SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknifers are in the midst of a year of politics: a territorial election is scheduled for Oct. 5 and, on Friday, the federal government fell, launching the fourth federal election campaign in seven years.

The Liberals' contempt of Parliament motion passed 156 to 145; Canada's 41st election has been called for May 2.

On the streets of Yellowknife, some residents are frustrated to hear of another federal election. Others think it's a critical time to change how the country is being led.

"It's getting a little bit frustrating to see the leaders of our country continuously demonstrating corruption in Parliament," said Mike Harrison at the Speakeasy held at the Artist-Run Community Centre on the weekend.

"It's same old, same old, standing behind poorly defined platforms. I'm not too excited ... I'm frustrated."

Vivian Squires, executive director of the Yellowknife Seniors' Society, said she doesn't think an election should have been called.

"We just don't need it at this time. There are people out of work, there are bigger priorities. It should never have been called," said Squires.

Michael Morse, member of the Rotary Club, said he is averse to the negative electioneering and partisan politics between political parties.

"None of them have been saying anything about what they plan to do or would like to do or would encourage voters to support," said Morse. "They try to insult each other back and forth and that doesn't tell me anything about what anybody really will do for us. I don't really want to support negativity, I want support something positive."

Lawyer and fellow Rotarian Garth Wallbridge, said there are two main reasons why more people don't head to the ballot boxes.

"We live in a really good democracy, there's no doubt about that. We don't have reason to be out in the street with guns. We live in a great place. People are generally satisfied," he said.

He said the second reason is a lot of the public is fed up with the whole political process.

"Whether it's within the House of Commons in question period and the stupid silliness that goes on there, or whether it's politicians saying something like 'We're going to have a referendum' and the end result being the next week, city administration comes out with 'Well, we're going to stop having referendums.' Then the mayor comes out and says 'Oh, people made a mistake.' It's like people the voting public are, I think, turned off by all of that stupidity," he said.

Voter turnout in the NWT during the last federal election in 2008 was 47.7 per cent for a total of 13,733 votes. The average nationally was 59 per cent.

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