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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Federal political parties are a "whole different kettle of fish," from any sort of parties that would ever be developed in the NWT, according to Liberal Riding president for the territory, Peter Guther.

He said policies may mirror the federal parties' mandates but they're not going to be chirping federal policy.

There have been attempts in the past of parties trying to gain some ground territorially, such as in the 1999 election when the NDP was on the scene.

Yet, with independents running to form a consensus government, the management of the territory is a constant debate, especially come election time.

The NWT does not have sufficient population to support party politics, said Guther.

"I don't know if the economies of scale are there ... The population wouldn't sustain it."

He said party politics are present and functioning in the Yukon because more of the population is centred in Whitehorse, while in the NWT, the population is spread across many smaller ridings.

Guther said the only way he could see a change from the status quo to party politics in the territory would be through an upheaval of the current governing system.

"It would almost have to be led through a revolution. The government of the day would have to make those decisions and not all of them would be on side, so you're swirling in an endless abyss unless someone takes a lead or a charge," he said.

Dave McPherson, a well-known Conservative party official in the territory, said another obstacle to bringing party politics to the North is lack of agreement on what mandate the GNWT has in relation to the aboriginal self-government and regions that are negotiating land claims.

Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus said many First Nation groups have taken the position that party politics is "not for us in the North."

"When people go to the polls, they look for the best person," said Erasmus.

He doesn't see party politics developing in the North in the foreseeable future, but said once this 17th assembly sits, it is obligated to deal with electoral boundaries.

"We haven't developed the North the way we want it to work. It's been imposed on us from the south so it's a carbon copy of essentially of what happens in the south ... There will be an evolution of what the government will look like and that has to happen in our communities. It's different in the North," he said.

"That's why all of this hasn't been fleshed out, and just jumping into a party system is not what people want to do."

McPherson is adamant that nothing will develop as long as candidates run as independents, elected on the basis of status in their communities.

"I'm shocked that consensus government is still as strong as it is. The system is fatally flawed. They just don't know how to go about changing it. There's no political leadership to do that because it's not in the interest of political leaders," said McPherson.

"It's not easy to get. But once you get it, it's really easy to keep."

He said seeing the NWT's last three premiers rising to the job through acclamation, never having to say a word or explain their plans, begs criticism of the system.

McPherson said there are a lot of people who realize consensus government is failing the residents, but change will not come from the political class because the politicians benefit from consensus government.

"Once they're in, it works for them because it doesn't hold them accountable ... it's a rotten, rotten system. Only people who don't care about their government would willingly live under the government that we have."

But what is truly to gain, asked Guther, who said any foreseeable transition would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, at the end of the day?

The development of a more cohesive, territorial discussion rather than every man for himself is needed, said Guther.

Guther described party politics as like-minded people uniting as a group under one leader, giving the public more focused platforms, visions and values to choose from.

McPherson said party politics welcomes accountability, with the total party being responsible for its platform and the direction it moves in once given the reins, instead of being one vote in 19 and using that as a layer of protection.

"(Consensus government gives them a couple of layers to defend their inaction. And it's hurting us."

He said anyone interest in creating a party doesn't have to claim party status, they just have to have a common platform.

"It's a big job. It takes a lot of work and I think a lot of people just don't have the strength or the time to do it," said McPherson

"Parties seek out and identify and nurture talent, so they would bring more talented people into the process."

He said it is possible, but until the issue of the role of the central government in the NWT is resolved and many in the North who do not believe the government speaks for them speak out, it's going to be very difficult to form territorial politic parties.

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