Home · Politics · Provincial/Territorial Politics · Northwest Territories: Voting in Canada's North
Topic spans: 1976 - 1999
Northwest Territories: Voting in Canada's North
The political process of Canada's Northwest Territories is as unique as its landscape. There are no political parties. Instead, candidates are elected by the community based largely on family ties and personality. The N.W.T. has seen dramatic changes from its days of "benign neglect" before 1950 to the evolution of its current consensus-style of government. Deeply rooted in native tradition, the Northwest Territories' distinct form of government has been described as the most interesting parliamentary system in the world.
7 television clips
9 radio clips
Elections after the boundary makeover
Broadcast Date: Dec. 5, 1999
The 1999 election is the first for the newly carved up Northwest Territories but the weather is still up to its old tricks. Yellowknife is grounded and food and supplies are running out. The conditions are making it difficult for voters to focus on the election, reports CBC's Margo McDiarmid. Some issues are familiar, such as native self-government and control over the territory's resources — including North America's only diamond mine, and oil and gas exploration.The election also highlights the continuing tension between rural and native residents and the non-native residents of the larger towns and cities. Other concerns are gaining momentum, such as the effectiveness of consensus government in an increasingly complicated and maturing political system. Some observers say consensus government is ineffective because the seven cabinet members who hold the real power are not accountable to all the voters in the land.
Pressure to change this system of personal politics began to intensify with the resignation of Premier Don Morin in 1998. Morin was forced out of office over conflict-of-interest charges. A report spearheaded by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner Anne Crawford found Morin guilty of benefiting personally from business dealings he was involved with as premier. Perhaps seeing an opportunity up North, a federal party tries to gain a toehold. For the first time, the NDP fields candidates in the N.W.T.
Elections after the boundary makeover
• The NDP candidates were shut out of the elections.• Before the creation of Nunavut in 1999, 24 members representing 24 constituencies were voted into the N.W.T. legislature. After the new boundries came into effect, the number of elected members in the legislature was reduced to 19. The elected members choose a premier (called government leader before 1994) and six others to make up the Executive Council or Cabinet.
• Jim Antoine replaced Don Morin as the premier of the N.W.T. from 1998 to 2000.
• Stephen Kakfwi served as premier of the N.W.T. from 2000 to 2003.
• Diamond is the official gemstone of the Northwest Territories, in recognition of the fact that the N.W.T. is home to Canada's first diamond mine.
Elections after the boundary makeover
Medium: Television
Program: Sunday Report
Broadcast Date: Dec. 5, 1999
Guest(s): Mary Beth Lavin
Host: Alison Smith
Reporter: Margo McDiarmid
Duration: 2:20
Last updated:
March 9, 2008
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16 clips in this topic . page
Radio
4:57
Jan. 18, 1967
Ottawa hands over more power to the territory, but retains control of its natural resources.
Topic
On April 1, 1999, the new territory of Nunavut was born, finally making the controversial dream of the Northwest Territories' Inuit a reality. It meant the Inuit gained self-rule and control over their own...
Elections after the boundary makeover.
The CBC Digital Archives Website.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Last updated: March 9, 2008.
[Page consulted on Feb. 14, 2012.]