Kimberly Fairman will be the NWT’s Conservative candidate at the next federal election, the local party confirmed on Monday after a drawn-out climax to its selection process.
Voting closed among the party’s territorial members at the end of June, with Fairman receiving 73 votes to rival Jackie Jacobson’s 67.
However, her confirmation as the victor was held up for several weeks after former Nunakput MLA Jacobson filed a complaint that had to be examined by the national party.
That complaint, which centred on claims from Jacobson that some local party members had treated him unfairly, appears to have resulted in no formal action.
On Monday morning, the Conservatives’ NWT electoral district association said it “would like to officially congratulate Kimberly Fairman on her successful bid to be our official candidate.”
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Jackie and his team for their work in supporting northern Conservatives and drawing attention to many important issues,” the association’s statement added.
“The EDA is looking forward to supporting Kimberly and her efforts in the upcoming future to turn the North blue.”
Fairman will now appear as the territory’s Conservative candidate at the next election, a date for which has not been set, though it must take place on or before October 20, 2025.
Michael McLeod said this month he will step down as the territory’s MP at that election, meaning the NWT’s Liberals must now select a fresh candidate of their own.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
Kelvin Kotchilea has already been confirmed as the NDP’s candidate for a second successive election, having run McLeod relatively close in 2021.
Fairman is currently executive director of the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research and is pursuing a PhD in social dimensions of health at the University of Victoria. At a candidate Q&A in June, she highlighted her experience working for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.
If elected, Fairman said she plans to fight the carbon tax and federal gun laws, welcome new development to strengthen the territory’s economy, and allow for a mix of public and private healthcare options.
“Everything that’s happened since the Liberal government took over has made things worse for us in the NWT, not better, and I’m tired of it,” she told party members in June.
“We can’t miss this opportunity to elbow some room on a national agenda and I can do that for you, and I will do that for you.”
