Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 24, 2007

TU NEDHE - Tu Nedhe MLA Bobby Villeneuve, has a lot of competition in the Oct. 1 election.

Sensing the first-time MLA's vulnerability, five challengers have entered the race for the riding that includes the communities of Lutsel K'e and Fort Resolution.

Among the candidates is Andrew Butler, 42, manager of a development company. Butler has 10 years experience with educational societies in Hay River and Fort Resolution. His aim in office is to make MLAs more accountable to their constituency.

The youngest candidate is Steve Ellis, 32. With a background in environment studies, Ellis has spent the past 10 years working primarily for First Nations on land resources and conservation issues. He lists education and land resource issues as his top priorities.

Also with an environmental background is James McPherson, 60, who worked in environmental and wildlife enforcement as well as highway transport enforcement. McPherson says housing is the biggest issue.

Feeling close to his community is what prompted Raymond Simon, 57, to run. Simon has worked largely in the justice and social health fields for the territorial government. He said Villeneuve does not address the issues that people from Fort Resolution are concerned with.

Tom Beaulieu, 49, has served two terms on the Hay River town council and is also the former associate deputy minister of environment and natural resources. Beaulieu has a diploma in business administration and management and lists Fort Resolution as his hometown.

He says the community hasn't received the type of representation it deserves, which is why he has chosen to run. He says his aim is to provide more social and economic resources, specifically for the youth in the area, and will look at different funding that is available through the government and other departments to address the issue.

Tom Unka, environment manager for the Deninu Ku'e First Nation in Fort Resolution, says Beaulieu is the popular candidate in that area.

"He speaks the language fluently, he can communicate to the people," said Unka, adding, "He knows the people well, he's well versed in some of the issues."

Villeneuve, 44, whose shot at another term as MLA for Tu Nedhe could be ruined by a recent conflict of interest complaint filed against him regarding allegations he may have improperly received an accommodation allowance from the legislative assembly.

He is optimistic that this will not affect his chance at getting a second term as MLA.

In regards to living in Yellowknife, as opposed to one of the communities in his riding, he says, "You're more effective near (Yellowknife) and you can resolve more issues more efficiently if you're right there. Instead of being in a community where the Internet is even hard to get."

His past work experience includes executive assistant and constituency assistant to the MLA for Nahendeh.

He says his top priorities are with family support services and he would like to get more government support for these types of services. He also notes tourism and wildlife management as important issues.