Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Friday, September 28, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknifers who attended the Candidates Forum on Wednesday heard a variety of views on the city's business issues.

The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce hosted the forum at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre and all the constituencies took part. All 23 candidates were given the same three questions. The ridings took the stage separately and each candidate was given four minutes to answer and an additional minute for closing remarks.

For the most part the candidates stuck to the issues and were composed in their answers. A few were inventive, like Weledeh candidate Bob Bromley, who briefly played a violin in a symbolic act of his appreciation for the arts.

Candidates from all ridings seemed split on the issue of the $150 million dollar Mackenzie Bridge Project and the impact it will have on Yellowknife.

Weledeh candidate Andy Wong believes the bridge is an important improvement for Yellowknife. "This is a legacy project you and I can benefit from," said Wong.

Robert Hawkins, for Yellowknife Centre, also supports the bridge project and says the high cost is a reality of moving forward.

Others were more doubtful of the actual benefit the Mackenzie Bridge project.

"We've beenmislead by the previous government about the cost," said Kam Lake candidate Brad Enge. He also said Yellowknife is too small for this large undertaking and consumers will pay the price.

The second question asked if candidates supported the Northwest Territories Power Corporation's recent rate increase application and called for solutions to improve power services in Yellowknife.

Some candidates, like Wendy Bisaro of Frame Lake, said they would support the right of the NWT Power Corp. to increase the rates. Others stressed a need for energy efficiency and finding alternate power sources. Mark Bogan from Grate Slave said, "the best overall solution would be to have an alternative feed or tie from another grid."

On the last question, how to address the high cost of living and need to recruit more workers, most candidates were on the same page, stressing the need for affordable housing and child care.

Garett Cochrane, 18, the youngest candidate, got a few laughs from the crowd opening his speech with, "I'm going to keep this short and sweet, like my age."

He recalled his time in elementary school drama class and stressed the need for more options in courses at Aurora College. Chris Johnston of Frame Lake and Yellowknife South's Amy Hacala also highlighted the need to make improvements to Aurora College, like expansion and apprenticeship programs.

Ken Smith, director of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, said he thought the forum gave voters "a good chance to see each of the candidates in their specific riding and see how each of their ideas and platforms matched up against each other."