NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Premier Bob McLeod maintains he does not feel snubbed by Conservative leader Stephen HarperandLiberal leader Justin Trudeau.

That is despite the fact that neither party leader has responded to a letter McLeod wrote to them on Aug.18 as the federal election campaign began to pick up steam.

Heaskedfor their vision ofthe North and responses to seven specific policy questions. McLeodhad asked for responses by Sept 18. Green Party leader Elizabeth May responded in a letter dated Sept. 18, while Tom Mulcair, leader of the NDP, replied in a letter dated Sept. 22.

"It's just a matter of time. There are still four weeks left in the federal election (campaign)," McLeod said. "There is still time. We've just passed it by a couple of days. Certainly, I don't feel snubbed. Our objective was to put some Northern issues on the federal election radar and pleased that we've had responses from the leaders of the Green Party and the New Democratic Party and I fully expect we'll get responses from the Conservatives and the Liberals."

McLeod said he was never expecting to see specific campaign promises from the federal leaders with dollar amounts attached. He merely wanted general suggestions about policy and what they were going to do in the North.

He said he wasencouraged by May's grasp of some Northern issues, particularly those concerning aboriginal people and governments as well as infrastructure.

"The NWT chairs what we call the aboriginal affairs working group where all of the aboriginal affairs ministers from all the provinces and territories and the leaders of five national aboriginal organizations participate and she mentions she would take a similar approach," McLeod said. "I like the part where there would be a national infrastructure program that would allow us to connect electricity grids all across the country."

The Green Party platformis not perfect, however, when it comes to Northern policy, McLeod said.

"The Green Party voted against devolution and they mentioned that they have some concerns with how the MVRMA (Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act) was dealtwith."

McLeod said he feels that Mulcair had some good suggestions for voters to take into consideration as well.

"The NDP has indicated that it would invest in vital community infrastructure that would help economic development, some of it we seeas essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges and airports," McLeod said. "They say that would be a national priority. They would also invest in national broadband access."

McLeod said he has not asked for formal meetings with anyof the NWT candidates, including his brother Michael McLeod who is running for the Liberals.

"I've talked to my brother and (Conservative candidate) Floyd Roland came to my door when he was going door-to-door. I went to high school with Dennis Bevington so Irun into him periodically and our grandsons both play hockey, so we see each other at the rink. I haven't had the opportunity to run into (Libertarian candidate) Bob Stewart or Green Party candidate John Moore, who lives in Inuvik."

McLeod said he doesn't expect to endorse any specific party or any local candidate including, his brother.

"It is never ourintention to endorse any party. What I said was that I would vote for my bother if (Trudeau's) letter came out with the best answers."McLeod said part of the reason he doesn't endorse parties is because he still has to work with the party and its leader, regardless of who wins.

McLeod said that they have received confirmation from the Liberals that they received his letter.

Michael McLeod's campaign manager Kieron Testart said because of an office shuffle at Liberal campaign headquarters in Ottawa, there was a delay in getting the premier's letter into Trudeau's hands.

"Mr. Trudeau is reviewing the letter now and working on responding to it and we expect to have an answer to the premier's office in short order," Testart said.

Roland's campaign team was asked by News/North why Stephen Harper had yet to reply to McLeod's letter.

No response to that question had been given as of Sept. 24.

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