Vuntut Gwitchin (electoral district)

Vuntut Gwitchin is an electoral district which returns a member (known as an MLA) to the Legislative Assembly of Yukon in Canada. It is one of the Yukon's eight rural seats.

Vuntut Gwitchin
Yukon electoral district
Boundaries of Vuntut Gwitchin
Territorial electoral district
LegislatureYukon Legislative Assembly
MLA
 
 
 
Annie Blake
New Democratic
First contested1978
Last contested2021
Demographics
Electors (2021)204
CommunitiesOld Crow

The electoral district was known as Old Crow, named after the community it encompasses, before 1992. In the 1974 election[1] and the 1970 election,[2] the riding was part of Ogilvie[1] and Dawson, respectively.[2]

It is the least populated electoral district in any provincial or territorial legislature in Canada, with fewer than 200 total ballots cast in any territorial election to date. In two elections since the district's creation, in 1996 and 2021, two candidates finished in an exact tie; under Yukon election law, a tied vote is settled by drawing lots rather than by reconducting a full by-election.

Members of the Legislative Assembly

AssemblyYearsMemberParty
Old Crow
Riding created from Ogilvie
24th  1978–1982     Grafton Njootli Progressive Conservative
25th  1982–1985 Kathie Nukon
26th  1985–1989     Norma Kassi New Democratic
27th  1989–1992
Vuntut Gwitchin
28th  1992–1995†     Johnny Abel Yukon Party
 1996–1996 Esau Schafer
29th  1996–2000     Robert Bruce New Democratic
30th  2000–2002 Lorraine Peter
31st  2002–2006
32nd  2006–2011     Darius Elias Liberal
33rd  2011–2012
 2012–2013     Independent
 2013–2016     Yukon Party
34th  2016–2021     Pauline Frost Liberal
35th  2021–Present     Annie Blake New Democratic

Election results

2021

As both candidates each received 78 votes, it resulted in a tie. A judicial recount took place and there remained a tie vote, therefore a random draw determined that Annie Blake would fill the seat.[3]

2021 Yukon general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
 NDPAnnie Blake7850.0%+48.0%
 LiberalPauline Frost7850.0%-1.3%
Total156100.0%

2016

2016 Yukon general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
 LiberalPauline Frost7751.3%-12.8%
Yukon PartyDarius Elias7046.7%+10.8%
 NDPSkeeter Miller-Wright32.0%+2.0%
Total150100.0%

2011

2011 Yukon general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
 LiberalDarius Elias[4]9364.1%+18.1%
Yukon PartyGarry Njootli5235.9%+9.9%
Total145100.0%

2006

2006 Yukon general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
 LiberalDarius Elias6545.8%+22.0%
 NDPLorraine Peter4028.2%-19.3%
Yukon PartyWilliam Josie3726.0%-2.7%
Total142100.0%

2002

2002 Yukon general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
 NDPLorraine Peter6847.5%+9.8%
Yukon PartyRandall Tetlichi4128.7%-0.3%
 LiberalJoe Tetlichi3423.8%-9.5%
Total143100.0%

2000

2000 Yukon general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
 NDPLorraine Netro6937.7%-17.3%
 LiberalEsau Schafer6133.3%+33.3%
Yukon PartyKathie Nukon5329.0%-16.0%
Total183100.0%

1997 by-election

April 1997 by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
 NDPRobert Bruce8855.0%+13.2%
Yukon PartyEsau Schafer7245.0%+3.2%
Total160100.0%
  • Held after a challenge of the 1996 results.

1996

1996 Yukon general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
 NDPRobert Bruce6941.8%-2.4%
Yukon PartyEsau Schafer6941.8%-14.0%
 LiberalShirlee Frost2716.4%+16.4%
Total165100.0%
  • Because of the tie vote, Robert Bruce was declared elected after his name was drawn from a hat.

1996 by-election

1996 by-election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Yukon PartyEsau Schafer8755.8%-7.4%
 NDPRandall Tetlichi6944.2%+44.2%
Total156100.0%

1992

1992 Yukon general election
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Yukon PartyJohnny Abel9663.2%
 LiberalGrafton Njootli5636.8%
Total152100.0%

References