Premier supports delaying election by six months
Eyes now on Ottawa for federal approval
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, October 1, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Premier Bob McLeod has expressed his desire to see the 2015 territorial election postponed by about six months.
Premier Bob McLeod speaks during a news conference Sept. 19 about devolution. After, he told Yellowknifer he'd like to see the territorial election date pushed back by about six months. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo |
The election is currently set for Oct. 15, 2015. If the election were to be moved ahead, that would put the next territorial election in March 2016.
"Probably the same as Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and P.E.I. They were scheduled to have an election in October 2015 and if the federal government doesn't change (its) election date, they're pushing (theirs) back," said McLeod.
Those provinces are considering delaying their elections by six months.
"So I think if we're consistent, that would be good," McLeod said.
That message is no surprise to several Yellowknife MLAs.
Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny said the premier has repeated the message several times in different ways.
Dolynny said he appreciates where the premier is coming from, but the government shouldn't follow the lead of other governments and should do what's best for Northerners.
After the legislative assembly passed a motion this past spring calling for the GNWT to ask the federal government to allow the election to be delayed by up to a year, there was a significant public outcry.
"I believe that the public has spoken loud and clear that they're not in favour," Dolynny said.
That opposition was something Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins said "shocked" some members of the assembly.
With a territorial, municipal and federal election all scheduled to occur at roughly the same time, he said there is a perceived risk of voter fatigue.
"I've got to be concerned. Voters are going to have a lot on their plate and a lot coming at them," he said.
He said he believes the territorial election should be held first, but added he doesn't think having the election earlier than the currently scheduled date is necessarily a good idea.
He said he'd never support delaying the election by a year, though.
"No matter what happens, we have to stay in the same calendar year," he said.
Describing the election date as "the elephant in the room," Dolynny said it needs to be addressed during the fall session, which begins Oct. 16.
"The sooner we decide this, the better," said Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro, adding Elections NWT should have as much notice as possible to hire staff and carry out other preparations.
David Brock, the chief electoral officer of the NWT, told Yellowknifer previously that the organization he leads will be ready whenever the vote is called.
Asked if the territorial government should push the federal government to make a decision quickly, Hawkins said that's not likely given the "cozy" relationship the territorial government has with the federal government.
Parliament resumed its fall session last month, but it remains unclear whether legislation to allow the election to be held as late as October 2016 will be introduced during the fall session.
