North

N.W.T. group struggles to host election forum

A Northwest Territories group that has had a long history of hosting federal all-candidate forums is struggling to round up all of the riding's candidates this time around.

Alternatives North says only 2 candidates are confirmed

A Northwest Territories group that has had a long history of hosting federal all-candidate forums is struggling to round up all of the riding's candidates this time around.

Roughly half the candidates in the Western Arctic riding have confirmed they will attend Alternatives North's public forum in Yellowknife on April 27, according to organizers.

As of Friday, NDP incumbent Dennis Bevington and Liberal candidate Joe Handley — two of the riding's five candidates — said they plan to be at the social justice group's event.

"In the past it hasn't been a problem enticing candidates, as they usually see it in their interest to participate," forum organizer Aggie Brockman told CBC News.

Members of the N.W.T. Status of Women Council, Dene Nation, and Ecology North have said they plan to attend the Alternatives North forum with questions for the candidates.

Other candidates busy

But Green Party candidate Eli Purchase declined to attend because of a prior commitment, Brockman said.

Conservative candidate Sandy Lee told Brockman she would not attend the forum because she will be on the campaign trail that day, but Brockman said she is skeptical of that reply.

"That party has been very careful about candidate exposure and the prime minister's exposure elsewhere in the country. It's hard not to wonder if that has influence" Brockman said.

Lee's campaign staff told CBC News she will be participating in at least two forums, including one in Hay River, N.W.T., and the Northwest Territories Chamber of Commerce's forum in Yellowknife.

But Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche said Lee will also be attending an all-candidates forum in his home community of Fort Simpson, N.W.T., on April 17.

"We've never actually had an all-candidates forum in Fort Simpson in a federal election," Menicoche said. "We want to focus the candidates on rural and remote communities in the regions."

Brockman said she has yet to contact Bonnie Dawson of Hay River, N.W.T., who announced on Friday that she is running for the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada.