After two of the three candidates in the running for premier of the Northwest Territories dropped out of the race, the choice was easy. Joe Handley has been acclaimed to the territory's top job.

"I think it says a lot about the value of our consensus form of government," Handley said moments after members of the legislature agreed to hand him the keys to the premier's office.

"I want to make a positive difference in the Northwest Territories," the former finance minister said. "I think we have an opportunity in the Northwest Territories to do it right ... for all our people."

He added that the fact he was handed the premiership without a single ballot being cast suggests divisions are less likely in the future.

"I take that as an excellent sign of a probability of a really good working relationship. I don't expect I'm going to have people out for my head from the start -- I think we're going to work together here.''

Under the consensus government system used in the N.W.T. and Nunavut, the premier and cabinet are chosen by legislature members following a general election. As well, the territories run a non-partisan government in which each candidate runs as an independent.

Government business is then decided by debate until consensus is achieved.

After former justice minister Roger Allen and Inuvik politician Floyd Roland dropped out of the race -- saying Handley appeared to have widespread support for the job -- the 19 recently elected MLAs were left with the final say.

The vote for cabinet positions is expected Thursday. In the past, the N.W.T. cabinet has been composed of two members from the far north, two from Yellowknife and two from the south.

Roland, a member from the Inuvik constituency of Twin Lakes, says he withdrew his bid to preserve a spirit of unity, choosing to avoid the risk of dividing legislators at the beginning of their term.

"I thought we should start off on the best foot and work from a more positive note and not start off like we did in the 14th assembly," he said.

The tenure of the previous N.W.T. premier, Stephen Kakfwi, was marked by conflict and two attempts to force his resignation. Some suggest the seeds of political conflict were sown in Kakfwi's pitched fight to be premier.

Handley, on the other hand, has had a relatively trouble free path to his new office. First elected to the legislature in 1999, he was acclaimed in his Yellowknife riding of Weledeh at the last vote.

Both Roland and Allen are hoping for jobs in his cabinet, as the new territorial government wrestles with such issues as a boom in energy exploration and diamond mining in the territory.

Handley emphasized in his acceptance speech to the legislature that northerners need to see some of the social benefits from the resource-driven economic boom.

"It is not the time to reduce spending on investments in people and infrastructure when needed," said Handley. "These investments can show us return."