a federal election could follow today's expected non-confidence vote in Parliament.

Dennis Bevington: Western Arctic MP said the election comes as a bit of a surprise. Joe Handley: Liberal candidate said he's ready to hit the campaign trail. Sandy Lee: Health minister did not deny seeking the Conservative nomination.

Sources within the NWT Conservative association confirmed Health Minister Sandy Lee will take the reins after Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay told Yellowknifer he withdrew his name from the race Thursday.

"As much as people wanted me to pursue it, with a young family and so much going on here, I just can't do it," he said.

When asked Wednesday to confirm she's running, Lee did not deny she was, saying she wouldn't speak about it yet and would "talk about (it) if there was a need to talk about (it)."

"I'm currently an MLA and a minister and that's what I am," Lee, a well-known Liberal for many years, told Yellowknifer.

In the 2006 federal election race, Lee worked as then-Liberal candidate Ethel Blondin-Andrew's Yellowknife campaign manager and was rumoured to be a possible candidate in 2007. Lee also shows up on Blondin-Andrew's contributors list from the 2000 election campaign , having donated $500 in support of the longtime Liberal MP.

When asked about Lee as the candidate, Doug Witty, president of the NWT Conservative Association, wrote in an e-mail that "the Conservative party does not comment on internal party matters" and deferred to the Conservative Party of Canada headquarters in Ottawa.

Calls to the party headquarters were not returned by press time.

Premier Floyd Roland confirmed Lee had expressed interest in seeking the nomination. If she does resign from her post as health minister, MLAs would have to meet and select a new cabinet minister, Roland said.

Her replacement in cabinet would likely come from Yellowknife, in keeping with the convention of having two cabinet ministers from each the north, south and central regions of the territory, according to the premier.

Roland said Lee's seat as Range Lake MLA would not be filled because the seat would become vacant within six months of the government dissolving in late August for the Oct. 3 territorial election.

The other three political parties in the territory are also ramping up for what could be a busy spring.

Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington said it's business as usual in Parliament until a trip to the polls is made official.

"We knew this budget bill was going to be contentious because the Liberals indicated they weren't going to support the government anymore," he said.

Bevington said he's looking forward to hitting the campaign trail - if and when the election is called - against a former premier in Liberal candidate Joe Handley.

"I like to have a straightforward election and ideas and ability are the things people are looking at," he said, speaking during a break from the House of Commons Wednesday afternoon.

Handley said he's looking forward to a campaign, adding it's time for a change in Parliament.

"Harper's record is becoming worse and worse," he said, pointing to the Harper government's contempt of Parliament for not revealing information to the House of Commons. He also criticized the corporate tax cuts included in Tuesday's budget.

"I don't think Canadians can take it anymore," he said. "We're ready. I've got my team ready and we will do what we can."

Nancy MacNeill, a spokesperson for the NWT chapter of the Green Party, said the party will be officially announcing Eli Purchase, a longtime Northerner, as their candidate as soon as the writ drops.

Due to current contractual obligations with the territorial government, where Purchase is working as a conservation intern with the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, MacNeill said they can't officially announce his candidacy until the contract is terminated.

The opposition leaders in Parliament said they plan to support a vote of non-confidence today, dissolving the current government and sending the country to the polls in an anticipated May election.

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