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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Early in June, Sam Gamble, 30, became the new Green Party candidate for the Western Arctic, replacing Alex Beaudin. Gamble's parents moved to Yellowknife when he was one-year-old, where he grew up and continues to live today.

Sam Gamble is the new Green Party candidate for the Western Arctic. He thinks the NWT could send a strong message to the south by voting Green in the next election. - Brodie Thomas/NNSL photo

He attended the University of Guelph and obtained a bachelor of commerce degree in economics and finance. He has run his own consulting business, managed the Center Square Mall, and currently works with the Department of Transportation.

News/North recently sat down with Gamble to hear how his party's southern-based platform may be adaptable to suit Northern realities and ways of life.

News/North (N/N): Why did you want to get involved with the Green Party?

Sam Gamble (S.G.): I guess I've been interested in politics for a long time. The Green Party originally approached my wife and asked her to be the candidate for the Western Arctic. After we discussed we decided I would run. Before deciding I took a look at the Green Party platform. I'd never considered the Green Party or running as a candidate but after taking a look I realized it was a lot different that what I envisioned.

N/N: What about the party attracted you?

S.G.: They have a long-term vision. In their "Vision Green" they ask what we want Canada to look like in 2020 and how are we going to get there? They take a logical approach to all sorts of problems and if something makes sense, they'll do it. They don't worry about partisan politics. I just really like their rational approach.

N/N: How is the Green Party different than the other three national parties?

S.G.: I don't think it fits on the left-right spectrum that most people put the major parties on. It's really hard to pin down. Obviously they're pro environment but they have a whole platform of what they believe in. You really can't place it on that spectrum. It's the only party that wants to take the best practices from around Canada and the world and implement them nationally. It doesn't matter if it is maybe against the dogma of the party.

N/N: What do you think the Green Party can offer to Northerners that other parties can't?

S.G.: I guess a long-term vision. Right now you see the other national parties bickering. Whereas the Green Party will - if something makes sense for Canadians and it is in the best long-term interest of everybody then they promote it. It doesn't matter if it is someone else's idea or not. Right now it looks like there will be a minority government in the next election, so it is an opportunity for everybody to vote for what they believe in, not for the party they hope can beat the person they least what in. I think voting green would send a really strong signal about how people here want the North to be developed.

N/N: The NWT is resource rich but we're also short on infrastructure. What is the Green Party stance on development, mining, and oil exploration?

S.G.: I think the Green Party is not pro or anti-development. The Green Party is pro-development when the benefits out weight the economic, social, and environmental costs. It's what we call a triple bottom line analysis. It's really done case by case.

N/N: That's good but in the platform there are certain absolutes. For instance, the Green Party is completely against uranium mining and there are uranium deposits near Great Bear Lake. Do you think the Green Party would shift its policy if the people in the area wanted a mine?

S.G.: I think the Green Party's anti-nuclear stance is fairly old. I know that they're anti-nuclear right now. But I think going forward the world has a huge need for energy. We have to look at where we're going to get these sources of energy. We need to go after the sources that are least harmful and I think you need to apply the triple bottom line. If the community wants it and there are economic benefits - and the social and environmental cost can be mitigated.

N/N: The other absolute in the platform was the stance on whaling. In 2002 the Green Party called for an absolute end to all whale hunts. There are delta communities that have a traditional whale hunt. If you were elected would you work to make allowance for that hunt in the Green Party?

S.G.: I think so. Definitely. I think the Green Party platform - there are some holes in it where they're looking at southern Canada and haven't applied the policies to Northern Canada and really haven't taken a hard look at what works specifically for Northern Canada. It's a good reason why we need a bigger Northern presence in the Green Party to promote Northern values within the party.

N/N: Would you support the Liberal carbon tax and/or would the Green Party install its own carbon tax?

S.G.: Absolutely. The carbon tax supports taxing pollution. It's the smart thing to do. You tax bad things and you don't tax things you like. What the Green Party is proposing is taxing pollution and lowering income tax. We like income and we dislike pollution. I think what the Green Party has makes more sense (than the Liberal plan) but any kind of pollution tax is a good tax. That's a really good example of the impact the Green Party has had. A carbon tax isn't anything new. The Green Party has been promoting it and the Liberal party just recently latched onto it.

N/N: Do you think the Green Party could win the Western Arctic?

S.G.: Definitely we're going to try. It'll be tough. Dennis (Bevington) got a lot of votes last time.

Brendan Bell is fairly well known and has been putting a lot of time in. It'll be a lot of work.