INUVIK
Inuvik Boot Lake candidates Dez Loreen and Alfred Moses along with Inuvik Twin Lakes candidates Jimmy Kalinek and Robert C. McLeod were each asked four questions by Inuvik Drum as the Nov. 23 territorial election approaches. Here are the questions followed by their responses.

How would you tackle the gas crisis?

KALINEK: With the Inuvik-Tuk Highway going right past Parsons Lake I would try and look at ways to tap into the large amount of gas there. Wind and solar is another opportunity. Promoting both wood and pellet stove burning and a program to help start people with the equipment for wood and pellet burning. Subsidizing the gas until programs are started.

LOREEN: We need an affordable source to heat our houses. That could mean getting more gas from the Delta, we need to look at all the options. The territorial government should be at the front line getting the best for the people here. Are we all supposed to supplement our homes with wood and fuel burning stoves? If we had gas plants active again that could bring local workers back on the job. I don't want to risk trucking up fuel. We should have local options.

MCLEOD: Work with the Town of Inuvik, industry and the GNWT to find options for the supply of gas so consumers are not hit so hard on utility costs.

MOSES: To tackle the gas situation, I would first start to look at other investments to offset the cost and reliance for a longer term such as biomass and wind initiatives and policies that would encourage residents and business to invest with subsidies. Also, with the completion of the Inuvik-Tuk Highway, there have to be discussions starting on investing into an access road to Parsons well to see if we can start using the gas from there and truck it to Inuvik. A shorter distance and create a less cost than LNG.

Would you bring back a program like Inuvik Works? Why or why not?

KALINEK: Most definitely. The town and people really need a program like this again, they help with so many needed projects and programs in this town. Employment is needed to help people get on their feet to see that their help and job they do is very important and they will see it in the faces of all single parents, elders and the residents of Inuvik.

LOREEN: I think we all saw the incredible benefits the Inuvik Works program brought to the community. Roy employed a great number of people to keep the community clean and on the tracks. It gave opportunity for people to join the workforce and learn responsibilities. They were very active in town and would definitely be a priority in a new government.

MCLEOD: I would support the town if they wanted to bring back the program. It was a great program when it operated. If there is a way for the government to be more involved, I would support the effort.

MOSES: Yes, I would work on creating a fund or put into the operations budget to address this initiative. It was a strong program in the community that created jobs but also work experience for students.

How would you go about stimulating the economy outside of tourism and oil and gas?

KALINEK: Looking at the economy now it is very slow and a lot of people are looking for work. I think infrastructure in the town of Inuvik is a big potential with lots of new projects up and coming. Also the Mackenzie Valley Highway is another that will create a lot of jobs and bring in more income to the community.

LOREEN: People will always live here regardless of housing costs, fuel costs and food cost. Kids are being born here and going to school. Their parents work here and have to buy things here as well. If the cost of transportation was cheaper, local businesses could be competitive with southern companies. More families could spend their money in town. Investing in local business would benefit Inuvik's economy.

MCLEOD: We would have to promote more local economy initiatives and support community business efforts. We have many good local seamstresses here that we could continue to promote, there are plans for a pellet mill in the southern part of the NWT, we should explore the possibility of having one in the Beaufort-Delta, it would create some employment. Many residents are now going biomass so there will be a demand, we will need to seize what opportunities that could exist with the satellite facility. We need to be optimistic about our future and grow the local economy until larger projects come along

MOSES: There are many opportunities to stimulate the economy. We can begin with creating and maintaining jobs by completing the Inuvik-Tuk Highway and start working on getting the Mackenzie Valley Highway started. There are also plans to build a new airport terminal and also studies to lengthen the runway. If these are done, we can start to land bigger jets which could possibly see Inuvik become an international airport, which would create more jobs and possibly bring more business to the community. We also have the demolition of the Blueberry Patch which the community and government will have to come up with a plan for what to build in its replacement. Investing into universal child daycare, it would provide for more families to become double income families and fill some of the vacant positions in government.

If commodity prices go up and fracking in the NWT becomes viable economically, should it be done?

KALINEK: We have to look at all possibilities and work with aboriginal government groups together and see the best safe possible way to work with this. This is a big decision and will effect a lot of people so coming up with an answer together would be best for all parties.

LOREEN: I don't want to disturb nature unnecessarily but if studies show that the effects of fracking can be minimized and the gains are worth the risk, then I would be open to discuss fracking in unprotected areas.

MCLEOD: It needs to be balanced. Protecting the environment is critical and if there is a way for it to be done in a balanced manner then it can be considered.

MOSES: Fracking is definitely a complex issue. The government needs more thorough consultations and to create strong regulations that would reflect on whether or not the practice would be used in the North. Aboriginal governments also need to be heard and then collectively we can make the decisions that would reflect the best interest of the residents and business.

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