Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Nov 19/99) - More than 100 people gathered in the Fort Simpson community hall to pick the brains of Nahendeh's three MLA candidates last Tuesday.

They heard incumbent Jim Antoine and contenders Paul Gammon and Bill Laferte agree on a number of issues, one being the lack of employment opportunities in Fort Simpson.

"I've walked around the streets of this community over the past few days and there are no jobs, no employment," Antoine said.

He said the solution lies in working closely with small business, exploring other resource potential such as the "budding" forestry industry and finding jobs in Fort Liard, where gas exploration and development is an actuality. He also repeatedly alluded to the need for the NWT to gain control of its natural resources.

Gammon argued that if there's anything the territorial government should cut, it should be expensive studies. This money should be filtered into economic development, he suggested.

Laferte said he's firmly behind the idea of supporting local business to create jobs. In an effort to foster future development and help local businesses prepare, he said he would form an advisory committee to give him direction in the legislature. He made reference to creating advisory committees throughout the evening, acknowledging that he didn't have all the answers.

"I threw my hat into the ring to bring about changes, so for me to tell you what I would do for a specific issue, or a specific problem, I cannot tell you," he said.

Gammon said he's prepared to lobby to have RWED disbanded. He said Economic Development has made no improvements since it was amalgamated with the others. He also noted that a department of tourism was supposed to be included among RWED, but it was either forgotten about or deliberately dropped.

Antoine conceded that RWED "hasn't really jelled yet" as a combined department. He suggested that its components should be reviewed to make it more efficient.

Deep-rooted bureaucracy

He later added that there are a number of middle management areas within government that must also be reviewed because the deep-rooted bureaucracy only serves to bog down change.

On the question of the GNWT's role as aboriginal self-government comes further to the fore, Gammon said if the local bands can't find common ground among themselves and with the federal government, the best he can do is act as a facilitator.

Antoine noted that he became involved with the territorial government in the first place as part of an old Dene Nation initiative to address aboriginal issues.

If he continues in the role of MLA and premier, he can facilitate First Nations processes, but has to work with other MLAs too, he said.

Updating old policies

Although the GNWT provides programs and services to all people, old policies must be updated, he added. Further, the federal government must be responsible to fund First Nations self-government because the NWT's budget cannot assume such a burden, he said.

Laferte suggested the federal government and the treaty peoples should be allowed to take care of land claims for themselves. It's not the GNWT's role, he said.

One of the lighter moments of the forum came when constituent Peter Shaw asked whether the candidates would restore the Fort Simpson Health Centre to the staff and service levels of 15 years ago.

He amended the question, asking for a yes or no answer only.

Laferte said, "Yes." Gammon followed with a "Ditto."

With all eyes then trained on Antoine, he smiled and said, "That was a loaded question. My answer is we have to see what happens in the next legislative assembly ... I guess that's a qualified yes."