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Mayoral candidates discuss their priorities Jeanne Gagnon Northern News Services Published Monday, November 28, 2011
"The priority is the people - make sure they're comfortable, but getting the town ready for CHARS is going to improve the community and improve the condition of housing and services and so on," he said. "It's all for the people. It's important the residents not only enjoy their town but make a good living from it."
Jeannie Ehaloak, a municipal councillor from 1999 to 2002, is again seeking public office, but this time as the mayor. The environmental co-ordinator with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. said she believes the community needs a change.
"I'd like to make the community aware of all the social and elder programs and support their initiatives," she said. "With the continued support and participation of the community, we will take our programs and services and economic opportunities to a higher level."
Peter Harte stated via e-mail he asked the returning officer to withdraw his name from the mayoral ballot.
"After I was nominated, work commitments have developed such that it will be difficult to attend the responsibilities associated with the position of mayor, so I have decided to withdraw," he stated via email. "I still intend to run for council."
James Panioyak, a freelance Innuinaqtun interpreter and translator, said he feels the community needs a change, so he seeking the mayor's chair.
"For too long, I think our community has been focusing on development and with that, our local Inuit, I feel, are being left behind with all the development going on," he said.
The two-term Hunters and Trappers Organization chairman added he doesn't feel they have a close-knit Inuit community anymore as young people have forgotten traditional knowledge and social values.
"We have a lot of young people who are unemployed and a lot of young people who have nothing to do but get into trouble," he said. "This, I feel, has to change for the better."
Panioyak said they should get more training for young people to prepare them to work at the mines as there are such opportunities in Cambridge Bay.
"I will not be making any promises, but want to work with my fellow community members, agencies, organizations to better serve our community as a whole," he said.
Kugluktuk/Coppermine
Incumbent Ernie Bernhardt said he wants to erase the deficit and build infrastructure.
"Our present council, we inherited a deficit and I would like to erase that, work on it," he said. "Our roads are really in bad shape so we need a rock crusher. We need infrastructure and on top of that, we want to give our people a more healthy lifestyle, so those are some of the things I want to work on."
The community's mayor since 2009 also said they have to look at the future of the community.
"We are one of the communities that is very very close to all the mining development and also we've got to look at the economic side of developing our community to make it more attractive," he said.
Gladys Joudrey, who works at JMS Supplies, said she doesn't think people understand what the hamlet does or why they make the decisions they do. She decided to run because she hears people complain and no one listens to what they want, she said.
"My platform is simple. I will listen to people, respond to concerns and make the changes I am able," she stated via email. "I am not approaching the position with specific goals in mind, but rather with an open mind."
She added part of her job will be to inform people what the hamlet's responsibilities are. Joudrey said she enjoys problem-solving and working with others to find solutions.
"Lots of people get in and they just keep doing the things they've always been done and they're happy with that," she said. "But, I need to understand why things are done the way they are and to ask the questions and see if things can be improved or can be done different, more efficient."
For Derrick Power, general wellness of the community and recreation are his priorities, said the former mayor and current manager of the Kugluktuk Co-op Ltd.
"I was involved in it before. I ran before and I enjoyed it. A chance to do some good for the community, so I want to try again," he said.
Kugaaruk/Pelly Bay
Stephen Inaksajak, who works for Nunavut Power as a plant superintendent, said he didn't want to promise anything right now as he wants to find out what's available first.
"I want to see some changes in what's going on with the hamlet and help the community," he said. "I got to look through everything first and then I'll try see what I can help for the community."
Incumbent Makabe Nartok said he wants to finish what he's started, such as the boat landing.
"I am trying to get a boat landing for regular boats. I don't know if we're going to get it, but that's the priority (with) the minister of transportation," he said.
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