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TU NEDHE
In the last territorial election four years ago, there were six candidates in the district of Tu Nedhe.

Fort Resolution and Lutsel K'e – the two communities in Tu Nedhe territorial district – are about 250 km apart, but are united by the Chipewyan language, some family connections and the fact that both are on the shore of Great Slave Lake. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

But with the nomination deadline just days away, only one candidate – incumbent MLA Tom Beaulieu – has so far said he will run this year in the district that includes Fort Resolution and Lutsel K'e.

Beaulieu said he doesn't know of anyone else running, but he is not assuming he will be returned by acclamation.

"I'm gearing up for an election," he said. "I'm gearing up to campaign for one whole month."

His closest challenger in the 2007 vote was Steve Ellis of Lutsel K'e, who said he is not running this time around because his family has twins on the way.

"So that will keep me running enough," he quipped.

In 2007, Ellis won the most votes in Lutsel K'e, while Beaulieu – originally from Fort Resolution, but now living in Yellowknife – was mostly supported by his home community.

Ellis said he doesn't expect anyone will run from Lutsel K'e.

"I don't think there's anybody that's interested," he said. "I know most of the people that would be interested."

Ellis said, if someone was to run from Lutsel K'e, there would be a similar division of votes between that community and Fort Resolution as in the last election.

However, Beaulieu believes his work over the last four years has created more support for him in Lutsel K'e.

"I think I've made inroads into Lutsel K'e," he said. "You never know, but I think I have the support and the confidence of the local people in Lutsel K'e. I've worked equally as hard for Lutsel K'e as I did for Fort Resolution."

During his first term as MLA, he made 35 trips to Fort Resolution and more than 25 trips to Lutsel K'e.

There are about 1,000 people in both communities combined, he noted. "I was determined to work for all of them."

Chief Louis Balsillie of Fort Resolution's Deninu Ku'e First Nation said he has not heard of anyone planning to challenge Beaulieu from his home community.

"I have a lot of faith in our MLA," the chief said. "I think he's done an excellent job for us in the community and I'm hoping that he gets back in."

If re-elected on Oct. 3, Beaulieu said there is a good chance that he will seek a position in cabinet.

"I've got to spend some time talking during the campaign period with some of the people in both Lutsel K'e and Fort Resolution," he noted. "Some of the people think that I'd be more successful and a bigger help to the community as a regular MLA and challenging the government across the floor. Some people say that you would be better to be at the table where the money is being divided."

In the past, Beaulieu, 53, has been a deputy minister during a long career with the GNWT, president of the NWT Housing Corporation, and also served as a Hay River town councillor.

As for issues in Tu Nedhe, housing tops the list of concerns.

Ellis, an independent contractor who works for the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation and Akaitcho Dene First Nations, said housing is a perpetual issue.

"That's something that's familiar to everybody, but something that hits home to all residents in these small towns," he said, noting Lutsel K'e has housing corporation homes that are unlivable because of poor construction or because the corporation's programs do not fit with the realities of small communities.

"It's really kind of depressing when you drive in from the airport and see these new houses that are empty and people piled into their granny's house still," he said.

Balsillie also mentions housing as a top issue in Fort Resolution.

"Housing is the biggest problem in our community," he said.

The chief also hopes devolution becomes a main issue in the coming election, noting it is a big topic for Akaitcho Territory because it is still in negotiations and devolution needs to be put on hold until those talks are finished.

"We're hoping the new people put in power will back the First Nations," he said.

Beaulieu also said the issues in Tu Nedhe are dominated by housing.

"I'd like to see changes to the housing corporation, no question about that," he said. "That's a big item. Just about, I would say, 70 per cent of my issues have been housing issues."

Among other issues, the MLA mentions the devolution agreement-in-principle, saying he'd like to see some positions relocated from Ottawa go to regional centres and smaller communities.

Among other things, Beaulieu noted he has worked over the last four years to help obtain funding for a new youth centre in Fort Resolution and a new adult learning centre in Lutsel K'e, along with chip sealing a section of the highway to Fort Resolution.

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