Four candidates will run in the Monfwi byelection, chief electoral officer Nicole Latour said on July 2.
Jane Weyallon Armstrong, Kelvin Kotchilea, John Gon and James Wah-shee have been approved as candidates by Elections NWT.
The campaign will last for most of July until the poll is held in Behchoko, Edzo, Gameti, Wekweeti and Whati on July 27.
Latour issued the writ to Harriet Koyina, the Monfwi returning officer, starting the 29-day nomination and campaign period to elect an MLA for that district following the resignation on June 4 of long-serving Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty. Lafferty plans to run in the election for grand chief of the Tlicho Government.
RELATED REPORTING: Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty resigns
The peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 voice
Weyallon, whose name will officially appear on the ballot as Armstrong has been the president of the Native WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Association of the NWT for the last six years, and on June 14 she was re-elected to her third four-year term as councillor in the Behchoko community government.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not running (in the byelection) for fame or money,SA国际影视传媒� she said in a phone interview. SA国际影视传媒淚 know whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on in my community and in the territory. I know how the GNWT operates. If we want to make progress and move forward, itSA国际影视传媒檚 good for MLAs to work closely with Indigenous governments,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Born and raised in Behchoko, Weyallon started her career in the 1980s working for the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Justice before receiving diplomas from Mount Royal CollegeSA国际影视传媒檚 child and youth care worker program and from the social work program at Aurora College in Fort Smith. She also completed a bachelor degree in political science at the University of Saskatchewan.
She served as an assembly member of the Tlicho Government for one term SA国际影视传媒� from 2009 to 2013 SA国际影视传媒� and has spent almost 30 years working for the GNWT in various roles, including as a guidance counsellor for students in Tlicho communities.
SA国际影视传媒淚 worry about the social issues in our communities, the addictions issues. I see them here in Behchoko. Young people are moving away because there are too many social problems,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 want to make more programs for young people and give them hope. And there are problems with domestic violence, especially now with the pandemic, weSA国际影视传媒檝e been warned about higher levels of domestic violence.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 going to be the peopleSA国际影视传媒檚 voice. People know who I am and I like working with people. ISA国际影视传媒檓 committed to my community.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒楤eing true to needs of communitiesSA国际影视传媒�
Kotchilea, from Behchoko worked with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) for eight years as a renewable resource officer and currently works as a finance officer with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
He completed a diploma at Aurora CollegeSA国际影视传媒檚 environment and natural resource technology program in 2010, and in June graduated from the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 business administration program.
Kotchilea was well into his five-year plan of completing a major in accounting and moving into a senior management position in government when someone suggested that he run for the Monfwi seat.
SA国际影视传媒淪A国际影视传媒業magine being an MLA, we need someone with a plan and a vision. Imagine how much good you could do for your people with your set of skills,SA国际影视传媒� the person said. That sparked my interest,SA国际影视传媒� Kotchilea said.
SA国际影视传媒淚 had leadership roles growing up and working with ENR and being part of the fire program. Those were amplified when I did the business administration program because you learn about leadership and the ethics of accounting.SA国际影视传媒�
If elected as MLA, Kotchilea wants to address housing, employment and education and better way of supporting communities with substance abuse issues.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen we talk about education and employment, you need to have qualified people to get high-paying positions in the communities. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why I want to advocate to high school students that they should get more diverse skills. Once they have them it would be my responsibility to help bring more jobs to the communities.SA国际影视传媒�
He also aims to create a second Monfwi seat to give representation to the communities of Whati, Gameti and Wekweeti.
SA国际影视传媒淢onfwi MLAs and the (Tlicho Government) grand chief have always been from Behchoko,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭he three other communities are isolated. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 hard for anyone to say SA国际影视传媒業 know what they wantSA国际影视传媒� if they live in Behchoko. People in those communities want to get involved in politics but itSA国际影视传媒檚 harder when Behchoko is the largest. In order to give support and provide programs and services we need that true representation. We need to be true to their wants and needs.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒楽omething must be done about homelessnessSA国际影视传媒�
John Gon, also from Behchoko has worked in broadcast journalism since the 1980s. He worked for CBC and CKLB from the late 1980s until the early 1990s, before receiving journalism degrees from Capilano University in Vancouver and from Humber College in Ontario in 1999 to 2003.
He has been running his own media company First North Productions since 2005 and provides video and online services to government clients, mainly the Tlicho Government.
Gon said he has been thinking of running for Monfwi MLA for a few years but didnSA国际影视传媒檛 join the race in 2019 when Jackson Lafferty won the seat unopposed.
SA国际影视传媒淚 didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to run against someone I respect,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
If he wins the byelection, his first priority will be addressing homelessness and housing in the Tlicho region.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen I was growing up in Behchoko there was barely any homelessness,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭oday there are more than 200 people out there. It really saddens me to see that. Something has to be done. There have been meetings after meetings, people have been talking about it and this issue is getting worse. Housing has to be addressed.SA国际影视传媒�
He would also work to reduce the cost of living in Gameti, Whati and Wekweeti; improve cellular service on Highway 3 and address the contract tender process, which he said overlooks Tlicho companies.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey should be able to get the first crack at local contracts. The money should stay in the community,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
While Gon acknowledges he has little political experience on his resume, he said he would bring charisma, leadership and initiative to the MLA role.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not going to beat around the bush. I see a problem - I want to tackle it. No more talking. Get rid of (unhelpful) policies. Take out the garbage. LetSA国际影视传媒檚 get things done.SA国际影视传媒�
Attempts to contact Wah-shee, a former MLA and a negotiator of the Tlicho land claim were unsuccessful.
Registering to vote
The office of the Returning Officer is now open in the Friendship Centre in Behchoko where electors can register to vote or update their voter registration.
Electors can also cast a ballot before July 27 at the office of the Returning Officer in Behchoko, during office hours from July 5 until July 24. Any registered elector from the five Monfwi communities can vote in the office of the returning officer.
Gameti, Wekweeti and Whati will also have an early voting opportunity as advance polls will be held in each community on July 20 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Electors who are away on polling day or unable to attend one of the early voting opportunities may also apply for a mail-in absentee ballot. Electors must apply for that ballot.
Applications for the ballot will be available until July 17 at 2 p.m. and can be accessed on the Elections NWT portal.
Electors can contact the Returning Officer at (867) 446-6121 or by email ro_monfwi@electionsnwt.ca.
Other inquiries can be sent to info@electionsnwt.ca or by calling (867) 669-1212.
