Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
It is closing in on the time when residents of six NWT communities will have to make a decision - whether or not they will put their names forward as candidates in this fall's municipal elections.

Nominations open on Sept. 4 for elections in Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River, Fort Smith, Norman Wells and Fort Simpson.

The nomination period for cities, towns and villages will close on Sept. 17, and election day will be Oct. 15.

"The elections are the responsibility of the communities to run under the Local Authorities Election Act," said Bill Buckle, director of community operations with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA).

The department oversees the elections through David Kravitz, the chief municipal elections officer.

Buckle said MACA helps communities prepare for the elections with resources such as training sessions for new returning officers and poll clerks.

MACA does not become involved in encouraging people to run for municipal office, but remains an independent party in the process.

"The communities are the drivers when it comes to encouraging people to run for office," Buckle said. "Generally, it's specific community issues that will determine who will run."

Buckle noted tax-based communities usually have full elections.

The number of candidates in the last elections in 2009 supports that statement.

There were three candidates for mayor in Yellowknife, Hay River and Norman Wells, and two candidates in Fort Smith, Inuvik and Fort Simpson. In addition, there were 16 candidates for council in Yellowknife, 10 in Hay River, 17 in Fort Smith, 15 in Inuvik, 13 in Fort Simpson and 12 in Norman Wells.

Buckle noted there is sometimes a problem attracting candidates for hamlet elections.

This year's elections in 10 hamlets in the NWT will take place on Dec. 10.

There are different election dates because hamlets and the larger communities do not have the same fiscal year ends. For cities, towns and villages, the fiscal year end is Dec. 31, but it is March 31 for hamlets and charter communities.

Buckle said the different election dates give new councils a transition time to do budgeting and make decisions for the end of a fiscal year and the beginning of a new fiscal year.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.