Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty named N.W.T.'s Liberal candidate in federal election

The Liberal and Green parties have confirmed their federal candidates representing the Northwest Territories.

Rebecca Alty, the current mayor of Yellowknife, will be the Liberal Party's candidate in the N.W.T. in the upcoming election, the party said Friday. 

Alty was elected as a city councillor in 2012. She served two terms on council before being elected mayor in 2018 – and is currently in her second term as the city's leader. 

Alty said in an interview she made the decision to run for federal politics because she wants to deal with community issues at the national level. She said she expects the coming years to be "tumultuous," and that she wants to be part of the solution for issues like housing infrastructure and roads.

"It is still about the community infrastructure that we all need ... And so being able to play that part at the federal level," Alty said.

Alty said she is taking a leave from her mayoral role, and Deputy Mayor Ben Hendriksen will be filling in for her.

"I took leave as of today, because whether it's a 36-day election or a 51-day election or anything in between, I'll miss at least three meetings," Alty said.

In accordance with council bylaws, she is requesting permission from councillors to miss those meetings. If granted, she said she will continue on leave.

If denied, she said she will resign.

Yellowknife city council is scheduled to appoint an acting mayor when it meets Monday evening.

With a federal election expected to be called Sunday, Alty said she's looking forward to getting out and visiting communities across the Northwest Territories, likely starting next week.

"Hoping for [the] first half of the campaign to be in the communities outside of Yellowknife, and then the second half in Yellowknife and the North Slave region," Alty said.

Green Party candidate confirmed

A spokesperson for the Green Party has confirmed Angela Davidson, also known as Rainbow Eyes, as their federal candidate representing the Northwest Territories. She is also the party's deputy leader.

CBC News requested an interview with her, but did not receive a response by publication deadline.

Davidson is a member of the Da'naxda'xw Awaetlala First Nation whose traditional territory encompasses Knight Inlet on the B.C. Central Coast. Her profile says she has been "a key defender of ancient forests on Vancouver Island, including the old growth forests of 'Ada'itsx (Fairy Creek), since 2020."

A press release emailed by the party to CBC says, "Rainbow Eyes brings a wealth of experience and commitment to environmental protection to our leadership team."

The N.W.T. Conservative Electoral District Association chose Kimberly Fairman as its candidate in the summer, while the NDP nominated Kelvin Kotchilea back in 2023.

Michael McLeod, the territory's current Liberal MP, is not seeking re-election. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call a federal election this Sunday – barely a week after he was sworn in as the country's leader. 

An election campaign is expected to last between 36 and 50 days and a date for the election remains to be confirmed.