# Northwest Territories (electoral district)

Northwest Territories (French: Territoires du Nord-Ouest) is a federal electoral district represented in the House of Commons of Canada. The electoral district covers the entire territory.
This riding was created in 1962 from Mackenzie River riding. It was composed of the entire territory of the Northwest Territories. In 1979, the riding was divided into the ridings of Western Arctic and Nunatsiaq (later Nunavut). Following the creation of the territory of Nunavut in 1999, the riding of Western Arctic was made coterminous with the new Northwest Territories.
After 1999, Western Arctic was an anomaly in that, unlike Nunavut and Yukon, it did not share the name of the territory with which it was coterminous. This did not change with subsequent representation orders because the electoral boundaries revision process did not affect the territories and the territorial riding names were specified in law. In 2014, at the behest of Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington, the riding name was changed to Northwest Territories by Bill C-37, which also changed the names of several other ridings scheduled to come into effect with the representation order for the next election. Unlike those names, the change to Northwest Territories came into effect immediately as it involved amending the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act itself.
From 1887 to 1905, the only areas of the NWT with representation in Parliament were those areas that became part of present-day provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and western Manitoba). From 1905 to 1947, the NWT was not represented in Parliament. From 1947 to 1962, the southwestern NWT was represented only by the electoral district of Yukon—Mackenzie River and then Mackenzie River. In 1962, the electoral district of NWT was created to represent the entire territory, for the first time giving all Canadian territory a representative in Parliament.
This riding's boundaries remained the same following the 2012 redistribution.

## Demographics

    According to the 2021 Canadian census
Ethnic groups: 49.6% Native Canadian, 38.2% White, 4.1% Filipino, 2.6% Black, 1.9% South Asian Languages: 76% English, 3.3% Tlicho, 2.8% French, 1.9% Slavey, 1.9% Tagalog, 1% Dene Religions: 55.2% Christian (21% Catholic, 8.1% Anglican, 2% United Church, 1.9% Pentecostal and other Charismatic 1.5% Baptist), 39.8% No religion, 1.8% Muslim Median income: $56 800 Average income: $69 400

## Members of Parliament

Following the division into Western Arctic and Nunatsiaq, the riding's first MP was Progressive Conservative MP Dave Nickerson, who was first elected in 1979 and re-elected twice. In the 1988 election, Nickerson was defeated by Liberal Ethel Blondin-Andrew who went on to serve as the riding's MP for eighteen years, including two years as Minister of State for Northern Development. In 2006, Blondin-Andrew was defeated by New Democrat Dennis Bevington. The earlier riding of Northwest Territories had been represented by New Democrat Wally Firth from 1972 to 1979.
This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:
| Parliament | Years | Member | Party |
| Northwest Territories Riding created from Mackenzie River |||||
| 25th | 1962–1963 | Isabel Hardie | Liberal |
| 26th | 1963–1965 | Eugène Rhéaume | Progressive Conservative |
| 27th | 1965–1968 | Bud Orange | Liberal |
| 28th | 1968–1972 | Bud Orange | Liberal |
| 29th | 1972–1974 | Wally Firth | New Democratic |
| 30th | 1974–1979 | Wally Firth | New Democratic |
| Riding divided into Western Arctic and Nunatsiaq |||||
| As Western Arctic |||||
| 31st | 1979–1980 | Dave Nickerson | Progressive Conservative |
| 32nd | 1980–1984 | Dave Nickerson | Progressive Conservative |
| 33rd | 1984–1988 | Dave Nickerson | Progressive Conservative |
| 34th | 1988–1993 | Ethel Blondin-Andrew | Liberal |
| 35th | 1993–1997 | Ethel Blondin-Andrew | Liberal |
| 36th | 1997–2000 | Ethel Blondin-Andrew | Liberal |
| 37th | 2000–2004 | Ethel Blondin-Andrew | Liberal |
| 38th | 2004–2006 | Ethel Blondin-Andrew | Liberal |
| 39th | 2006–2008 | Dennis Bevington | New Democratic |
| 40th | 2008–2011 | Dennis Bevington | New Democratic |
| 41st | 2011–2014 | Dennis Bevington | New Democratic |
| Northwest Territories |||||
| 41st | 2014–2015 | Dennis Bevington | New Democratic |
| 42nd | 2015–2019 | Michael McLeod | Liberal |
| 43rd | 2019–2021 | Michael McLeod | Liberal |
| 44th | 2021–present | Michael McLeod | Liberal |

## Election results
### Northwest Territories (2014–present)

vte2021 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Michael McLeod | 5,387 | 38.22 | -1.78 |
| | New Democratic | Kelvin Kotchilea | 4,558 | 32.34 | +10.54 |
| | Conservative | Lea Anne Mollison | 2,031 | 14.41 | -11.39 |
| | Independent | Jane Groenewegen | 1,791 | 12.71 | – |
| | Green | Roland Laufer | 328 | 2.33 | -8.27 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 14,095 | 98.91 | -0.33 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 155 | 1.09 | +0.33 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 14,250 | 47.2 | -6.3 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -4.16 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vte2019 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Michael McLeod | 6,638 | 40.0 | -8.34 | $60,703.01 |
| | Conservative | Yanik D'Aigle | 4,279 | 25.8 | +7.45 | none listed |
| | New Democratic | Mary Beckett | 3,619 | 21.8 | -8.68 | $5,371.84 |
| | Green | Paul Falvo | 1,757 | 10.6 | +7.77 | $10,067.85 |
| | People's | Luke Quinlan | 295 | 1.8 | | none listed |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 16,291 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 125 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,416 | 54.3 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 30,235 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | -15.79 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
vte2015 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Michael McLeod | 9,172 | 48.34 | +29.90 | $71,207.71 |
| | New Democratic | Dennis Bevington | 5,783 | 30.48 | −15.36 | $37,599.86 |
| | Conservative | Floyd Roland | 3,481 | 18.35 | −13.76 | – |
| | Green | John Moore | 537 | 2.83 | −0.23 | – |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 18,973 | 100.00 | | $214,028.20 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 104 | 0.55 | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 19,077 | 64.82 | – |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 29,432 |
| | Liberal gain from New Democratic | Liberal gain from New Democratic | Swing | Swing | +22.63 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||

### Western Arctic (1979–2014)

vte2011 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Dennis Bevington | 7,140 | 45.80 | +4.36 |
| | Conservative | Sandy Lee | 5,001 | 32.10 | −5.51 |
| | Liberal | Joe Handley | 2,872 | 18.40 | +4.82 |
| | Green | Eli Purchase | 447 | 3.10 | −2.39 |
| | Animal Alliance | Bonnie Dawson | 87 | 0.60 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 15,577 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 78 | 0.50 | +0.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,655 | 55.43 | +7.72 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 28,244 |
| | New Democratic hold | New Democratic hold | Swing | Swing | +4.94 |
vte2008 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Dennis Bevington | 5,669 | 41.44 | −0.99 | $39,961 |
| | Conservative | Brendan Bell | 5,146 | 37.62 | +17.14 | $84,329 |
| | Liberal | Gabrielle Mackenzie-Scott | 1,858 | 13.58 | −21.7 | $37,884 |
| | Green | Sam Gamble | 752 | 5.49 | +3.65 | $9,010 |
| | First Peoples National | Noeline Villebrun | 252 | 1.84 | – | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 13,677 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 56 | 0.41 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,733 | 47.71 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 28,787 |
| | New Democratic hold | New Democratic hold | Swing | Swing | −9.06 |
vte2006 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | New Democratic | Dennis Bevington | 6,801 | 42.67 | +3.62 | $40,703 |
| | Liberal | Ethel Blondin-Andrew | 5,643 | 35.40 | −4.04 | |
| | Conservative | Richard Edjericon | 3,200 | 20.08 | +2.92 | |
| | Green | Alexandre Beaudin | 296 | 1.85 | −2.47 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 15,940 | 100.0 |
| | New Democratic gain from Liberal | New Democratic gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +3.83 |
vte2004 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Ethel Blondin-Andrew | 5,317 | 39.44 | −6.15 | $58,782 |
| | New Democratic | Dennis Bevington | 5,264 | 39.05 | +12.34 | $39,504 |
| | Conservative | Sean Mandeville | 2,314 | 17.16 | −10.52 | $16,863 |
| | Green | Chris O'Brien | 583 | 4.32 | – | $2,754 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 13,478 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 69 | 0.51 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,547 | 47.33 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | −9.24 |
| Change for the Conservatives is based on the combined totals of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives. |||||||
vte2000 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Ethel Blondin-Andrew | 5,855 | 45.59 | +3.96 | $56,498 |
| | New Democratic | Dennis Bevington | 3,430 | 26.71 | +7.42 | $27,323 |
| | Alliance | Fred Turner | 2,273 | 17.70 | +2.99 | $15,406 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bruce McLaughlin | 1,687 | 9.98 | −2.64 | $8,374 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 12,840 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 72 | 0.56 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,912 | 52.24 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | −1.73 |
| Change for the Canadian Alliance is based on the Reform Party. |||||||
vte1997 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Ethel Blondin-Andrew | 5,564 | 41.63 | −20.84 | $56,834 |
| | New Democratic | Mary Beth Levan | 2,579 | 19.29 | +12.98 | $22,393 |
| | Reform | Mike Watt | 1,966 | 14.71 | +0.62 | $4,546 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bob Dowdall | 1,687 | 12.62 | –0.71 | $16,020 |
| | Independent | Wally Firth | 1,567 | 11.72 | – | $8,857 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 13,363 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 94 | 0.70 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,457 | 58.37 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | −16.91 |
vte1993 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ethel Blondin-Andrew | 8,867 | 62.47 | +20.10 |
| | Reform | Mansell Grey | 2,000 | 14.09 | – |
| | Progressive Conservative | Martin Hanly | 1,893 | 13.34 | −15.28 |
| | New Democratic | Bill Schram | 896 | 6.31 | −18.78 |
| | Green | Chris O'Brien | 325 | 2.29 | – |
| | Natural Law | Lynn Taylor | 213 | 1.50 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 14,194 | 100.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | +3.00 |
vte1988 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Ethel Blondin | 5,415 | 42.37 | +16.52 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Dave Nickerson | 3,657 | 28.62 | −17.50 |
| | New Democratic | Wayne Cahill | 3,207 | 25.10 | −2.93 |
| | Independent | Cece McCauley | 331 | 2.59 | – |
| | Independent | Ernie Lennie | 169 | 1.32 | – |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 12,779 | 100.0 |
| | Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative | Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | Swing | +17.01 |
vte1984 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Dave Nickerson | 5,822 | 46.12 | +12.31 |
| | New Democratic | Bertha Allen | 3,538 | 28.03 | −5.60 |
| | Liberal | Lynda Sorenson | 3,264 | 25.86 | −6.71 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 12,624 | 100.0 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +8.96 |
vte1980 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Dave Nickerson | 3,556 | 33.81 | −1.35 |
| | New Democratic | Wally Firth | 3,537 | 33.63 | +4.30 |
| | Liberal | Gary Boyd | 3,425 | 32.56 | –0.59 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 10,518 | 100.0 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | −2.82 |
| lop.parl.ca |||||||
vte1979 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Progressive Conservative | Dave Nickerson | 4,058 | 35.16 |
| | Liberal | David Searle | 3,827 | 33.15 |
| | New Democratic | Georges Erasmus | 3,385 | 29.33 |
| | Independent | Edward McRae | 273 | 2.37 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 11,543 | 100.0 |
| Riding created from part of the former riding of Northwest Territories, with New Democrat Wally Firth as the incumbent. |||||||

### Northwest Territories (1962–1974)

vte1974 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Wally Firth | 5,410 | 42.09 | +2.27 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bob Ward | 4,271 | 33.23 | +2.36 |
| | Liberal | Richard Whitford | 3,173 | 24.68 | −4.64 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 12,854 | 100.0 |
| | New Democratic hold | New Democratic hold | Swing | Swing | –0.04 |
vte1972 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | New Democratic | Wally Firth | 5,597 | 39.82 | +27.07 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Bob Ward | 4,339 | 30.87 | +7.43 |
| | Liberal | Dick Hill | 4,121 | 29.32 | −34.48 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 14,057 | 100.0 |
| | New Democratic gain from Liberal | New Democratic gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +9.82 |
vte1968 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Orange | 6,018 | 63.80 | +7.59 |
| | Progressive Conservative | R. Van Norman | 2,211 | 23.44 | −15.68 |
| | New Democratic | William Harvey Kent | 1,203 | 12.75 | +8.09 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 9,432 | 100.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | +11.64 |
vte1963 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | Eugène Rhéaume | 4,814 | 56.82 | +14.47 |
| | Liberal | Isabel Hardie | 3,659 | 43.18 | −3.06 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,473 | 100.0 |
| | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +8.76 |
vte1962 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | Isabel Hardie | 3,842 | 46.24 |
| | Progressive Conservative | Eugène Rhéaume | 3,519 | 42.35 |
| | Independent | A. Pat Carey | 948 | 11.41 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,309 | 100.0 |
| This riding was created from Mackenzie River, with Liberal Merv Hardie as the incumbent. |||||||

## Federal riding associations

Riding associations are the local branches of the national political parties:
| Party | Association name | CEO | HQ address | HQ city |
| Conservative | Western Arctic Conservative Association | Bill Aho | 5523 44th Street | Yellowknife |
| Green | Green Party of Canada — Western Arctic | Jessica Gamble | 15 Gitzel Street | Yellowknife |
| Liberal | Northwest Territories Federal Liberal Association | Chuck Blyth | PO BOX 965 | Yellowknife |
| New Democratic | Western Arctic Federal NDP Riding Association | Shane Pyke | PO BOX 2185 | Yellowknife |