Candidates in their own words
News/North asked each of the federal hopefuls about their priorities.
Northern News Services
Monday, September 14, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
News/North asked each of the federal hopefuls about their priorities. You can follow the federal election from a Northern perspective by using this link.
Michael Mcleod: Liberal candidate advocates for the completion of Mackenzie Valley Highway.
Bob Stewart: Libertarian Party candidate wants to see alternative energy projects get the green light.
Floyd Roland: Conservative touts prime minister's recent funding announcements in the NWT.
Dennis Bevington: NDP incumbent emphasizes need to act on Truth and Reconciliation report. |
Michael McLeod: Liberal Party
You've just been elected MP. What is at the top
of your to-do list?
Reducing the NWT's high cost of living, major investment in critical NWT infrastructure projects, improving relationships with indigenous peoples and working toward reconciliation, enhancing investment opportunities and economic diversification in the North, addressing the root causes of poverty, homelessness and substance abuse, creating new affordable housing and new childcare spaces and smart investment in clean energy and green technology that works for the NWT.
What is the most important infrastructure investment you believe the federal government could make in the NWT and why?
The Liberal Party of Canada has recently announced $126 billion in infrastructure, the largest public investment in Canada ever. For the Northwest Territories, my major infrastructure priorities are the dredging of the Hay River Port, the road to Whati and of course the Mackenzie Valley Highway.
These major infrastructure projects represent the future of our economy and will create jobs and bring industry and tourism to the NWT.
What can Ottawa do to help lower the cost of food in communities?
As your MP, I will promote measures to support local agriculture and aquaculture, including traditional foods and farmer's markets, to ensure better access to healthier, local, lower-cost foods.
I will also push to increase the Northern Residents Deduction in order to offset the high cost of living. The high cost of food in remote and isolated communities is due to high freight costs and poor road conditions.
I will work to improve road conditions and extend airport runways that will lower the cost of freight for these communities.
With lower water levels killing NWT's hydro production and the cost
of diesel breaking the bank, how will NWT solve its power crisis?
Last week, Justin Trudeau announced that a Liberal government will make the largest infrastructure investment in Canadian history, with $20 billion allotted for green infrastructure alone. In the NWT, we will invest in renewable energy, including solar, wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal projects.
Between melting
permafrost and forest fires, NWT is bearing the brunt
of climate change. What can Ottawa do to assist this territory in weathering its effects?
The Liberal Party of Canada is committed to taking action on climate change, as am I.
A Liberal government will heavily invest in green infrastructure and work with provinces and territories, as well as international partners, to combat climate change.
I will push for support to retrofit homes and businesses for energy efficiency, green energy generation and restoring the environmental protections gutted by Stephen Harper.
What are your ideas for creating an incentive for companies to tap our
offshore oil and gas reserves in the Beaufort Delta?
We can't ignore the huge potential for oil and gas development in the Beaufort.
However, under current economic conditions the best investment for the NWT is in new infrastructure, economic diversification and in creating new opportunities for indigenous peoples.
Bob Stewart:Libertarian Party
You've just been elected MP. What is at the top
of your to-do list?
My highest priority is to get Bill C-51 repealed, as well as other bills that have unconstitutionally been passed by the prior government.
There have been many laws passed during Harper's reign that strip freedom of speech, association, freedom of the press, freedom of movement that are not consistent with the federal government's highest priority, which is to defend the rights and freedoms of Canadian citizens.
What is the most important infrastructure investment you believe the federal
government could make
in the NWT and why?
The most sensible infrastructure investments are in renewable energy and creating sustainable communities.
An example would be putting money towards long lasting and low maintenance investments such as solar arrays rather than highways which are an exponential tax burden due to maintenance and a major cause of increasing debt.
What can Ottawa do
to help lower the cost
of food in communities?
Ottawa does not enforce monopoly laws on conglomerates that unilaterally cause rising food prices by eliminating competition. The best way for Ottawa to lower the cost of all food, not only to communities, is to enforce these laws and protect the free market from absolute control.
You can do this by reducing taxes on small business food suppliers.
With lower water levels
killing NWT's hydro
production and the cost
of diesel breaking the bank, how will NWT solve its power crisis?
The federal "Building Canada Plan" earmarked hundreds of millions of dollars to be used in massive wasteful and unnecessary transportation projects such as the Deh Cho Bridge and Inuvik Tuk Highway, which will only prove to saddle the NWT with an impossible amount of debt. It needs to re-prioritize its capital budgets into alternative energy projects instead.
Between melting
permafrost and forest fires, the NWT is bearing the brunt of climate change. What can Ottawa do to assist this territory
in weathering its effects?
There is no cost-effective federal program for assisting with climate change. The federal government needs to stop wasting tax dollars and burdening business and individuals with eco fees and consumer taxes that go to programs where a major percentage of those tax dollars are spent on administration costs of ultimately ineffective programs.
What are your ideas for creating an incentive for companies to tap our
offshore oil and gas reserves in the Beaufort Delta?
The free market will cause the incentive for tapping those reserves when they are needed. Until oil and gas prices increase, there will be no interest in harvesting those reserves and therefore no point in trying to force it before there is more value. It is OK to save resources for the future, and in fact sometimes the best investments takes time to appreciate in value before you can realize the profits.
Floyd Roland: Conservative Party
You've just been elected MP. What is at the top
of your to-do list?
Should I be fortunate enough to be elected as the Conservative MP for the Northwest Territories, I would bring to Ottawa the concerns I have heard from the people of our Territory. I have been told our country has benefited from the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative government. However, the voice of the people of the Northwest Territories has been missing from the conversation in Ottawa.
What is the most important infrastructure investment you believe the federal
government could make
in the NWT and why?
We are starting to see the results of the investments in infrastructure made by the Conservatives in the
Northwest Territories.
This government has tripled infrastructure investments in the territory compared to the Chrétien and Martin-led Liberal governments; provided $200 million toward the construction of the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway and promised $96 million for highways throughout our territory. Also, Harper recently announced that a re-elected Conservative government will fund 100 per cent of the hard surfacing of Highway 5.
It is investments like this that will improve living conditions and open economic opportunities in the North.
What can Ottawa do
to help lower the cost
of food in communities?
There is no question that the cost of living in the North is high. Current programs like Nutrition North provide retail subsidies for healthy, nutritious food in isolated Northern communities and soon consumers will be able to clearly see the amount of the subsidy passed on to them, ensuring greater retailer transparency and accountability.
More importantly, investments that spur jobs and growth in our economy will continue to bring down the cost in the Northwest Territories.
With lower water levels
killing NWT's hydro
production and the cost
of diesel breaking the bank, how will NWT solve its power crisis?
A major focus in my time as mayor of Inuvik was the right-sizing of projects for our communities and regions.
For example, I pursued the possibility of gas-to-liquids opportunities in the Beaufort Delta. Another example includes the Hay River wood pellet initiative.
Like past investments made by the government of the day, who helped build our hydro facilities in the south of the territory, it is this type of support that we must champion in the North.
Between melting
permafrost and forest fires, the NWT is bearing the brunt of climate change. What can Ottawa do to assist this territory
in weathering its effects?
While the responsibility to deal with power rests with the GNWT, the federal government continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The GNWT now has greater flexibility due to an increased borrowing limit and increased transfer payments. Nationally, Canada's coal regulations put in place by the Conservative government are expected to result in a cumulative reduction in GHG emissions of about 214 megatonnes – the equivalent of removing 2.6 million personal vehicles from the road per year over this period.
What are your ideas for creating an incentive for companies to tap our
offshore oil and gas reserves in the Beaufort Delta?
The Northwest Territories holds immense petroleum reserves and potential. Global market conditions are currently impacting the success of this industry.
In 2014, Canada devolved management and control of land and resources to the Government of the NWT. Within the devolution agreement, is a provision to discuss offshore resource revenue sharing. Canada continues to make additional investments to support exploration and development through projects such as the construction of the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment process and the Inuvik Satellite Station.
Investments in such critical infrastructure that support transportation, science and real-time data, demonstrate the Harper government's commitment to the North.
Dennis
Bevington
NDP
You've just been elected MP. What is at the top
of your to-do list?
My top priority is to work with a new NDP government to fix the damage done to Canada's economy, social safety net and civil liberties by years of Conservative wrongheadedness. Making life more affordable for Northerners is a priority. I advocated for a 50 per cent increase to the Northern Resident tax deduction and for fixing the Nutrition North program and $15 per day child care will help.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report recommended that Canada build a new and respectful relationship with indigenous peoples. I will work hard toward that goal. In the North, this means cancelling the environmental assessment "super board" and concluding outstanding land claims.
What is the most important infrastructure investment you believe the federal
government could make
in the NWT and why?
The best place for the federal government to make infrastructure investment in the NWT is to develop renewable energy sources and associated infrastructure.
The Conservative government has been missing on this file throughout its years in office. In fact, recently, while the government of Canada invested $7 per capita in renewable energy, the U.S. invested $140. We can't afford as a nation to continue to be left behind like this.
Investment to create meaningful, modern and sustainable jobs – while reducing energy costs – is the best way to a healthy and sustainable future for all Northerners.
What can Ottawa do
to help lower the cost
of food in communities?
Two main tools are available to help to lower the cost of food.
Firstly, CanNor should refocus its priorities and put more investment in local micro-businesses that produce and market food. Programs that foster and support local gardening, fishing, harvesting and preserving of foods would provide both employment and help bring down the cost of food.
And secondly, Nutrition North must be fixed so that all communities can benefit from its operation. Access to the program must be based on need.
We need to work toward food sustainability. The NWT could and should produce more of its own food.
With lower water levels
killing NWT's hydro
production and the cost
of diesel breaking the bank, how will NWT solve its power crisis?
Despite decreased funding from the Conservative government, Northerners have developed some solid renewable energy alternatives.
Small hydro, wind, solar, and biomass are all viable in the North.
Although industry, government, and individuals are picking up very well on biomass energy for heating, more can be done. Cost effective local supplies of various forms of biomass fuels must be developed.
Electricity generated using solar energy is already less expensive than using diesel fuel in non-hydro communities. The GNWT has been working on a strategy to generate 10 percent of all remote community electricity from solar. Canada should be helping.
Between melting
permafrost and forest fires, the NWT is bearing the brunt of climate change. What can Ottawa do to assist this territory
in weathering its effects?
Canada has to finally get real about climate change. We need to kick start renewable energy production and drive down climate-changing emissions. Big polluters must pay to clean up their mess.
The Conservative government cancelled the EcoEnergy Retrofit Program that saved Canadians millions of dollars in energy costs. A new program that tackles the extra costs of renovations in northern areas needs to be created. Energy conservation works.
In the NWT, better forest management could create employment, encourage harvesting for biomass energy and at the same time protect communities from wild fires.
Canada should also provide financial assistance to deal with coast line erosion.
What are your ideas for creating an incentive for companies to tap our
offshore oil and gas reserves in the Beaufort Delta?
With the price of oil where it is, there are more important areas to incentivize than offshore oil and gas, especially in the short term.
And even at the best of times, oil and gas has proven itself to be a punishingly cyclical industry with booms and busts tearing the hearts out of too many of our communities. There must be –and are – better opportunities for public investment and support.
Tourism, food production, small manufacturing, renewable energy and other sustainability projects all offer a much more promising future.
Public economic development investment should be forward looking, not backward.
