Dez Loreen
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Oct 13/06) - With a municipal election just around the corner, council hopefuls share their platforms:

Chris Larocque
Chris Larocque has 40 years experience living in the region and is an alumni of Samuel Hearne secondary school.

He has served on the Metis council and has been involved with the youth centre.

As a manger of a business, Larocque wants to encourage development of an all-weather road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk.

Larocque also has a strong stance on eliminating crack cocaine from the community.

He said he is disappointed that nothing came from the community meetings held last year to bust down on crack dealers.

The social issues of Inuvik, like violence, hard drugs and vandalism need to be addressed, said Larocque.CUTLINE #2 (list slug of photo): 0510cou%jim

Jim McDonald
Jim McDonald has raised his family in Inuvik and has three children attending Samuel Hearne secondary school.

He currently owns half of McDonald Brothers Electric with his brother.

He believes his experience in the private sector will assist council if elected.

"I think I have the skills to make a meaningful contribution," said McDonald. He said he respects what past councils have achieved and only wants to improve the formula.

"I'm not setting out to change the whole system, I want to improve things a little," he said.

"Inuvik is a nice place to live."

Improving the water system in Inuvik is one of the fundamental issues that McDonald wants to address.

Improving the recreation facilities in town is also important to McDonald.

Abdallah El-Bekai
Abdallah El-Bekai has been in Inuvik for the past seven years. He wants to focus on the full paving of the roads in town.

"There is a lot of mud and a lot of garbage in town," said El-Bekai.

Instead of contracting a company to pave the streets, El-Bekai suggested the town own a mini-asphalt plant and hire workers from in town.

"If we owned the equipment, we could save money."

He also wants to expand the youth centre to offer more programs in a larger building.

"The centre should be moved and it should be bigger," said El-Bekai.

Keeping youth off the streets is a concern for El-Bekai.

"If we lead these kids, we will have no problems."

Victor Ciboci
Victor Ciboci has raised his family in Inuvik and has stayed informed about council and council procedures by actively attending meetings.

He has no formal experience on council, but believes he will help the growth of the town.

He wants to focus on helping the homeless people in Inuvik by giving them jobs and finding permanent residences for them. He also wants to see another school bus system in place. A simple route would mean less kids being late for school and would be good for the cold winter months.

Ciboci is also concerned with crime in town involving youth. "Something should be done for them. They are on the streets at 2 a.m. they have no place to go."

Vince Brown
Vince Brown is focused on maintaining Inuvik's success in business.

"We have oil and gas potential. I'm interested in seeing that develop, but we should not put all our eggs in one basket."

He also wants to keep improving the image of our community through beautification. He sees community events like the annual arts festival and music festival as events that are good for Inuvik and are "moving in the right direction."

While he has not been aggressively campaigning, Brown said there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed and long term strategic planning is important for the town.

Brian McDonald
Brian McDonald wants to work towards a solution to crime and social problems in Inuvik.

"I know there's means of solving this," he said.

"We just need to get to the bottom of it all."

McDonald has experience working with youth in alternate schools and has volunteered for the suicide line.

He is also concerned with the expansion and development in town in the upcoming years.

"If the pipeline doesn't go through, we need a plan," he said.

"And even if it does go through, it won't solve all the problems."

McDonald wants Inuvik to be a better place for families to enjoy. He wants to initialize a citizen street patrol. He is also concerned that the tourism industry has given way to the pipeline and its development.

Eugene Rees
Eugene Rees is from Newfoundland and has been in Inuvik for the past year.

He currently serves as the economic development officer for Sachs Harbour, Ulukhaktok and Paulatuk.

"We must be ready for the growth we're going to see in the region," said Rees.

"There is going to be a terrible strain on the infrastructure, but we cannot jump too quickly."

Rees wants to see further development of Inuvik as a conference destination and wants to expand the annual petroleum show. A community watch is something that Rees wants to see implemented soon.

George Doolittle
George Doolittle has served on town council for two separate terms and has experience on the town's financial committee.

He sees the potential for the growth of Inuvik in the upcoming years and wants to be ready for it.

"We are in a waiting period and we have been here before."

Doolittle said Inuvik will be subject to fluctuations and growing pains caused by changes in industry and politics.

He is realistic in his goals, he knows that nothing happens overnight and there are limited resources.

"We should be happy with what we do and what we have here."

He also wants affordable improvements to our roads, playgrounds, drainage systems and public services.

Wayne Smith
Wayne Smith has been in Inuvik for 31 years, serving as a taxi driver for 26 years.

He has been involved with the Territorial liquor board and has served as sheriff's bailiff.

Increasing the RCMP presence in town with foot patrols and door to door checks is something else that Smith would like to see.

Keeping youth crime down is another one of the issues that Smith wants to address.

"The bylaw officers should be checking doors, chasing kids home, whatever it takes."

Smith also wants to see more businesses in town getting their lots paved to reduce dust in the air.

He is also concerned with the crack cocaine problem in town.

"We had meetings last year, but nothing happened. Maybe we need someone higher up in the RCMP to listen."

Grace Loreen
Grace Loreen is new to town politics, but was raised in the region. She wants to focus on improving the quality of education in town and training for youth, adults and homeless people.

She believes that the people in Inuvik must be ready for any future development or expansion.

Addressing community addictions is another important issue for Loreen. She wants to ensure that proper facilities and programs are in place for those who are battling addictions and need help.

She is the only woman running for town council this term. She spent six years living in Tuk becoming aware of regional issues and supports a year-long road connecting the two communities.

"I'm not going to make any promises, but I'll listen," she said."If I really believe in something, I will fight for it."

Terry Halifax
Terry Halifax has served on town council for the past year, and is currently involved in the Inuvik District Education Authority as well.

A photographer by trade, Halifax has seen first hand what council has been dealing with for the past year.

He wants to see improvements in the utilidor system, and wants to see a five and ten year plan for waste management in Inuvik. Halifax has also been involved in youth issues in town. He has worked as a substitute teacher at Samuel Hearne, teaching Grade 10 science.

He also wants to know the current situation with eliminating crackhouses from our town.

Halifax is also involved with the Inuvik Greenhouse Society.

Clarence Wood
Clarence Wood has served on council for six terms. He has lived in the North for 36 years, first in Iqaluit before moving to Inuvik.

Wood has also sat as board chair of the Inuvik Housing Authority and knows about issues that face the community.

He wants to see an alcohol and drug treatment centre and a better homeless shelter.

"Youth crime is not our biggest issue," said Wood.

He believes in upgrading the roads in town, and said getting them all properly paved and treated should be a priority.

"Any time you have a new council, there is a new mandate. The past history is erased."

Wood has been happy serving on council and is happy there are others running for seats.

"I was scared to death I was going to be acclaimed. That usually means people don't care enough to get involved."

"I hope experience means something in this election."