# Wally Firth

Walter Firth (January 25, 1935 – March 2, 2024) was a Canadian politician.

## Biography

A Métis, Firth was the first Indigenous politician from the North to win a seat in the House of Commons of Canada. He served as the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories during the 1970s. He was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1972 federal election and re-elected in 1974. He did not run for re-election in 1979, but attempted to return to the House of Commons in the 1980 election. He was defeated in the riding of Western Arctic.
In private life, Firth had various careers as an airplane pilot, flying instructor, broadcaster and fur trader. He was also active as a Native rights advocate.
Firth made another attempt to return to the House of Commons in the 1997 federal election, this time running as an Independent in Western Arctic, but was again unsuccessful.
Firth subsequently returned to the New Democratic Party attempting to win the party's nomination in Yukon for the 2004 election but was unsuccessful. He died in Victoria, British Columbia, on March 2, 2024, at the age of 89.

## Electoral history

vte1997 Canadian federal election: Northwest Territories :
| 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 |
vte1980 Canadian federal election: Northwest Territories :
| 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 |
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vte1974 Canadian federal election: Northwest Territories :
| 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: Northwest Territories :
| 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 |