Why Independent northern candidates got votes in last week's federal election

The Sunday before the election, Independent candidate Jonas Smith posted a video to his Facebook page, in one last attempt to persuade Yukoners to vote for him. 

"I'm here to provide you with a true Yukon-first choice," Smith told the camera. "I will represent you and only you." 

Some Yukoners translated that message into votes. Smith received almost 14 per cent of the vote with support from all sides of the political spectrum — but he ultimately came in fourth place, after the Liberals, Conservatives and the NDP. 

One territory over, another Independent made waves. 

The N.W.T.'s Jane Groenewegen, a former MLA and business owner from Hay River, captured 12 per cent of the vote in the territory — despite being the first candidate without a party banner to run in more than 20 years. 

As the dust settles on Election 44, CBC News asked some political experts to reflect on what this new support behind Independent candidates means going forward — and whether northerners are more likely to identify with someone who doesn't tow the party line. 

Smith and Groenewegen made similar points about why people should send them to Ottawa: they could operate without the constraints of a political party behind them.