Kieron Testart, who abandoned his federal election campaign earlier this year, now says he will stand against David Ramsay in this fall’s territorial election.
Testart started the year as a candidate for the Liberal nomination in the NWT but gave way to Michael McLeod, whose federal campaign he has since helped to run.
Now, Testart – most recently a policy analyst for the territorial government – is hoping to unseat Ramsay, the present minister for industry, tourism, investment and justice.
Testart confirmed his intention to stand in Ramsay’s Kam Lake riding on Monday. Back in May, Ramsay said he would run for re-election in a riding he has represented since 2003.
In his summer newsletter to residents, Ramsay said the territorial government had made “considerable progress” – picking out the opening of the Deh Cho Bridge, the implementation of devolution and the forthcoming opening of the Gahcho Kué diamond mine as examples.
Testart, in a news release on Monday, said his campaign would focus on “a cost of living crisis complicated by a diminishing funding base and a population in sharp decline”.
Testart promised a “clear vision” and “solutions without resorting to damaging cuts”, but did not elaborate on specific proposals in his announcement.
The territorial election will take place on November 23, 2015.
I will be running for MLA for Kam Lake. I'm excited for this opportunity to present a new vision for our government. #nwtpoli #yzf
— Kieron Testart (@KieronTestart) September 14, 2015
