Jillian Dickens
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Jan 09/06) - It wasn't until he heard Sheila Watt-Cloutier talk about the drastic effects global warming will take on the North that Feliks Kappi decided to get into politics.

As the Green Party candidate for Nunavut and a former geology student, Kappi has a lot to say on the environment.

"The unpredictability of the seasons worry Inuit now," said Kappi, from his home in Rankin Inlet. "This is a global matter. That is why the Green Party has 60 sister parties throughout the world in more than 100 countries - we understand it's a global issue."

The environment is all encompassing, says Kappi. "It relates to health, culture, transportation, especially in the north."

Kappi says social well being and the price of food are the other two main issues of this election.

"We need more housing. The average household in Nunavut is 13 people. We have the highest rate of TB in the western world, along with other respiratory problems. And I believe these issues coincide. I believe strongly in preserving and promoting Inuktitut," said Kappi.

The candidate will be in Iqaluit in the beginning of this week and will try to make it out to Baker Lake soon. Besides that, limited finances have restricted his campaign to local radio shows and flyers.