CBC Digital Archives

Campaigning in N.WT. is a popularity contest

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.

With the election a couple of days away, candidates are busy campaigning in the Northwest Territories. To a non-Northerner, campaigning might easily be mistaken for a series of social visits. As incumbent MLA Dennis Patterson explains in this CBC Radio clip, getting elected has more to do with family ties and image and less to do with issues. With the candidates running as independents without any affinity to political parties, elections end up being more of a popularity contest than a traditional election campaign.

Sitting around with some of his constituents, Patterson discusses fishing, weather, everything but election issues. It's how it's done in the North, explains Hamilton. It's a style Val Haas, a first time candidate challenging the veteran politician for the Iqaluit seat, hopes to master. It hasn't been easy, admits Haas, pointing out how her slogan of "listens and responds" was erroneously translated into Inuktitut as "she lies down nicely and talks back."
• Incumbent Dennis Patterson easily defeated his opponents Val Haas and Bryan Pearson to become the MLA for Iqaluit.
• Dennis Patterson was the government leader from 1987 to 1991.
• Nellie Cournoyea was the premier of the N.W.T. from 1991 to 1995.
Campaigning in Canada's North Medium: Radio
Program: Sunday Morning
Broadcast Date: Oct. 13, 1991
Guest(s): Val Haas, Dennis Patterson, Bryan Pearson
Host: Mary Lou Finlay
Reporter: Curt Petrovich
Duration: 12:21

Last updated: January 24, 2012

Page consulted on September 28, 2012

All Clips from this Topic

Related Content

1960: Canada celebrates two millionth immigra...

Annette Toft, formerly of Denmark, becomes Canada's two millionth immigrant since the Second W...

1976: Lévesque is Canada's first separatist p...

A majority win for Parti Québécois stuns the nation in 1976.

1993: Tories trampled in Liberal landslide

Kim Campbell's conservatives suffer a debilitating loss in the 1993 federal election.

1972: 'Henderson has scored for Canada'

The country's largest TV audience ever watches Paul Henderson score an epoch-making goal.

1974: 28 million rotten eggs

Agriculture minister Eugene Whelan is in the frying pan over an egg scandal.

1939: 'Canada at the side of Britain'

As England and France go to war, Prime Minister Mackenzie King tells Canadians, "To save one, ...