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IQALUIT
With a population of about 7,000 in Iqaluit, it's no surprise a $40-million swimming pool project was a hot topic for mayor hopefuls at an Oct. 1 all-candidates' forum.

Terry Young was among about 50 Iqaluit residents attending an all-candidates forum at the AWG arena Oct. 1. - Casey Lessard/NNSL photo

Ratepayers will decide by referendum whether the city can borrow up to that amount of money to make it happen.

"The need is there; I believe the want is there as well," mayoral candidate Al Hayward said of the pool, but he decried the price. "The question is, can the city borrow up to $40 million for this project? I will not borrow $40 million for this project. I will only borrow enough money to ensure the project is completed."

Hayward said he would find the money from other sources, many of which can only come once the shovel hits the ground.

Among new sources of revenue, Hayward broached the topic of tax delinquents.

"When people don't pay their bills in the city of Iqaluit, it places a burden on the ability for the city to provide services to its citizens," Hayward said.

Mayoral candidate John Graham agreed.

"We've got to do a lot more to try to collect those outstanding revenues," Graham said. Between them, delinquents owe the city about $2 million.

"I'm not going to sit here and say we'll throw people out of their homes or anything like that. But we have to work with folks. The work that could be done with that money is incredible."

Hayward also rejected the recent raise in the mayor's salary from a part-time pay of $70,000 to a full-time pay of $109,000, saying he would donate it to the Nunavut Food Bank, of which his wife is co-chair, until the law is changed.

"I will not accept the increase, and I will work with council to put it back to the proper level," he said. "The city of Iqaluit, with just over 7,000 people, their mayor should not be making more than the mayor of Toronto, or the mayor of Halifax, or the mayor of Vancouver, or Yellowknife, or Whitehorse."

The mayor of Toronto makes $173,000, the mayor of Halifax, according to 2010 data, makes $146,000, the mayor of Vancouver makes $146,000, the mayor of Yellowknife makes $89,000, and the mayor of Whitehorse makes $84,000.

Graham said money was not his motivation.

"I used to work for the Hudson's Bay Company for $2.75 an hour," he said. "I'm trying to think, 'Where will I donate the increase?,' but I don't know right now."

Fellow mayoral candidate Noah Papatsie did not address the issue.

"We need to find solutions, not just band-aid solutions, for our problems," Papatsie said. "There is a long waiting list for daycares in Iqaluit. This is a big need. Our roads need to be improved and our environment well-looked after. The landfill has destroyed our land and water around Iqaluit, and it is not good for our health. We need to find a solution for that."

In the effort to build, in councillor Romeyn Stevenson's words, "a city that we're proud to look at, to be around," concerns from the cradle to the grave dominated the debate for those hoping to replace or join him as Iqaluit elects a new city council next week.

"I support the aquatic centre for two reasons: one, I know city staff are capable and ready to take on such a big project, but I also know that it is needed for the kids, for the future of Iqaluit," Stevenson said.

Joanasie Akumalik also supports the aquatic centre, but said it's not the only important project the city needs to address.

"The cemetery is getting too small, and a lot of us, especially with the growing population, some people will require some space," Akumalik said.

"I have a family that grows up here and uses the facilities," said Kenny Bell. "I want to make sure the city's basics are covered so we can provide better services in the future. I want to fix the roads. Our water mains are breaking all over the place. We need to fix these things before we get moving on other major projects."

Ranbir Hundal agreed.

"The population has grown but the infrastructure has stayed almost the same," said Hundal. "Even whatever we have is aging. Water pipes, roads. When these things are not fixed, they break. How can we prevent that?"

At the same time, he was cautious about the aquatic centre.

"Do I need it? Yes. The question is, can I afford it?" he asked, saying he didn't want it to cause a big financial burden.

That decision will be in ratepayers' hands, and Mary Wilman encouraged public engagement to continue.

"It's your community," Wilman said. "You should participate in the shaping of our community and how you want our community to become. At the municipal level, we have lots of priorities. With limited resources, we need to prioritize: better roads and planning an energy efficient city with improved waste management and a better landfill system."

Terry Dobbin wants "to make Iqaluit a clean and beautiful city, a safe city we can all be proud of. There's places around Iqaluit that people don't clean up after themselves, and if there's a bylaw implemented, maybe we'll send a city crew in and clean it for you and send you the bill."

Community members had several questions for the candidates.

Asked what the city would do to improve snowmobile trails in and out of town, Lewis MacKay said there's no straight answer.

"The root of this issue is we can't plan where the trails are going to be," MacKay said. "Any of us who have been out as (snowmobilers) know the trails are not always in the same place. The process I would like to see taken is as the trails develop is the municipality would do basic maintenance on them to ensure there are no blind corners."

Asked how to make business licensing more efficient for business owners, Mark Morrissey said he would encourage the city to adopt a new system called BizPal, an online business permit and licensing service used by governments across Canada.

"I'm the new kid on the block," Mark Morrissey said of his role if elected, "so I'm probably going to use my mouth less and my ears a lot more."

"I may not be bilingual, but I know both worlds and how they work," deputy mayor Simon Nattaq said through a translator, pushing for a deep sea port, and solutions to homelessness and other social problems. "We need to make sure our youth have things to do. I know they're expensive, but we need them in Iqaluit. It's the centre of the island."

Long-time councillor Jimmy Kilabuk was unable to attend the forum due to health problems.

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