The NWT Liberals have little to say about who their next candidate is for the next federal election, which is scheduled to happen by October 2025. It doesn't seem like they're worried, though.
"There is no election scheduled until fall 2025. We will have a candidate for the next election. It will be determined before the next election," said David Monroe, chair of the territorial party's board of directors, in an email on Nov. 1.
He then followed up with an additional message shortly thereafter.
"We are not disclosing names to the media at this time, out of respect of privacy and their existing positions and roles in the territory," Monroe clarified. "If an early election is forced by the other parties in the House of Commons, we will have a candidate selection meeting of NWT Liberal supporters immediately, otherwise our selection will occur in summer 2025."
As it stands right now, Monroe is probably right about when that next election will be. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has already stated he will not work with Bloc Qu茅b茅cois and Conservative leaders to help bring down the Liberal government.
Both opposition parties have been trying to put together a non-confidence vote to force an election, but would need the the NDP's support to make it happen.
Michael McLeod, the current MP for the NWT, announced his pending retirement back in July. Ever since, all that's known is at least five people have expressed interest in being the NWT's next Liberal candidate.
It's been nearly 40 years since the territory had a Conservative MP, the last one being Dave Nickerson, who lost his seat to Ethel Blondin-Andrew in 1988. That was also the first year an Indigenous woman was elected to the House of Commons.
McLeod has been seated since 2015 after beating Dennis Bevington, who represented the NDP.
SA国际影视传媒 reached out to both Conservative candidate Kimberly Fairman and NDP candidate Kelvin Kotchilea for comment on the Liberals' gap in candidacy, but neither of them responded by press time.
