City hopefuls weigh in on issues
Four people in byelection race for one Iqaluit council seat
Myles Dolphin
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 14, 2013
IQALUIT
The upcoming municipal byelection in Iqaluit will feature four candidates who are vying to become the city's eighth councillor.
Lewis MacKay is running for a city council seat for the second time after narrowly missing out in last year's election.
Noah Papatsie, who ran in the mayoral race last year, wants council to work together and put the city in a better state for future generations.
Doug Cox said he'll do his best to represent the people of Iqaluit and bring their issues to the table.
 Stephen Mansell, who served as an Iqaluit councillor two years ago, decided not to run for re-election last year in order to spend more time with his wife and newborn baby. The seat has been left vacant since April when former councillor Jimmy Kilabuk announced his resignation due to poor health. |
Lewis MacKay, Noah Papatsie, Douglas Cox and Stephen Mansell are running for the spot on Oct. 28 and the candidates represent a wide range of opinions that span the political spectrum.
Mansell, Papatsie and 21-year-old MacKay have all dipped their toes in municipal politics at one time or another.
MacKay was only 74 votes shy of being elected in last year's election, narrowly losing his spot to current councillor Mark Morrissey.
Mansell ran for a seat in a 2010 byelection after former councillor Natsiq Alainga-Kango resigned, but lost to Joanasie Akumalik. Mansell finally got his chance in 2011, replacing outgoing councillor Mary Akpalialuk after she resigned that April. He was appointed after council decided to choose the candidate with the second highest number of votes in the previous byelection.
Papatsie was a mayoral candidate last year, finishing third in the race behind Allen Hayward and the eventual winner, Mayor John Graham.
This year's municipal byelection is being held on the same day as the territorial election, a cost-saving measure that produced an unfortunate side-effect, according to Papatsie and Mansell.
They believe the 19 MLA hopefuls in Iqaluit overshadow the municipal candidates and their issues.
"The media and the public are definitely focused on territorial politics right now, so it does take some extra effort to get people thinking about municipal issues," said Mansell, who works for the Nunavut Department of Justice as a lawyer.
"But I find that once you remind people that there is a municipal byelection coming and you start to discuss issues like the dog bylaw, the pool and road paving, Iqalummiut are very receptive."
Papatsie said he finds it harder to campaign than last year, and believes residents in Iqaluit are more focused on territorial issues.
"I think they (MLA candidates) like what we say, though, as some of them have used what we've said already," said Papatsie, a board member of the Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society.
MacKay, whose background is in public policy, believes it's a great opportunity to build relationships with territorial politicians. He feels it's time to put an end to the "us versus them" mentality in the city's approach to working with other levels of government.
"We are all here to serve, and that is best done through co-operation and recognition of shared responsibilities," he said.
Cox believes there is another upside to having both elections on the same day.
"There will likely be a bigger voter turnout," said Cox, a self-described "man of few words."
Together, their main issues cover many of the water-cooler discussions that have taken place in Iqaluit since last year's election.
Mansell wants to focus on the stray dog issue, the future aquatic centre, community cleanup, broadcast of council meetings, paving more roads, increasing safety and infrastructure.
He chose not to run for re-election last year because he and his wife had a newborn baby and he wanted to spend more time with his family.
"The baby is now one and our family is getting into a bit of a routine, so I feel I have the time needed to devote to council," he said.
MacKay believes his experience with the city's public safety committee has allowed him to develop a strong working relationship with city administration.
His main concerns lie with the city's road network and an increased focus on composting and recycling.
"Through my volunteer work with Piviniit Society, we've helped keep a lot of reusable material out of the landfill," he said.
"These types of community initiatives are an important part of sustainable systems."
Papatsie has narrowed his focus to poverty, home ownership, more use of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, food security and pedestrian safety.
He said he's running for council again because he learned valuable lessons during last year's election.
"I want us all to work together to make a better future for our generations to come," he said.
Cox, who is heavily involved with the Iqaluit men's shelter and soup kitchen, said he will do his best to bring issues to the table and represent the residents of the city.
"My platform would be to try and bring the voice of the people to the council meetings and represent them to the best of my ability," he said.
Finally, the candidates were asked to share their vision of Iqaluit in the next five years.
In that time frame, a bevy of important projects are likely to be completed.
Mansell hopes the city can flourish in that time and feature proper sidewalks and a swimming pool that doesn't operate at a loss.
"The city should also be well on its way to addressing our garbage, water and sewer infrastructure issues," he said.
"However, these things can only happen if council and administration get to work now."
Papatsie said it's hard to predict how a city will look in the next five years, but hopes council can leave the city in a better shape than it is now for future generations.
MacKay is a strong supporter of the draft Iqaluit Sustainable Community Plan and encourages Iqalummiut to review it.
