Canadians go to the polls on Sept. 20, here’s the northern candidates so far
Canadians are officially heading to the polls on Sept. 20.
The campaign will last 36 days — the minimum campaign length permitted by law — but several parties have yet to announce their candidates in the North.
Here’s a list of who we know is running so far in the three territories.
Yukon
A familiar face throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is running as the Liberal candidate in the Yukon. Dr. Brendan Hanley announced last Tuesday he was taking an immediate leave as the territory’s chief medical officer of health to run in the federal election.
Meanwhile, it’s unclear who will run for the Conservative Party of Canada. The party dropped Jonas Smith, who it had recently named its candidate, because of his unwillingness to support public health guidelines last week.
The NDP have not yet named a candidate though the party told CBC News it plans to make an announcement this week.
The Green Party of Canada has not finalized its candidate yet either.
Northwest Territories
Kelvin Kotchilea is the NDP candidate in the Northwest Territories. Kotchilea, originally from Behchokǫ̀, was defeated by Jane Weyallon-Armstrong earlier this year when he ran for MLA in the territory’s Monfwi riding.
Michael McLeod, the incumbent, will seek re-election as the territory’s Liberal MP. If elected, it would be his third term.
The Conservatives have not named a candidate in the N.W.T. yet, and neither has the Green Party.
Nunavut
Only one candidate has been named so far in Nunavut.
Lori Idlout, a lawyer who currently lives in Iqaluit, is running for the NDP. She is filling a vacancy that Mumilaaq Qaqqaq left open when she announced earlier this year she wouldn’t seek re-election.
Idlout recently acted on behalf of the group of people protesting developments at the Baffinland Iron Mine on north Baffin Island.
The Conservatives, the Liberals and the Green Party have not yet named candidates in Nunavut.
The federal election is the seventh major election campaign launched in Canada since the start of the pandemic, following races in Yukon, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and New Brunswick.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canadian government announces long-awaited deepwater port for Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut, The Canadian Press
Norway: Are Norway’s energy policies caught between ‘black gold’ & green ambitions?, Blog by Marc Lanteigne
United States: Biden admin goes back to drawing board on oil leasing in Arctic Refuge, Alaska Public Media
