Liberal Rebecca Alty trades Yellowknife Council Chamber for House of Commons seat

Liberal Rebecca Alty’s political career keeps soaring, as the current Yellowknife mayor scored a convincing win on Monday over three candidates to be the NWT’s sole MP in the House of Commons.

As she celebrated with jubilant supporters in a warehouse full of campaign signage and large posters of Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney — who will return to power again in a projected minority government — results showed Alty had 54 per cent of the vote.

Conservative Kimberly Fairman pulled 34 per cent, while NDP candidate Kelvin Kotchilea garnered 12 per cent. Green candidate Angela Davidson (who goes by Rainbow Eyes) had only one per cent of the vote share.

“This win is not just mine. It belongs to all of us who believe in a better future for the Northwest Territories, together with the Liberal team that MADE GOVERNMENT,” Alty said, to cheers from the 50-or-so supporters.

“I just want to say a big ‘thank you’ to the people across the Northwest Territories who’ve placed their trust in me. I promise to work hard to represent you and to be your strong voice in Ottawa.”

Alty said she will fight for more housing, infrastructure, and for help dealing with the illegal drug crisis that has spared few communities in the NWT.

The MP-elect thanked all of the volunteers and supporters who have gave their “time, energy and heart to this campaign,” from putting up signs and knocking on doors — thousands of them.”

She thanked the other candidates, for a “respectful and thoughtful campaign,” acknowledging the courage they had to step forward and put their name on the ballot. “I respect the time and commit and commitment each of you have given to this race.”

Alty will cut short her second term as mayor, saying she would be resigning immediately. It will now be up to council to decide how to deal with the vacancy in the mayor’s chair as the next election isn’t until the fall of 2026.

Alty told CKLB one of her first priorities — apart from meeting Prime Minister-elect Mark Carney in person — will be to revive a funding bill for the historic $375-million Our Land for the Future agreement signed last year in Behchokǫ̀. The bill died on the order table when Parliament was prorogued prior to the election.

Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) Chief Ernest Betsina of Dettah said Alty is well respected and that she has a lot of work ahead of her.

“But with I know that she can help, especially with the First Nations, that I’m hoping that with the YKDFN, that she’ll help us in Ottawa, to help us lobby the right minister, and even the right the Prime Minister,” said Betsina.

“With all the nations that have the outstanding (land claims) agreements that haven’t been finished yet … we want to be done with no more delaying — we want to get it done — we want to have that certainty.

“Wouldn’t it be great if all outstanding land claims are settled in NWT?”

Former NWT premier Jim Antoine was also in the crowd of Rebecca Alty backers.

He said Alty’s election was positive, as she already knows the regional issues.,

“She has a big job ahead of her, but that her being mayor here in Yellowknife and working with the Dene chiefs Ndilǫ from Dettah and the Tłı̨chǫ Nation as well as the Łutsel K’e Dene First Nation, she is very familiar with all our issues, and we don’t need to educate her on our aspirations and what it is that we’re trying to do,” said the former chief of the Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation.

“So we have Treaty 8 up here, and Treaty 11, and we need to work with her to make sure we realize what it is that we’re trying to achieve, so she understands that, and it’s going to be for us to talk with the other people in the Liberal Party and other parties to educate them on what it is that we’re trying to achieve up here in the North.”

Antoine said his current position on the board of Keepers of the Water has opened his eyes about the “very scary” condition of the water that’s flowing into the North from the oil fields of Alberta.

“We have to wake up to that fact, and she’s going to have to play a role in that, she has to talk to the other politicians in Ottawa, because the oil and gas (industry) lobbies the heck out of federal politicians,” he said.

“The oil and gas (industry doesn’t) care about us. There’s one term I learned recently, they consider us a ‘sacrifice zone.’ You ever heard that term? No, it makes you angry, really angry.”

Yellowknife City Councillor Garret Cochrane and Alty supporter was cheered by her win, saying it was due to a lot of hard work.

“I know Rebecca and the team here basically started from the moment the writ dropped, and worked their way all way up until tonight, doing door knocking, doing engagement, doing call banking.,” said Cochrane, who is of Métis ancestry.

“This was an incredibly well-fought campaign and incredibly well-earned win, and I’m super proud to have been part of it.”

Cochrane said people at the doors were concerned with housing, which is either expensive, in short supply, or in need of repairs.

“In particular for my generation, for millennials and younger, that is something that we have been expressing that we’ve need some resolution on and the seriousness of that platform, with something like the Build Canada Homes agency, which will get the federal government back into the business of home building,” he said.

“I would also have to say international affairs did come into play. I won’t deny that tariffs certainly had their part, and the president of the United States also certainly played a part into this as well.

“But I will say too that there is a extreme amount of enthusiasm for Prime Minister Carney in this city and in this territory. From going to the doors and talking to people, they are excited to now have Prime Minister Mark Carney as our leader.”

There was a lot of talk in the room on Monday night as to whether Alty’s strong political background would make her a candidate for Carney’s cabinet.

As for second-place finisher Kimberly Fairman, the Tory told Cabin Radio she may run again in a future election.

NDP candidate and third-place finisher Kelvin Kotchilea congratulated Alty on a “tremendous achievement,” which is “a reflection of the trust and confidence placed in you by the people of our territory.”

The Behchokǫ̀-raised Kotchilea said after three elections, he was going to step away from federal elections to focus on his family.

”Finally, a big Masì cho to all my supporters, volunteers, donors, campaign team, friends, and most importantly, my family. Your encouragement, effort, and belief in me have been truly humbling,” he stated.

“I am incredibly grateful for the encouragement and trust so many of you have shown me throughout this journey, and I carry that with the utmost respect and humility.”

NWT Premier R.J. Simpson on Tuesday morning congratulated Mark Carney on his election as Prime Minister.