Would you choose any of these options to revamp NWT politics?

As a commission seeks feedback on changing the NWT’s electoral districts, written submissions provide a glimpse into what some residents think.

The NWT Electoral Boundaries Commission released a report last month exploring four options to potentially change the territory’s electoral boundaries.

The options range from keeping 19 districts to adding either one, two or three more districts and associated MLAs.

The commission is taking feedback through written submissions posted online and at public hearings across the NWT.

Here are some of the issues raised so far.

How should the Ingraham Trail be represented?

All four options propose expanding the Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh district to include the Ingraham Trail as well as the Dettah Access Road and Highway 3 east of Boundary Creek.

That does not appear to sit well with several residents of the Ingraham Trail.

Seventeen of the 35 written submissions to date oppose including the Ingraham Trail – which is currently part of Yellowknife North – within Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh.

“I do not support any of these proposals, nor do any of my Ingraham Trail neighbours,” Michelle Demeule-Sproule wrote in one submission.

Several Ingraham Trail residents argued they have social, economic and service ties to Yellowknife and different interests, needs and priorities than residents in the Akaitcho First Nation communities currently represented by the Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh MLA – Ndılǫ, Dettah, Łútsël K’é and Fort Resolution.

“This is my community, dispersed as it is. I have nothing in common with the communities to the south and west of me that comprise Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh – language, culture, priorities,” Julie Green wrote.

“My concern is that the small Ingraham Trail community will disappear politically as a minority in a larger riding of unalike communities.”

What about reducing the number of MLAs?

More than a handful of residents opposed any of the four options, saying they would like fewer than 19 districts and MLAs.

Many cited fiscal concerns.

“As a whole we have too many politicians at all levels of government,” a resident identified as Ryan P wrote.

“Reducing the number would support fiscal responsibility in a time where it is needed. I suspect by trimming a few we could save hundreds of thousands of dollars and notice little change to service delivery.”

“Every dollar that goes toward running our Legislative Assembly is a dollar that is not available to be put towards any of the urgent needs in the Northwest Territories such as housing, healthcare or public infrastructure,” wrote Rohan Brown, adding there are frequent instances in which MLAs echo one another.

Under its terms of reference from the Legislative Assembly, the commission was not allowed to consider fewer than 19 districts.

A previous commission in 2022 did consider the possibility of having as few as 16 MLAs, but ultimately recommended keeping 19 seats.

Is keeping 19 MLAs the best approach?

The commission’s first option proposes keeping the number of districts at 19 while redrawing some boundaries to address underrepresentation of Yellowknife and Behchokọ̀ and overrepresentation of some other regions.

This model proposes adding a district to both Yellowknife and the Tłı̨chǫ region, while incorporating the Mackenzie Delta district into the two Inuvik districts and merging the Dehcho district with the two Hay River districts.

The Nahɂą Dehé Dene Band, which is based in Nahanni Butte, wrote that it prefers this option as it would keep Nahanni Butte within the Nahendeh district, which also encompasses Fort Simpson, Fort Liard, Wrigley, Sambaa K’e and Jean Marie River. (Some options would move Nahanni Butte into the Dehcho district.)

“The name Nahendeh comes from traditional name of Nahanni Butte, and in any case, the bottom line is that the community of Nahanni Butte would like to continue to be a part of the Nahendeh district,” the band wrote.

Shane Thompson, the current MLA for Nahendeh, also expressed support for this option, saying it would ensure effective representation without further regulatory burden.

Thompson said he was concerned other options would create new barriers for communities such as Nahanni Butte, Sambaa K’e and Fort Liard if they become part of the Dehcho district.

“These options would make it more difficult for these residents to access their MLA and for MLAs to reach their constituents, disrupting important links with Fort Simpson for essential services,” he wrote.

Other residents said they favoured this option as it aims to rebalance representation without adding MLAs.

“At this point of time, the NWT does not need the additional financial and administrative burdens that would come with expanding the size of the Legislative Assembly,” Ahmed Elgaxar wrote.

Does growth in some places warrant more MLAs?

Three people wrote in favour of adding three MLAs for a total of 22.

This option envisions adding two new districts to Yellowknife and one district to the Tłı̨chǫ region, while adjusting the boundaries of the Inuvik, Hay River and Dehcho districts.

Several residents said they preferred that option as it would result in the smallest number of people being underrepresented or overrepresented.

“I believe with the growth we have seen in Behchokọ̀, Yellowknife and the projected growth of Hay River we will need the extra district and the re-designing of existing ones to better suit their needs,” Patrick Wrigglesworth wrote.

In his submission, Rob Foote acknowledged concerns regarding the cost of adding MLAs but argued it would be “negligible when weighed against the democratic gains of genuine voter equality and effective representation for all northerners.”

The move to 22 MLAs “offers a fairer, more representative and future-proof legislature without fragmenting small or remote communities,” he wrote, adding that the Yukon has 21 electoral districts while Nunavut has 22.

One person wrote in favour of a 21-MLA legislature with a new district in both Yellowknife and the Tłı̨chǫ region.

The resident, who identified themselves as JK, argued this is the sole option that would protect the interests of small communities.

That option proposes keeping the Mackenzie Delta as a standalone district.

“Under no circumstances should the Mackenzie Delta communities be merged with Inuvik,” JK wrote, saying that could risk favouring the interests of the hub community.

JK said while the 22-MLA option would also keep the Mackenzie Delta district, residents of the Sahtu would be slightly underrepresented in the legislature, which JK felt would be unfair.

What about a new approach to Yellowknife MLAs?

Two written submissions offered a novel idea: do away with electoral boundaries in Yellowknife and instead have residents vote for a slate of MLAs to represent them, similar to the municipal election.

“It doesn’t make sense to have individual ridings in a community of our size, and I don’t think such a change would have negative impacts on representation of the electorate,” Meagan Wohlberg wrote.

“On the contrary, I think it would increase voter turnout and result in a set of MLAs that best represent the interests of the entire community.”

She said the method could also be applied to other multi-district communities such as Inuvik and Hay River.

“The current electoral boundaries within the city as well as those that are being proposed are arbitrary and do not distinguish any unique demographic within the electoral system,” Jessie Wilson wrote.

“I believe a slate model would lead to higher voter turnout as well as a greater degree of trust and competency in elected MLAs.”

People can still submit written feedback to the commission until January 9, 2026.

The commission is expected to make final recommendations to the Legislative Assembly in February 2026.

Ultimately, it will be up to MLAs to approve any proposed changes to the territory’s electoral boundaries.