Former premier Handley to seek Liberal nod in N.W.T.

Nearly two years after leaving territorial politics, former N.W.T. premier Joe Handley says he wants to enter the federal political ring as the Liberal party's next candidate in the territory.

Handley told CBC News he has already spoken with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and former prime minister Paul Martin. Both like the idea of him running for the party in the next federal election, he said.

Now, Handley said he is focused on securing the party's nomination.

"Once politics are in your blood, either you're so disenchanted with it you just leave it forever, or else it's there and its always there — you're watching the news, you're always hearing what's happening or not happening," he said Thursday.

"That's the way I am. I see it. I think gee, we got to get this together here as northerners, as aboriginal governments, as the territorial government, as the federal government, we just have to. We've got too much opportunity here … the time is passing us by."

The party is expected to hold its nomination meeting later this year.

Handley was first elected as the MLA for Weledeh in 1999. He served as premier from 2003 to 2007, when he did not seek re-election.

He said he has always been liberal in his politics, but has not always been a card-carrying member of the Liberal party.

Handley said the Northwest Territories is not getting the attention it needs from its current Member of Parliament, New Democrat Dennis Bevington.

Gabrielle Mackenzie-Scott was the Northwest Territories' most recent Liberal candidate, running in last year's federal election.

She came in third behind Bevington and Conservative candidate Brendan Bell, securing 14 per cent of the vote.

There is no word on whether Mackenzie-Scott will seek the party's nomination again.

Last year, Handley was appointed to a five-year term with the CBC's board of directors. That same year, he was also awarded a National Aboriginal Achievement Award for excellence in politics.