Rebecca Alty victorious in Northwest Territories

Liberal candidate Rebecca Alty will be the next MP for the Northwest Territories after a convincing victory in the riding.

“I’m truly honoured,” Alty said as she praised the outgoing Liberal MP Michael McLeod and thanked supporters. “I promise to work hard to represent you and be a strong voice in Ottawa.”

With most votes counted, Alty had 52 percent of the vote. Conservative Kimberly Fairman had 35 percent, NDP candidate Kelvin Kotchilea 12 percent and Green candidate Rainbow Eyes one percent.

Alty – who has been Yellowknife’s mayor since 2018 – listed housing, infrastructure and supports for the drug crisis among her top priorities.

Nationally, news networks projected a Liberal government. Whether that’ll be a minority or majority government remained unclear as Monday turned into Tuesday.

“It’s always good news when it’s an MP that’s in power,” said Alty, referring to the likelihood that Liberal leader Mark Carney – himself born in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories – would remain prime minister with Alty as the territory’s representative.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues, Liberal and others, to advance the issues of the Northwest Territories,” Alty continued.

“Mr Carney’s financial, economic and climate change experience will be really at the forefront.”

The baton being handed from McLeod to Alty represents the first time the NWT has had one MP take over from another of the same party since the 1960s.

“I’d like to congratulate Rebecca. I think she ran a good race,” said Fairman, who also paid tribute to Kotchilea and Rainbow Eyes.

“We did amazing. We got our numbers up. A number of people shared with me across the territory that they would like to see change and I’m really enthusiastic about that, I’m ready to represent them again.”

“This is democracy and people have the right to choose their elected official,” said Kotchilea, who saw his vote share sink from the 32 percent he recorded in 2021, when he first ran as the NDP candidate.

Congratulating Alty, he said she should focus on affordability in the North, housing and social injustice faced by northerners.

“It’s very unfortunate that in 2025 this is what the North looks like. I think whoever gets elected has to understand that there’s a lot of work that needs to be done,” Kotchilea said.

Voter turnout at advance polls across the NWT was nearly four percent higher than the 2021 federal election, according to Elections Canada. However, turnout on the night did not look to be significantly up. A final figure was not immediately available.

McLeod, who had been the territory’s MP since 2015, did not seek re-election. He shared memories of his three terms in office on his Facebook page.

“Representing our great territory in Ottawa and delivering results for northerners has been a truly great honour. Thank you for putting your trust in me to serve you all over the past decade,” he said in a statement.

Elsewhere, Brendan Hanley was re-elected for the Liberals in the Yukon. Lori Idlout held the lead for the NDP in Nunavut as of midnight but the seat had not been called.

Bob Zimmer, who had been Pierre Poilievre’s northern affairs critic, was re-elected for the Conservatives in Prince George–Peace River–Northern Rockies.

Claire McFarlane and Aastha Sethi contributed reporting.