Enterprise (Dec 15/03) - For a small community, they have some individuals with big voices.

Enterprise mayor Winnie Cadieux and deputy mayor Amy Mercredi both agreed that their community has a bright future.

In order to ensure that, they came to Yellowknife on Tuesday to confront the new government after the swearing-in ceremony.

"With new people coming into the legislature, we thought it was very important," said Cadieux. "We are interested in what the legislative assembly is focusing on."

The community of Enterprise, located southwest of Hay River, only has a population of 85. The mayor said they have to be an active voice to reap any benefits that larger centres, like Yellowknife, are often awarded from the government.

"Because of our location it is a very dynamic, relevant community," said Cadieux. "They (Yellowknife and Hay River) do have a larger population, but we just felt it is important that the voice of small communities is heard."

Territorial issue

Some of the major issues the politicians are interested in include transportation and tourism. Cadieux said that since their community is considered the "handshake of the North," they are pushing hard to ensure people passing through have access to their resources.

Mercredi, who has an extensive background in education and is relatively new to politics, said having a Yellowknife-based premier was not something they anticipated, and it is unfortunate that there weren't more candidates interested in the top spot.

"It's a very important position," she said. "It's too bad that we don't have people to challenge that."

Cadieux added she hopes a strong cabinet will be chosen to make fair decisions.

"This is not a Yellowknife thing," she said. "This is a territory thing."

Cadieux, who lived in Yellowknife for 13 years before moving to Enterprise, said she entered politics as soon as she was eligible. Now in her second term as mayor, she feels the representation still needs to be in the communities of the North.

"It's the only level of government you can have hands on," she said. "You can affect change that really affects people."