INUVIK - About 60 residents came out to the community hall Sept. 30 to hear 10 candidates for town councillor unveil their platforms and respond to questions on key issues facing Inuvik.

The audience asked candidates pointed questions on how they would tackle the town's high crime rate, bylaw enforcement, its struggling economy, relations with Gwich'in Tribal Council and the child care deficit in the community.

Ten of the 15 nominees running for town council arrived to take part in all the all-candidates forum on Wednesday. From left, Alana Mero, via conference call, Jim McDonald, Vince Brown, Vince Sharpe, Terry Halifax, Nick Saturnino, Jesse Harder, Kurt Wainman, Chris Larocque and Clarence Wood. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Gerri Sharpe-Staples asked several questions and raised concerns about how councillors should conduct themselves while on council and the need for more youth programming. She said the forum helped her determine who she'll vote for.

"It showed me where the candidate's stances were and which ones are speaking truthfully and some were speaking through the grins and smiles," she said.

Voter Chris Garven attended the forum and said he was impressed by what he saw. He said he hopes the councillors who get elected will communicate more with residents.

"I think we need to have more information come from the council as to what they're actually doing and that was a big concern here tonight," he said. "I don't know that we need big changes but getting some fresh blood in there and getting some different ideas in there is an excellent idea."

Candidates who participated in the forum were Vince Brown, Terry Halifax, Jesse Harder, Chris Larocque, Jim McDonald, Nick Saturnino, Vince Sharpe, Kurt Wainman and Clarence Wood, and Alana Mero by telephone. Donovan Arey, Ethel-Jean Gruben, Grace Loreen, Amier Suliman and Lionel Harder were absent.

To kick off the evening, candidates were allotted two minutes each to state their platforms. Many of the participants shared ideas on the need to improve town infrastructure, work collectively with residents, develop the town's tourism sector, and promote Inuvik's central location in the Western Arctic to increase global warming research. The idea was raised for the town to take over the NWT Power Corp. plant in Inuvik.

The format of the event allowed the audience to pose a question to three different councillors or allow the moderator to choose candidates randomly.

Herbert Blake, Inuvik Gwich'in Chief, said he felt Gwich'in people are "marginalized" by the town and asked how the new council would improve relations.

In response, Vince Sharpe said he wasn't aware of any marginalization but stated the importance of the town working closely with both the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit governments, providing a seat on council for both.

Mero - who participated in the meeting via conference call from Whitehorse - and Halifax echoed that sentiment.

"We need to seek out the input from residents," said Mero. "We're in the Gwich'in settlement region and we need to respect that."

Another resident pointed to the high crime rate in town and asked how candidates would deal with the escalating problem if elected.

Wainman responded that part of the solution rested with investing in an alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre for the town and more police patrol, especially late at night.

"You ever see the police at two in the morning? Anyone?"

The issue of bylaw enforcement, especially concerning traffic infractions and the youth curfew, also cropped up.

Sharing the opinion of most of the candidates, Wood argued that in order for curfews to be enforced, parents would have to support the town rule. Larocque suggested the town should educate residents on its bylaws and then look at issuing more fines.

The Children First Society found support from the candidates on the organization's bid to build a new child care centre, especially from Mero, who's a member of the organization. She pointed out the Inuvik Child Development Centre is in need of a new home before Sir Alexander Mackenzie School, which houses the facility, is torn down.

"If we don't get people behind this, we're going to lose the current space that we have at the school," she said.