Elections Canada and MP candidates are aware of the NWT's lacklustre turnouts in federal elections, so they've formulated strategies to try to boost interest.

In the 2021 general election, the NWT saw a record low turnout of less than 50 per cent, according to Elections Canada. The rate in the 2019 election was 53 per cent, and in 2015 it was 63 per cent.

Although Elections Canada's mandate is to inform voters, the organization has a number of initiatives in place that address issues in the North, including in the NWT, according to Diane Benson, media relations officer for Elections Canada.

"Part of this work entails recruiting from within communities to identify and hire community relations officers, election workers and Indigenous Elder and Youth Program [staff] to serve electors in their communities," she explained.

In the NWT SA国际影视传媒� and in all Indigenous communities SA国际影视传媒� Benson noted that Elections Canada is promoting its Indigenous Elder and Youth Program, which aims to hire Elders and youth to offer a welcoming presence and help voters navigate the process at the polls. That can also include language assistance, she said.

"Our media relations team is also conducting proactive outreach to Indigenous media," Benson said. "We have increased the use of Indigenous languages in our radio spots, using 14 languages, up from just Inuktitut in the 2021 general election."

Elections Canada expects to spend about $570 million during this election, a slight dip from what it spent in 2019. 

By the end of the 2021 general election, only 14,250 NWT residents of a possible 30,519 voted. The territory had a total of 101 polling stations and Liberal MP Michael McLeod won the vote with 5,387 supporters, according to Elections Canada. Current NDP candidate Kelvin Kotchilea followed close behind with 4,558 votes.

McLeod has since announced his retirement and the Liberal Party's new candidate is Rebecca Alty. Asked what she's going to do to help bolster voter turnout, Alty listed that she's committed to advertising locations of local polling stations; using her platform to remind residents of the importance of voting; providing information via social media on how to vote in a variety of different scenarios (early vote, outside-of-NWT at school, currently living overseas, etc); reminding people of the date of the election in campaign materials; and asking people to vote when knocking on doors in communities.

"There are a number of reasons why some Northerners might choose not to vote, but throughout my campaign I will promote the vote value as often as I can," said Alty. 

Asked the same question, Green Party senior advisor Rod Legget provided a statement that notes the party is judicious in making available information on how to vote.

"Our candidates and volunteers are encouraged to share information about advanced voting and all the other ways Elections Canada makes casting a ballot possible," said Legget. "This is an important election and we expect to see the voter turnout to increase this year.SA国际影视传媒�

The Green Party candidate for the NWT is Angela Davidson, the party's deputy federal leader and a resident of British Columbia. 

Kotchilea also commented on his plans to foster high turnout, stating that it's one of his top priorities. All political parties need to give people hope and a reason to vote, he said. 

"I am working hard to engage with [Northerners] through social media, at their doors, online and travelling to communities," he said.

Conservative candidate Kimberly Fairman said the most important thing is to listen to Northerners, adding itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to increase voter turnout.

"Normal everyday people hold the key to the issues we are facing," Fairman said. "In my view, this really depends on people feeling that their voice matters. I am in communities of all sizes across the North to listen to all voices and to represent their concerns. People should be able to have trust in the system and should feel confident that they will be heard when they speak. I want to hear from you. Get out and vote, make your voice heard."