Candidates talk big election issues
MLA hopefuls weigh in on Dehcho Process and capital spending
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, November 12, 2015
DEH CHO
The race to the legislative assembly is heating uo with elections scheduled to take place on Nov. 23.
Four candidates are running in the Deh Cho: Ron Bonnetrouge, Lyle Fabian, Michael Nadli and Greg Nyuli. In Nahendeh, incumbent Kevin Menicoche is being challenged by six candidates: Shane Thompson, Rosemary Gill, Dennis Nelner, Arnold Hope, Randy Sibbeston and Deneze Nakehk'o.
Deh Cho Drum reached out to all candidates by e-mail with questions on the Dehcho Process and infrastructure dollars.
Candidates who responded for the Nov. 12 edition of the paper are Hope, Nelner and Nadli.
Candidates who responded after press time will have their answers featured in the Nov. 19 edition of the paper.
Over the last year, the Dehcho Process has been stalled due to the inability of the government and the Dehcho First Nations to agree on the amount of land Dehcho First Nations should receive. Do you think one or both sides needs to compromise and, if so, how can such a compromise be struck?
Nelner: "I think there's room for compromise with a win-win for both parties. The government needs to move the devolution file (royalty revenue) forward, and the Dehcho Process needs a final agreement (governance) for people in the region to feel their lives are not on hold. These are the two compelling arguments that are motivating both parties. Build the case for both and the parties will have what they want."
Hope: "As a beneficiary and participant of the Dehcho Process over many years, I fail to understand why the territorial government is even involved with these negotiations. The original treaties were between the Crown and the indigenous peoples of this area, Treaty 11. It is very important to understand how and why the federal government has relinquished its fiduciary responsibility to a lower level of government. The territorial government has only existed since 1967. This has not been done here in the North with any other claimant group and in this regard I feel the courts will be the only recourse in this matter."
Nadli: "All parties have to compromise and I think that's the art of negotiations. I support the current negotiation process. I would like for it to come to a successful conclusion. I voted no to devolution as a matter of principle, I disagreed with the whole issue of devolution. The government has got to do more to reach agreements with (the First Nations). I think the climate is there for things to move forward. Now is the time for us to really put in effort in terms of how we can move forward."
What would your strategy be to ensure your riding receives the infrastructure money it needs?
Nelner: "It's not enough to gripe with ministers and/or other envoys about the lack of capital projects in the riding. We need to be more innovative to secure the deals to bring more capital projects in. Creating alliances with other MLAs such as Deh Cho alliances within the community to facilitate the process and alliances with the business community will give this riding the added lobby effort to win over ministerial approval for large capital projects. The key is to be organized and form committees of people to move the agenda forward."
Hope: "The very nature of the territorial government's consensus government allows for this problem. It stands to reason that if you have a strong group of MLAs from Yellowknife and the other areas of the NWT, and a perception of a weak MLA from the Nahendeh riding, we will continue on this roller coaster ride of wishing and wanting, without any receipt of many major capital projects. My strategy is is to simply be the strongest MLA that the Nahendeh can provide. A change in the character and quality of our new MLA will be important in this regard."
Nadli: "There has to be more effective community input into the capital planning process. My commitment is to bring a stronger working relationship with local leadership on what they deem to be priorities and needs at the local level. Over the next four years, I'd like to be able to be not only an effective voice but bring a stronger relationship with leaders so we can work together and try to bring some projects to the community."
