Still only three official candidates
Northern News Services
Monday, September 21, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
As far as Elections Canada is concerned, there are still only three registered candidates in the NWT: The NDP's Dennis Bevington, Conservative candidate Floyd Roland and Michael McLeod, the Liberal candidate.
This image appeared on NWT Conservative candidate Floyd Roland's Facebook page last week as he promoted Conservative policy on trapping and hunting. However, the photo is not from the NWT or even Canada. It was taken in Oregon and was originally tweeted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. - photo courtesy of Facebook
This photo of NWT Liberal candidate Michael McLeod appeared on his election Twitter site on Sept. 16 with the caption "Michael McLeod in Fort McPherson." However, the photo was taken in
Tsiigehtchic. - photo courtesy of Twitter |
Green Party candidate John Moore stated in an e-mail that he is not yet registered because a piece of paper must be handed, in person, to officials at the Elections Canada office in Yellowknife.
"There are issues to which we have found solutions and are working on. Essentially it comes down to the fact that unless there are extenuating circumstances, a piece of paper must be handed in, in person, to a gentleman in Yellowknife for Elections Canada to view my candidacy as legit," he said. "Since Yellowknife is a 50-hour drive away, we're working on a workaround. It just needs the official go-ahead from the higher ups at Elections Canada HQ. It seems like all the ducks are in a row for that to happen very soon. I'm in regular contact with the returning officer and there shouldn't be any issues, just time investment."
According to Elections Canada, nominations papers can be received electronically initially but must be followed by the original document no later than 48 hours after the close of nominations.
Libertarian candidate Bob Stewart said he is still putting together his nomination papers, including gathering signatures. He said he expected to have it done by this week. Stewart also expects to release a podcast on the election on social media this week. The deadline for candidates to have their paperwork filed with Elections Canada to become a registered candidate is Sept. 28 at 2 p.m.
There have been a couple of geographic snafus on the campaign trail since the start of the federal campaign.
On Sept. 5, Conservative candidate Floyd Roland posted on his Elect Floyd Roland Facebook page a photo of an idyllic lake and a forest with an attached message that reads: "As a former board member of the Inuvik Hunters' and Trappers' Committee, I know the importance of the hunting and trapping communities. I also know that it is only the Conservative Party that will continue to protect public safety while rejecting the long gun registry, and will work to protect and improve trapping and hunting in the North."
The problem is that, according to several media reports, the photo is of Little Crater Lake in Oregon. The photo has reportedly been used previously in brochures, websites and Earth Day greeting cards. In Roland's defense, the photo was initially tweeted out by the Stephen Harper Conservative campaign team as Harper touted his party's support for conservation and outdoor activities.
Roland said he had no problem with a photo of Oregon being used.
“In the NWT we have similar trees and lakes and the photo reminded me of that. We're avoiding the message that's trying to be given here. If they (the media) look at a photo and make it an issue then I think they are missing the point,” Roland said.
Then on Sept. 16, the Elect Michael McLeod campaign team posted a photo to Twitter of the Liberal candidate with the caption "Michael McLeod in Fort McPherson."
The problem this time was that McLeod was actually in Tsiigehtchic. The photo was removed from McLeod's Twitter account shortly after it was first posted. It never did re-appear with the proper place line.
Campaign manager Kieron Testart said the mistake was due to "miscommunication."
Liberal candidate Michael McLeod will be in the Sahtu region campaigning this week. According to his campaign team, he will be making stops in Deline, Fort Good Hope, Tulita and Norman Wells. McLeod campaigned last week in the Beaufort-Delta.
Conservative candidate Floyd Roland will be in his hometown of Inuvik to start the week, meeting with residents, knocking on door and putting up more signs. He will also be traveling to Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic.
NDP candidate Dennis Bevington is scheduled to be in his hometown of Fort Smith to begin the week. He is then travelling to Fort Resolution and Hay River and then on to Behchoko and Yellowknife by the weekend. Green Party candidate John Moore said he was looking to make it up to Tuktoyaktuk this week and some other Northern communities. He added that his plans are still in flux as he works on a workable route for the boat operator.
With the federal election taking place the same day as six municipal elections in the NWT, voters might want to take advantage of other options including advance polls and mail-in votes.
All registered voters in the NWT will receive voter information cards by mail by Oct. 1, according to Elections Canada. The cards will tell voters when and where they can cast their ballots, including the location of the polls. Advance polls will be held Oct. 9 to 12.
It is still unclear whether federal polling stations will be set up at the same locations as the municipal polling stations. Polling locations in the NWT for the federal vote will be available online on the Elections Canada website by Sept. 23, according to Leanne Nyirfa, regional media advisor for Elections Canada.
