SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A contestant seeking the Liberal Party nomination to represent the NWT in the upcoming federal election says she would like to be at least given the chance to debate the apparent front runner before any nominee is selected.

Zachary Gagne, left, Spencer Kaufman, right, get in a photo opportunity with Liberal leader Justin Trudeau who was in Yellowknife Jan. 11. There are currently three candidates seeking the NWT Liberal nomination. - NNSL file photo

Gail Cyr, a longtime Yellowknife resident and former city councillor, says Michael McLeod, who officially announced his candidacy for the nomination last week, shouldn't take her own candidacy too lightly. Cyr and McLeod are among three official candidates seeking the Liberal nomination, including Kieron Testart, former president of the NWT Federal Liberal Association.

"Michael kind of indicated that he didn't think either my candidacy or Kieron's was going to be much trouble for him," Cyr said referring to statements the former Deh Cho MLA and cabinet minister made to local media last week about the likelihood of him winning the nomination.

"He sounds overconfident and I intend to prove him wrong. I wouldn't mind if the local Liberal association actually worked on a debate between candidates because I think that would be important."

Cyr said she is still waiting for a nomination meeting to be scheduled ahead of the expected Oct. 19 election date.

Of particular frustration is a new release issued last week on behalf of McLeod by local Liberal executive member Christina Monroe. Although there is no indication she was doing so in her official capacity as communications for the NWT Federal Liberal Association, Cyr said she takes Monroe's involvement as evidence that the local Liberal executive prefers McLeod and is working to get him nominated.

"I didn't get anything like that and neither did Kieron," said Cyr. "I am concerned that if one candidate is getting more than the other then that's not very helpful. Everything should be fair and equitable between all candidates so that every candidate gets the same thing.

"Now you have a third person who has declared and who seems to be getting, it appears, an extra bit of push from the Liberal party of the NWT."

Cyr said she has never been asked to drop out of the race nor does she believe McLeod is Liberal leader Justin Trudeau's choice to win the nomination.

Yellowknifer asked Monroe if McLeod is her preferred candidate for the Liberal nomination but she did not respond by press time, nor did association president Rosanna Nichol.

McLeod insists Trudeau has never told him he is his preferred candidate. He added he does not think there should be a debate among the three candidates seeking the Liberal nomination.

"I don't think it's required for the candidates that have put their name forward to have a debate," said McLeod.

"I would probably be open to a debate at some point if I was the official Liberal nominee. But I don't recall any other candidates entering into a debate. She'll get her say when the nomination meeting happens."

McLeod would not disclose whether Monroe is officially working on his campaign.

Olivier Duchesneau, a spokesperson for the Liberal Party of Canada, said there is nothing in Liberal Party rules preventing riding association executive members from supporting a particular nominee. Ultimately, it's up to people voting at the nomination meeting to select the candidate, he said.

"The rules for the nomination process are the same for everyone but that does not mean that the Liberal Party of Canada is indifferent to the results of the nomination meeting," said Duchesneau.

He said the nomination meeting itself is organized by the national office but a date has yet to be announced.

For his part, Testart said he has no problem with Monroe or anyone else on the association executive supporting a particular candidate.

"As a volunteer she is entitled to support the candidate of her choice," said Testart.

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