Liberal MP takes Western Arctic

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The other candidates weren't even close as Liberal Ethel Blondin-Andrew swept the Oct. 26 federal election to win a second term as MP of the Western Arctic.

Blondin-Andrew took 62 per cent of the total vote. Second place went to Mansell Grey of the Reform party with 14 per cent, third to Progressive Conservative Martin Hanly at 13 per cent, and trailing in fourth, the NDP candidate Bill Schram, with 6 per cent of the votes.

"I'm just overwhelmed," Blondin-Andrew said shortly after being declared elected. The 42-year-old Dene from Fort Norman, NWT, said she ran the campaign as if she were nine points down in the polls.

"We never take anyone for granted...For instance, in Fort Norman and the Sahtu region, we don't believe people just vote for you because you're related or you were born somewhere. We believe that the substance of the candidate, the hard work, the position that the party has, all those things have to be taken into account when a person votes."

The Liberal sweep in national polls bodes well for Aboriginal people, Blondin-Andrew said. The party's platform on Aboriginal issues highlights increasing economic development and education programs. The platform's short list promises to add $20

million to the post-secondary budget while removing the Tory imposed cap on funding.

"We said we were going to do that and that's what we are aiming for," Blondin-Andrew said.

However, she made no comment about reinstating funding lost during this spring's 25 per cent slash to economic development other than to say the cuts would have to be re-visited.

Blondin-Andrew faced some embarrassment shortly before the election when the chief and Metis local president in her hometown endorsed Conservative candidate Martin Hanly.

An announced released through Hanly's office made it appear the entire Sahtu region supported the Conservative. Fort Norman Chief Freddy Doctor later said the statement was poorly worded, and only the few people who had met with Hanly actually endorsed him.

Hanly, 32, is Metis and the former executive director of the Red Deer Friendship centre. He provided far less competition for Blondin-Andrew than expected.

Blondin-Andrew is a former teacher and assistant deputy minister in the Northwest Territories department of Culture and Communications. She was the Liberals' Aboriginal Affairs critic, and is rumored to be in line for a cabinet post, possibly that of minister of Indian Affairs. She has said she will take whatever portfolio Prime Minister Jean Chretien might decide to give her.