Elections Notebook
Candidates pressed on smoking ban
Evan Kiyoshi French
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Most MLA candidates responding to a survey from the Canadian Cancer Society say they will support a smoking ban in vehicles carrying children and outdoor spaces where they play, according to the group's relationship development co-ordinator for Alberta and the NWT.
Fernanda Martins said most of the 60 candidates seeking election across the territory chose to participate in the survey.
Martins said she was pleased all four candidates - Glen Abernethy, Tom Beaulieu, Michael Miltenberger and Jane Groenewegen - who have previously served as health minister answered yes on both counts. She said of the Yellowknife candidates surveyed, all but Great Slave candidate Chris Clarke responded, and the majority of them said they would support both proposed prohibitions. She said Yellowknife Centre candidates Julie Green and incumbent Robert Hawkins were the only Yellowknife candidates who wavered.
Green stated she supports banning smoking in vehicles containing minors but couldn't answer the second question pertaining to banning smoking in outdoor spaces.
"Outdoors is a big place," Green answered. "I'm not sure that putting obstacles in the way of families (who include smokers) spending time together outdoors makes sense."
Martins said Hawkins was on the fence on both issues. In his response submitted to the society, he wrote banning smoking in vehicles wouldn't be enforceable.
On the second item - pertaining to smoking in public areas - he gave a similar answer.
"I worry that it would simply be another law on the books that could be completely unenforceable," he stated.
"However I want to stress, I'd be happy to look into this, learn more about it through research and see what practical steps that can be take, to achieve your request."
Martins said previous anti-tobacco initiatives run by the GNWT need to be revived.
"It's been brought up at the legislative assembly," she said, adding that Hawkins should be aware of the concerns around tobacco use in the territory.
"He at least has heard about it," she said.
Hawkins' flag returned
Yellowknife Centre candidate Robert Hawkins said he was pleasantly surprised see one of his five campaign flags returned after it went missing Sunday.
Hawkins said he posted a note about it on Facebook when he learned the sign was missing, offering a reward for its safe return. He said he waited about six hours before a couple phoned him and told him exactly where it could be found.
"It was standing next to the flag pole at Mildred Hall School," said Hawkins. "They said they saw some kids trying to toss it onto the roof."
Hawkins said he happily paid the reward - offering to buy the couple lunch - and collected his standard.
"I thought it was gone," he said, adding the flags can't be driven into the ground as securely as the wooden signs.
Hawkins said campaign sign tampering is par for the course. He said a couple weeks back someone cut the eyes out of one of his wooden signs.
"It's a case of taking it down and putting up another one," he said.
Seven city districts pick MLAs
Voters have the weekend to decide who will get their votes in the territorial election Monday. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and is open to residents over the age of 18 years who have lived in the territory for at least 12 months.
The seven city districts are Yellowknife Centre, Yellowknife North, Yellowknife South, Range Lake, Kam Lake, Great Slave and Frame Lake. To be eligible, voters must show proof of identity and address, using either one NWT government issued ID card or two documents - one giving proof of identity and the other proof of NWT address. If a voter doesn't have any identification they can have another eligible voter - who has already proven their name and address - vouch for them by taking an oath.
