Democracy is the best type of government. Period.
You disagree? What would you rather have? An absolute monarchy? An oligarchy? Perhaps communism is more your style? Or how about no government at all in a libertarian state?
Democracy and its variants seem to be the best, as tested over time. It is a natural progression of the human experience. The people, in theory, retain supreme power, but we delegate it to representatives in a central governing body.
Democracy it is not perfect. And it is often not pretty.
Democracy with all of its ugly warts is most alive in smaller NWT communities where voter turnout is typically very high and the politics are local and often personal.
No matter where elections are held, whether in Calgary or Colville Lake, they must be fair and people must believe their vote will be counted. Any whiff of impropriety must be traced to its source and rectified.
It's not unusual to read in the media about allegations of impropriety. A quick search through the News/North files shows several examples of ballot-box brouhahas, from Tsiigehtchic to Fort Liard and from Fort Smith to Behchoko.
As you read in News/North last week, there has been a call to overturn the June 12 election for chief and council due to the irregularities ("Allegations fly over Behchoko election," Sept. 4).
Allegations of drunken voters hardly able to stand, interpreters swaying votes and mismanagement of polling stations initiated a civil lawsuit from runner-up candidate for Behchoko chief Leon Lafferty.
As reported last week, the former Behchoko chief and MLA is asking the NWT Supreme Court to overturn the June 12 election results for chief and council due to the irregularities. Lafferty was one of five candidates running in election in the community but lost to incumbent Clifford Daniels by a margin of 36 votes, 416 to 380.
Here are some allegations sworn by witnesses: Ballots not being shown to scrutineers; a poll clerk at one polling station left it unattended while helping out at other polling stations; interpreters assisting the elderly and mentally disabled swayed votes by pointing to specific candidate names on the voter card, or assisting with the marking of the voter cards; and that one of the people doing counts was texting during the count.
There has been no response to the suit from the community government of Behchoko. The next court appearance of both parties will take place in the NWT Supreme Court on Sept. 22.
Now that's all pretty spectacular stuff, but also must regarded as allegations until decided on in court. And thankfully, there weren't any complaints of violence or property damage.
The Behchoko, Gameti, Wekweeti and Whati community governments were established in 2005 with the Tlicho Agreement. The composition and role of the community council, eligibility to vote, the duties of the chief, powers of these municipalities are also defined by law. Similar agreements exist for various communities across the NWT.
The good thing is that elections are happening and that people are coming out to vote. When communities are very small, things can get personal. We would hope people could refrain from attempting to subvert democracy during the campaign, the voting process, or by making false allegations afterward.
After all, money directed to lawyers in fights over election results is money that won't be helping communities.
