LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A last-minute visit by the prime minister and an ice road closure turned what was meant to be a Western Arctic all-candidates forum in Fort Simpson into a less formal question-and-answer session with NDP incumbent Dennis Bevington and Liberal hopeful Joe Handley on April 17.

NDP incumbent Dennis Bevington, left, and Liberal hopeful Joe Handley, right, spoke to about 30 Fort Simpson residents Sunday at an abridged candidates' forum. Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly, centre, moderated the discussions. - Herb Mathisen/NNSL photo

Conservative candidate Sandy Lee cancelled her appearance after Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced late last week that he would be making a campaign stop in Yellowknife on Sunday evening.

Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for Lee's campaign, said Harper's visit to Yellowknife came together quickly and they were given short notice.

"It is unfortunate that there was a scheduling conflict," he said.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche got word of Lee's plans late Friday evening and cancelled his involvement as moderator of the event. With Handley and Bevington in the village though, the event still went on.

Green Party candidate Eli Purchase had also confirmed his attendance, but with the closure of the Mackenzie River ice crossing near Fort Providence, he was stuck in Yellowknife.

"I'm kind of cut off and, due to the expenses of travel with flights and everything, it is pretty prohibitive," said Purchase, over the phone.

He hoped to connect to the forum "by phone or by Skype," but Mayor Sean Whelly, who took on moderating duties, said it was not possible.

Despite confusion over whether or not the event would actually happen, nearly 30 residents showed up at the rec centre to meet Bevington and Handley on Sunday.

The candidates addressed the gathering briefly and then answered questions for about an hour.

Both candidates spoke of the need for a Mackenzie Valley highway.

"If we are going to have an economy in the Territories, we need infrastructure," said Handley, a former territorial premier.

He pledged to develop a 10-year plan to build the entire highway.

Handley also challenged Harper's claims of a strong Canadian economy, based on what he's seen in the region.

"It's not showing up here. I've been up and down the valley. It's dead in every community. There's not a lot going on," he said.

Handley said the highway would help prepare for a possible pipeline and would also open the area up to increased tourism.

Bevington said he has seen first hand the benefits a road brings.

"I've lived in a community before there was a road built there. I tell people social conditions improved with a road," he said.

However, he was weary of the Conservatives $150 million budget promise to build a portion of the road in the Beaufort Delta.

"The supposed $150 million is only about half the cost for the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk road," he said. "They didn't tell you that there would be no money this year. There is, however, $30 million identified for the 2012-13 budget."

Bevington wanted to see a Northern infrastructure fund developed.

Bevington and Handley agreed that corporate tax cuts needed to stop.

"There are going to be cutbacks," said Bevington. "There is a $40 billion deficit and (the Conservatives) are still reducing taxes to corporations."

Handley said government needs to spend its money more effectively, asking why Harper wants to buy 65 fighter jets when cuts are needed.

The candidates were civil with each other for the most part. In one of the few barbs thrown out,

Bevington accused the Liberals of having adopted into their policy NDP ideas, using the tax break issue as an example.

"The Liberals last year finally came over to our side," he said.

"We are not stuck in the same ways," responded Handley. "We listen to what people are saying across the country."

Handley later took a shot at Bevington, stating NDP members were far away "in the nose-bleed section" of the House of Commons. Handley believed his party would at least form the official opposition, if not the government.

Sandy Kidd, a former village councillor and resident of 48 years, said he thought developing alternative energy systems to reduce the cost of living was an important local issue. Nationally, Kidd said this election was all about "trust and respect."

"You don't get elected in Canada, you get booted out," he said, adding his belief is that Harper's government doesn't respect Canadians.

Although Lee was not at the forum, she did visit the Deh Cho region last weekend, according to campaign spokespeople.

She held a pancake breakfast at the Nahanni Inn on April 16 and then travelled to Fort Liard later that day to meet with constituents.

Lee was not available for comment by press time.

Bonnie Dawson, Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party candidate, was not scheduled to participate in the forum.

The election is set for May 2.

Where they stand:

On the Mackenzie Valley Highway

Bevington: "I see it happening in stages. (The first stage) would be building from Wrigley to Norman Wells. To me, that is still the most important roadway we can create in the Northwest Territories."

Handley: "I don't like this idea of giving $150 million to one area and none to everyone else... Let's do the whole thing together."

On Nutrition North

Bevington: "In a way, I like the Nutrition North program because it stressed nutritious food, but it's a disaster. We need to go back and fix it."

Handley: "That is one of the biggest disasters I have ever seen."

On health

Bevington: "When we talk about cost of living and diet; those are the determinants of health."

Handley: "We need to get doctors and nurses into the communities. It's just unfair that some people have to be, in some cases, hours away from medical care."

On Ottawa

Bevington: "My job is to get as much money into the Northwest Territories as possible. The people of the NWT should decide where it should be spent."

Handley: "I think we are going to be in government, but if we are not the government, I am going to be the loudest, most passionate person in the North that we have ever had."

On having a Conservative MP

Bevington: "If you are a government MP on that side, you're zipper-lipped. You follow the party line."

Handley: "(They are saying) you vote for us or we will punish you. I don't like having the government telling me to toe the line or you will get nothing. This is Canada, not some third-world country."

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