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Candidates discuss issues Inuvik Drum talks to town council hopefulsDanielle Sachs Northern News Services Published Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012
For this week's edition, Inuvik Drum has spoken to four incumbent candidates. Here's what they had to say: Name: Vince Sharpe Age: Would not disclose Profession: I am a contractor here in town and have been for the past 35 years. Years in the community: I've lived in Inuvik for the past 43 years and raised my children here. Political experience: I have sat on many councils in the past 30 years, first taking a seat in 1978. I have also worked with many boards and committees around town. Inuvik Drum: What was behind your decision to run for council? VS: I am running because this is my community and I want to see it prosper and grow. To do that, it needs a leadership who understand the ups and downs Inuvik has been through in the past. I am progressive enough to help lead us into the future with guidance for the people who elect us. ID: Why are you the best person for the job? VS: If the town had a "best person" there wouldn't be any need for eight councillors. Council works as a team and together make decisions for the good of the whole community with no private agendas to bring to the table. ID: What is the most important issue facing the community right now? VS: I think the Inuvik gas issue is the biggest thing on people's minds right now with the cost of gas to homeowners projected to nearly double in the very near future. ID: What do you plan on doing to address it? VS: First and foremost, people need to understand that this is not a problem created by council or even by Inuvik Gas. It was caused by a well feeding our town filling with water. But it is the duty of our council to lobby the territorial and federal governments to help facilitate a solution to this problem. The answer is not to keep shipping truckloads of propane into town to fuel our furnaces and boilers; I believe the key to finding a solution is to work with everyone involved for as long as it takes to get the best deal. Name: Kurt Wainman Age: 41 Profession: Business owner Years in the community: All my life. I was born and raised here. Political experience: I was a town councillor for the last term and I've been on a few boards. ID: What was behind your decision to run for council? KW: There's a bunch of unfinished town business like the gas problem and the Inuvik-Tuk highway. I don't believe I should be bailing on what I'm involved with. It's going to be a long, drawn-out process and I want to do another term to finish off what we have open. ID: Why are you the best person for the job? KW: I have a lot of experience in construction and oil fields. I know everything about Inuvik and I have a lot of experience. Being town councillor really is a second job. ID: What is the most important issue facing the community right now? KW: Number one is to settle the gas problems, as in getting a new supply, not raising prices. The next issue is the Inuvik-Tuk Highway. It will make a lot of things happen, the money fingers out to every business in town. We need work here and the federal government is willing to give the money, they just need to get the ball rolling. There are so many people not working. This is going to be a ghost town this winter. ID: What do you plan on doing to address it? KW: We've got to work on the sustainability of the town. I just want to fight for the proper price on gas. It's such a mess, there's nothing going on right now. I'm concerned about the people who have built up their houses and lives in Inuvik. The prices they're handing out now are ridiculous, people can't afford it. Name: Terry Halifax Age: Would not disclose Profession: Photographer, and project co-ordinator for Children First Society Years in the community: Ten years in Inuvik, 16 years in the North. Political experience: Three terms on Inuvik town council, past chair of the Inuvik Gardening Society, former secretary of the Great Northern Arts Festival and former secretary of Inuvik Lions Club. ID: What was behind your decision to run for council? TH: There are some important issues facing the Town of Inuvik right now and it's important that there's some continuity on council. My experience of the past, coupled with a vision for the future will be valuable to the new mayor and council. ID: Why are you the best person for the job? TH: Combined with my past experience as a journalist, on council, as a small business owner and with volunteer positions, I bring a unique perspective to the table. I have a frank and common-sense approach to issues and try to ensure that not only are all views represented in debate, but meaningful solutions are offered as well. ID: What is the most important issue facing the community right now? TH: Inuvik is faced with rising energy costs and an uncertain future for long-term energy supply. We have a gas company without gas and an electric company without a fuel source. ID: What do you plan on doing to address it? TH: We need to develop a long-term plan for an energy source. Governments often invest in hydro-electric dams for long-term power supply. Hydro is not an option for Inuvik, but we are surrounded by huge gas reserves. Partnered with governments and industry, I'd propose investing in a well, pipeline and liquefied natural gas plant for Inuvik. This fuel would not only power Inuvik, but be exported throughout the North. Name: Clarence Wood Age: 62 Profession: Retired/self-employed Years in the community: 25 years Political experience: Six terms on Inuvik town council, four terms as vice-president of NWT Association of Communities. ID: What was behind your decision to run for council? CW: To continue the work that has been done in the past and to work toward improving our community. ID: Why are you the best person for the job? CW: Experience matters, in my opinion. Over the years I have learned a lot about the problems facing the town. That experience serves me well in problem-solving and avoiding the mistakes of the past. ID: What is the most important issue facing the community right now? CW: The supply of natural gas is the primary problem facing the town. ID: What do you plan on doing to address it? CW: Working with the proponents and the residents of the town to find a solution. We must also be lobbying the territorial and federal governments for assistance.
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