Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 26/99) - Kam Lake and Range Lake candidates held their final candidates forum at the Great Hall of the Legislature Nov. 24.

Though the candidates sounded similar on the need to push Ottawa to renegotiate the formula financing or to reinstate money cut from transfer payments, there were some differences.

When the candidates were asked to expand on how to further tourism in the North, Range Lake's Sandy Lee said "the truth is that we don't have a marketable product."

She then talked about the need for a convention centre and to compete aggressively against other countries who have the Northern lights.

"I have to disagree with Miss Lee," said Range Lake's Dave Ramsay.

"I think we have a very marketable product and I'm proud to market it any time I go to the South."

Still, Ramsay urged a speeding up of the paving of Highway 3 because, he said, some motorhome users will not visit if there is any gravel.

Some new questions came from the audience.

Canadian Autoworkers local 2304 president Mark Danis asked if the candidates favoured raising the minimum wage.

Kam Lake's Steve Petersen and Tony Whitford and Range Lake's Ramsay all gave a clear yes while all other candidates did not give a yes or no answer.

Tammy Kasteel asked if the candidates favoured more funding for private education.

Kam Lake's Beaton MacKenzie and Range Lake's Ramsay and Roger Russell gave a clear yes while Kam Lake's Whitford gave a clear no.

All others did not give a clear yes or no answer.

Barring intervention, the NWT is facing a $77 million accumulated deficit by the end of fiscal 2000-2001.

As such many candidates addressed the GNWT's growing fiscal problem.

"The NWT is little more than a pimple on Paul Martin's ass," said Range Lake's Alex Debogorski who urged courting Ottawa with humility.

He also advocated getting a professional lobbyist in Ottawa to push for NWT funding.

"We need to find new money. I believe finding new money is the number 1 priority of our government," said Russell, who stressed that he is the only Range Lake candidate to live in the riding.

Range Lake's Everett Kasteel focused his remarks on the need for leadership.

"I will make tough decisions. I have the ability to succeed. I am a leader," he said.