Rebecca Alty will be the Liberal Party’s Northwest Territories candidate in the coming federal election, the party said on Friday.
Alty has been Yellowknife’s mayor since 2018 and was a city councillor for two terms prior to that, beginning in 2012.
The Conservatives chose Kimberly Fairman as their NWT candidate last summer. Kelvin Kotchilea has been the New Democratic Party’s named candidate since 2023.
No other candidates have so far been confirmed.
Party members received notice of Alty’s nomination by email on Friday morning. That email, signed by Liberal campaign co-chair Terry Duguid, stated she had been acclaimed as the party’s NWT nominee.
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“With more than a decade of experience in public service, Rebecca has a proven track record of action and collaboration,” NWT Liberal association chair David Monroe said in a press release issued later that morning.
Michael McLeod, the incumbent Liberal MP in the territory, is stepping down at the election after almost 10 years in the position.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is widely expected to call an election on Sunday, with election day itself anticipated to be either April 28 or May 5.
Prior to Alty’s nomination, it had not been entirely out of the question that new Liberal leader Carney – who currently has no seat in Parliament and must find somewhere to run – might opt to contest the NWT riding, in which he was born. Where he will run remains unclear.
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The territory’s Liberals spent months defending their decision not to announce a candidate even though the Conservatives and New Democrats had done so.
Party officials previously said their chosen candidate could not be named any earlier as doing so would affect their employment, but would have “name recognition” once unveiled.
Alty, who was born and raised in Yellowknife and previously worked in the mining industry, is expected to step away from her role as mayor while the election is fought. An acting mayor is set to be appointed when the city’s council meets on Monday.
“I’m passionate about championing issues that matter to NWT residents and helping to drive change,” Alty was quoted as saying in Friday’s press release.
“I’m ready to continue to work for a better future for all residents across our incredible territory.
“Together, we can make sure that everyone has a home; that we continue to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples; that we are known as leaders in the fight to mitigate climate change; and that we create local jobs and a strengthened economy that creates opportunities in our communities.”
