On Saturday afternoon, Yellowknife North constituents cast mock premier ballots in place of a real vote.

While a secret vote among MLAs will select the NWT's next premier, the constituency's MLA Rylund Johnson invited residents to share their picks, with Johnson's official vote likely going to a candidate with the clearest consensus of Yellowknife North constituents supporting him or her.

Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson garnered a clear majority of 11 votes, ahead of four votes for Range Lake MLA Caroline Cochrane, three for Jackson Lafferty and one for Thebacha MLA Frieda Martselos. Residents also voted on cabinet, though Johnson said this would only inform his vote, not decide it.

However, he asked that attendees refrain from the SA国际影视传媒渞umour mill in YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒� thatSA国际影视传媒檚 dogged territorial politics and led to SA国际影视传媒渟ome of the backroom dealing.SA国际影视传媒� That said, he reiterated comments from last weekSA国际影视传媒檚 meeting that there was an air of renewal with the new batch of MLAs.

Prior to the vote, people at the meeting sounded off on the issues facing Johnson and his colleagues in the new Assembly. Their concerns ranged from calling out the NWT's reliance on federal funding to ensuring JohnsonSA国际影视传媒檚 premier pick had actionable priorities on issues like work with Indigenous governments.

Wendy Bisaro, who served as Frame Lake MLA from 2007 to 2015, cautioned Johnson on publicly sharing his early support for Simpson and Cochrane, considering a large push to place Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty in the premiership.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou know thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a large push behind Jackson,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd you know if thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a large push, heSA国际影视传媒檚 promising things.SA国际影视传媒�

Johnson said he was drawn to SimpsonSA国际影视传媒檚 proposed systemic changes to Assembly that promise to limit political infighting, and that he also appreciate CochraneSA国际影视传媒檚 vision for the territory.

Other residents drew attention to the protest votes of the past two elections aiming to bring significant change after years of frustration.

SA国际影视传媒淏ecause of the process, we have with the election process, we really canSA国际影视传媒檛 have a unified set of principles that we vote on. We vote for people,SA国际影视传媒� resident Sam Taylor said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 see that change happening if the system stays the sameSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� which for Taylor involves the public service holding a tight grip over government operations.

City Councillor Shauna Morgan pointed to SA国际影视传媒渟pecific issues of governance in the GNWT.SA国际影视传媒� She called for evidence-based decision making.

SA国际影视传媒淲hat is the outcome weSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to achieve and how are we going to get there,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎nd how we know weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to get there because weSA国际影视传媒檙e looking at what does and doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 work.SA国际影视传媒�

She told Yellowknifer itSA国际影视传媒檚 possible for residents or politicians like herself to rail against government later, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 more effective to participate early on "so we all decide how things are going to go before itSA国际影视传媒檚 set in stone.SA国际影视传媒�

She said in the past that engagement has sometimes been lacking, but that these early talks with constituents seem like a good thing.

Bisaro told Yellowknifer she found turning to residents before she voted for premier was helpful.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a very closed community over there,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou can very much head in ... there and forget about the rest of the world.SA国际影视传媒�