N.W.T. MLAs back away from 1-year term extension

After hearing overwhelming opposition to the idea, MLAs in the Northwest Territories are backing away from holding an election a year later than planned.

The idea was originally proposed as a way to avoid having federal, territorial and municipal elections all within a few weeks of each other next October. Right now, the territorial election is scheduled for Oct. 5. N.W.T.'s municipal elections and the federal election are both set for Oct. 19. 

"Definitely not doing a one-year term extension,” says Hay River North MLA Robert Bouchard. “Now we're looking at either a little bit early or a little bit late."

In March, the legislative assembly approved a motion, 11 to seven, to ask Ottawa for the flexibility to extend its term for up to a year. The Prime Minister committed to introducing legislation in June, but the federal government has yet to make the necessary changes to the N.W.T. Act.

Jane Groenewegen, who brought the motion forward last winter with Michael Miltenberger, says she was never in favour of holding an election a full year later.

Groenewegen says she doesn't intend to run again, but hopes members will find a solution that's as fair as possible to first-time candidates, who could face a challenging campaign if multiple elections take place at once.

She also says having three elections within a few weeks could create staffing issues and be particularly challenging in small communities.

Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro also says she never supported the one-year term extension.

She favours holding the election about six weeks before the possible federal election.

“Three months would probably be the optimum if we were changing, but three months puts us right in December, which is a horrible time to campaign."

Bisaro says with a year left before the planning election and a decision needs to be made soon.

"I'm concerned about the amount of time already in that we're a year out from an election at some point in time and Elections N.W.T. needs a finite date to do their planning... the ramping up that's required, the training of people, all the stuff that goes with an election."

No public consultations scheduled

In June, a press release from caucus said public consultations would be held prior to any decisions.

Caucus chair Norman Yakeleya says so far, there are no formal plans to hold public meetings.

Hay River North’s Bouchard says changing the date by a few weeks wouldn't require public consultation because it wouldn't change much.

Bisaro says this is a case where MLAs are listening to the people who elected them in the first place.

"We've done a lot of consulting prior to the motion, although it was a short period of time,” she says. “I think members are pretty much aware of what their constituents think."

Tim Mercer, the legislative assembly's clerk, says until the federal government passes changes to the N.W.T. Act, the legislative assembly doesn't have the authority to extend its term. Its unclear when that will happen.

A spokesperson for the premier's office said since it was a caucus decision, no one from cabinet would be available to comment.

Members will discuss the election date privately in caucus in the coming weeks.

MLAs say it will also likely come up during the fall session, which starts this Thursday.