May 20, 2005
Election frenzy hits
Nunavut politicos
Conservative tackles
Karetak-Lindell over same sex marriage
Nunatsiaq News
As Nunatsiaq News was going
to press on Wednesday afternoon, political organizers in Nunavut were scrambling
to name their candidates for the federal election in the event that the Liberal
party were to lose a confidence vote in the House of Commons yesterday.
The Liberal party was feeling
less rushed as they plan to stick with current MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell. A nomination
meeting is scheduled for May 27, but party member Alain Carrière says
it will be a formality, as nobody has expressed interest in challenging Karetak-Lindell's
candidacy.
David Aglukark Sr. of Arviat
announced his candidacy for the Conservative Party on Wednesday.
"I do believe it's
time for Nunavut to have a different tone of voice in the House of Commons,
as a representative of Nunavut rather than the voice of the party interest,"
Aglukark said.
Specifically, Aglukark
mentioned Karetak-Lindell's recent decision to vote in favour of a bill to allow
same sex marriages. In Aglukark's opinion, that decision does not represent
the view of her constituents.
"This is not sitting
well with the people of Nunavut."
The New Democratic Party
riding association planned to meet last night to discuss their search for a
candidate.
Nunavut's Green Party representative
Nedd Kenney did not name names on Wednesday, but said that his party will field
a candidate in the next election.
"It's the intention
of the party to run a full slate nationally," said Kenney, who ran in the
last election himself.
The Marijuana Party of
Canada will also have a candidate. Ed deVries of Iqaluit plans to run on a platform
of decriminalizing pot. (See story on page 6.)
As of Wednesday, Conservative
leader Stephen Harper said his party would try to defeat the Liberals by voting
against a bill that adds $4.6 billion in spending to the budget, in a deal the
Liberals struck with the New Democratic Party.
A defeat, said Prime Minister
Paul Martin, would result in a federal election.
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