DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - Young and future voters were the focus of a Western Arctic candidates' forum held in Fort Providence on April 19.

Green Party candidate Eli Purchase, right, addresses more than 60 residents at the Fort Providence Western Arctic candidates' forum, held in the Deh Gah School gym on April 19. Purchase appeared with NDP incumbent Dennis Bevington and Liberal candidate Joe Handley. - photo courtesy of Jeremy Kielstra

More than 60 residents filled the Deh Gah School gymnasium to pose questions to NDP-incumbent Dennis Bevington, Liberal-hopeful Joe Handley and Green party candidate Eli Purchase, said teacher Christopher Carson.

Conservative candidate Sandy Lee and Animal Alliance Environmental Voters party candidate Bonnie Dawson did not attend the event.

Dawson, a Hay River resident, sent along information about her party, said Carson, but added she couldn't make the forum because the Mackenzie River ice crossing near Fort Providence was closed.

Carson said Lee's campaign team said "they were unable to attend, but they didn't give me a date when they would be able to talk to our youth."

Lee could not be reached for comment as of press time.

Half of those in attendance at the forum were students and young people. Elections Canada estimated 37.4 per cent of eligible voters aged 18 to 24 cast a vote in the 2008 federal election, which was the lowest showing of any demographic.

Carson said the forum, which included two youth panel members, gave students a chance to get involved in the political discussion.

"The candidates were able to relate to the youth and they spoke so the youth understood the issues and how they can get involved," said Carson, who said the candidates later spoke with the senior high school class and Aurora College students.

Bradley Thom, a Grade 10 student, appreciated the candidates' visit to Fort Providence.

"It's the first time I have seen those people come into the communities to speak. Instead of just guessing or hearing about what the community looks like and what needs to be done, they actually see it so they know what needs to be done," he said.

He said each of the candidates impressed him in a different way.

"The Green Party (candidate) was young, so he had lots of energy," said Thom.

"The other two (Bevington and Handley) were older, so they had experience with how to use money and build buildings to try to make the community better."

Thom asked the candidates what they would do to improve youth and education services in the community.

While he agreed with Purchase, cell phone service and better Internet access would be beneficial, he also liked Bevington's comment about finding additional qualified teachers to teach more subjects in the hamlet.

Shawna McLeod, 19, will be participating in her first federal election this spring.

But don't ask her whom she's voting for.

"I'm still debating. I'm still back and forth with it," she said, although she added if it wasn't for the forum, she wouldn't know who to vote for at all.

"A lot of the classes had to come out and watch and ask questions. I think these kinds of forums are good for our youth and it will encourage (them) to start voting and change our community for the better," she said.

McLeod asked the candidates for their views on the proposed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline. She said she was impressed by Handley's answer about putting education first for Northerners.

"That really stuck out with me," she said.

McLeod said she has always taken an interest in politics, having grown up around it.

In fact, her father, Transportation Minister Michael McLeod, moderated the forum.

He said he was pleased with how the event allowed youth to get a sense of the candidates and the issues in their community and territory.

"It also allows them to see questions and discussion being held in a very structured form," he said.

In the past 10 years, Michael McLeod said Fort Providence residents have really started to expect these events as opportunities to meet and discuss issues with candidates.

He added it was disappointing all the candidates did not attend.

When asked whom he would vote for, Michael McLeod said he tries to stay neutral as a cabinet minister.

"I have to work with whomever is elected. That's my own personal approach. I don't usually hang anyone's sign on my house," he said.

Thom was more forthcoming with his answer.

"If I was old enough, I wouldn't vote for anybody because they were all pretty good," he said.

The election is set for May 2.

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