PC candidate stresses development
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Nov 24/00) - The time to prosper is now.
Bruce McLaughlin, Progressive Conservative candidate for Western Arctic, argues that it's high time this area, and the entire NWT, experienced solid economic prosperity.
"At some point you have to say social development comes to an end, and economic prosperity kind of has to begin," McLaughlin said.
"We've got a huge area. We've got a small population, and if we train our youth right in cooperation with industry," he said, "we could be the wealthiest citizens per capita in the country."
During a visit to the area last week, McLaughlin said he's noticed a sense of optimism here regarding oil and gas exploration. "What I'm hearing from people is Inuvik's had a little bit of economic doldrums in the past little while, and they're looking at a big opportunity."
The candidate said that settling the land claims in the southern part of the NWT would benefit everyone, as it would speed up oil and gas exploration.
"Once you've done that, everybody knows what the rules are," McLaughlin said. "It gives confidence to the industry to move in."
As well, McLaughlin said this area would benefit from a PC government in that the party has pledged to immediately restore transfer payments to the provinces and territories back up at least to their 1993-94 levels. McLaughlin also said that if elected he would work to repeal the section in the Liberals' gun legislation regarding long gun owners.
"There's definitely a feeling that people want a change," McLaughlin said when evaluating his chances of winning the Western Arctic riding.
He said his task is to get small 'C' conservatives to return to the PCs, as well as woo traditional Liberal supporters who are unhappy with the present government.
