The candidates: Nunakput

Election day in the Northwest Territories is Oct. 1, and CBC North is working to bring you all the information you need to cast your ballot. As candidates were announced, CBC provided each an opportunity to answer a questionnaire tackling a wide range of subjects, from their own qualifications to themes impacting their riding and the territory as a whole.

Read their responses below, presented in the order they were received by CBC.

• Holly Campbell
• Sheila Nasogaluak
• Annie Steen
• Jackie Jacobson
• Herb Nakimayak
• Alisa Blake

Some answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Holly Campbell

Why did you decide to run for office?

My official decision was made in August. I raised the question to my husband, and would not have made the decision without his support, so first of all, we made the decision together. I also met with politicians and local leaders to get their inputand support before moving forward.

I was always intrigued with the well-being of others, and knew that one day I was going to step up with my intentions to move forward as accepting a nomination to run as a candidate in Nunakput.

I believe my experienceand education have equipped me with the required tools to move forward with integrity, passion anddetermination.

What previous experience would you bring to the role of MLA?

I worked with many different departments with the government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), which provided me with the insights of their functions and operations.

I have also worked with the Tuktoyaktukhamlet counciland Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation, which provided me with the experience in working on the other side of the GNWT.

I was also elected as a councillor forTuktoyaktuk, and was elected twice tothe Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation board of directors. I served my first term as thesecretary/treasurer, and the second as the vice-chairperson. When I was 21, I was also the Inuvialuit representative for the National Inuit Youth Council.

I worked hard in educating myself, completing a two-year recreation leadership diploma program.The program provided me with the education and knowledge to work with,and provide programs to,the public.

I knew that I wanted more, and returnedto Aurora College to complete abusiness administration diploma program, where I wasvaledictorian of the graduating class. I also received a bachelors of management degree with a minor in First Nations governance from the University of Lethbridge.

Lastly, I believe that understanding the challenges living in the North is one thing, but experiencing the challenges is another. I have both.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

My education. Completing my studies was one of my hardest times, but I did itwith much encouraged support from many family and friends. The journey was not easy at times, but I did not give up. I knew I needed to educate myself to have the intellectual tools required to serve myself, and others.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing the territory?

The biggest issue should be decided by territory representatives, as there are some areas throughout the territoryand the regions that have different priorities. I do believe that the biggest issue is the high cost of living.

What is the biggest issue in your riding?

The majority of ourcurrent issues are related to each other. I believe that the high cost of living, housing, education and health care are the four mostrelated social issues. Arctic sovereignty is also a very important topic.

If you could accomplish only one thing while in office, what would that be?

I would like to increase the employment rate of priority hires inNunakput. Many jobs within the communities can be occupied bylocalswithtraining, and investing in locals would provideresidents with the required credentials to obtainand securepermanent positions within the communities.

What would you like to see the territory do to address the impacts of climate change?

I believe that being involved with international environmental organizations would be most beneficial, as climate change is a global challenge. It is necessary to be involved, and voice the issues we are faced with today.

Tuktoyaktuk is definitely experiencing the affects of shoreline erosion, and hasbeen for several years. A concrete plan needs to be developed, and implemented. There also needs to be support for the local municipalities, as homeowners are now in a situationwhere they have to relocate their homes.

What would you change about how the government currently operates?

The affirmative action policy needs to be supported with the funds to train potential priority hires; investing in local residents would provide long-term permanent positions, rather than hiring outside of the community.

This would contribute to individuals obtaining local positionsand being self-reliant, which would result in lower costs for relocationand a lower employment rate.

What do you think the GNWT must do to improve and protect the territory's economy?

It is important for the GNWT to investand supportcommunities through small businessand entrepreneurs. The territory has manyresources. It is a matter of how do we plan to use them?

The GNWT economic opportunities strategy is definitely the blueprint for success. Althoughoil andgas has always been a sensitive topic,the potential is there.More timeand consideration is needed to guide the way. Another item that can contribute to improve and protect the territory is through Arctic sovereignty.

What would you do as MLA to improve the GNWT's relationship with Indigenous people?

In some of the situations I have personally experienced as an Indigenous person, there were times where I felt as though I was being labelled. It is critical that GNWT employees, representatives, and officials are properly educated to understand the Indigenous population.

Providing newand existing employees with proper training is adequate. Having residentsand government officials work together for positive outcomes would be my goal.

If elected, will you be seeking a cabinet position?

Yes.

Would you like to be premier?

No.

• Back to top

Sheila Nasogaluak

Why did you decide to run for office?

I decided to put my name forward as candidate in Nunakput as I firmly believe in 'lived experience.'Lived experience, to me, means that I can speak to matters confidently as I have lived through them.

What previous experience would you bring to the role of MLA?

• Previous hamlet councilor, Sachs Harbour
• Previous director, Sachs Harbour Community Corporation
• Previous director,Inuvialuit Development Corporation

Currently I am the GNWT regional operations manager for the Beaufort Delta and Sahtu regions, on a leave of absence.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

Going back to college to get an education.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing the territory?

To different groups/communities they may have different opinions onwhat they feel is the biggest issue.The major ones that I hear about most often, and due to social media sharing, are health care and housing.

What is the biggest issue in your riding?

Non-involvement at the community level of policies that have a direct affect on health, housing, and education.

If you could accomplish only one thing while in office, what would that be?

I would make information onhow process and decision-making is reached in the three biggies: health, education, housing and income assistance.

What would you like to see the territory do to address the impacts of climate change?

Climate change is happening, it is a fact.Where and how fast it is happening is way ahead of what our government is prepared for at this time.

What would you change about how the government currently operates?

I wouldn't change the consensus style of government.

What do you think the GNWT must do to improve and protect the territory's economy?

It depends on each community. What is good for Paul is not necessarily good for Peter.

What would you do as MLA to improve the GNWT's relationship with Indigenous people?

I thinkprevious and current elected officials have noted that non-duplication of services is key in providing the best bang for the buck at the community and regional level.

If elected, will you be seeking a cabinet position?

I am a strong believer in getting to know any job in an organized, consistent manner.I won't be seeking a cabinet position.

Would you like to be premier?

Disagree with the premise of this question. The elected premier will have my full support.

• Back to top

Annie Steen

Why did you decide to run for office?

I decided to run because of the encouragement from many community members who were concerned with the lack of resources,both financial and human, provided from the GNWT to the communities.

What previous experience would you bring to the role of MLA?

• I am currently a board member for the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation, whichis a local Indigenous government.
• An awareness and experience of delivering government programs and policies to communities.
• Fifteen years of working in the transportation sector in the N.W.T.
• Five years working for both the federal and territorial governments.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic plans.
• A long list of networks, partnerships and relationships in both the private and public sector.
• Experience travelling throughout theN.W.T. to gain understanding of socio-economic conditions and opportunities.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

Chose not to answer.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing the territory?

Declining resource revenue and the inability to attract investment, which impacts social well-being of communities such as housing, health, education, etc.

What is the biggest issue in your riding?

We have a multitude of big issues.Shoreline erosion, lack of infrastructure and lack of adequate government support for social programsfor housing, health, education and high cost of living and a limited regional economy.

If you could accomplish only one thing while in office, what would that be?

Build community capacity (financial and human) by attracting investment for infrastructure to help improve social well-being of community and family members. Improve housing conditions for residents.

What would you like to see the territory do to address the impacts of climate change?

Develop more alternative energy solutions.Provide more incentives for industry to invest in solar power, LNG, etc.

Protect land and wildlife, invasive species to mitigate impacts.

What would you change about how the government currently operates?

Improve the policies to deliver adequate services in the communities by bringing more support for critical services: health care, social services and housing. This will help improve community capacity.

What do you think the GNWT must do to improve and protect the territory's economy?

Offer more tax incentives to attract exploration of natural resources such as gold, diamonds, precious metal and oil and gas.

Increase budget for the Small Community Employment Support Program grant for small businesses and organizations.

Look into manufacturing opportunities to reduce costs in regions (fish plants, buildings, unique northern ideas to help with food security such as northern processing plants for local food,community gardens, etc.)

Build capacity:

• Invest in the knowledge economy, such as high fibre optic cable or advocating for low orbit satellites to remote northern communities where high fibre optic cable is not suitable.
• Invest in jobs for information technology, such as software programming and development.
• Invest in the emerging film industry, such as attracting film producers north, develop skills for community members and particularly youth such as camera cinematography, costume design, etc.

What would you do as MLA to improve the GNWT's relationship with Indigenous people?

Open communication, mandatory cultural awareness training for top bureaucrats, lead by example.

If elected, will you be seeking a cabinet position?

No.

Would you like to be premier?

No.

• Back to top

Jackie Jacobson

Why did you decide to run for office?

With all the new member candidates running for the 19th Legislative Assembly, I want to provide an option to Nunakput constituentsallowing me to continue serving them with over 25 years of government and frontline service.

What previous experience would you bring to the role of MLA?

• Tuktoyaktuk Hamlet Council: over eight years
• MLA for Nunakput: fouryears
• FirstInuvialuit Speaker of the House: fouryears

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

Procurement of resources for the Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing the territory?

Economic security (achieved in part by development of a long-term vision plan collaboratively built by communities and government).

What is the biggest issue in your riding?

Housing (maintenance and availability).

If you could accomplish only one thing while in office, what would that be?

Alleviate housing issues at the community level.

What would you like to see the territory do to address the impacts of climate change?

Explore alternative energy (wind/solar/run-of-river hydro).

What would you change about how the government currently operates?

If change is needed, government at all levels must be able to respond in a timely and adequate manner to community needs.Government needs to work together to do this.

What do you think the GNWT must do to improve and protect the territory's economy?

Diversify the economic base. Thisleads toincreased competition and better services/products to customers.

What would you do as MLA to improve the GNWT's relationship with Indigenous people?

Settle land claims.

If elected, will you be seeking a cabinet position?

Yes.

Would you like to be premier?

No.

• Back to top

Herb Nakimayak

Why did you decide to run for office?

It was a talk about a few years ago, some friends and colleagues asked me if I would take the step to represent our communities at the territorial level, so I decided to take it on.

What previous experience would you bring to the role of MLA?

In the past, I've been involved with the Inuit Circumpolar Council.I have experience at the UN level, as well as negotiatingthe circumpolar fisheries agreement on behalf of Canada. I've donea lot of international work, as well as working across the circumpolar region.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

There's a lot of victories, a lot of huge ones. When I see people succeeding in gaining housing, that's to me one of the accomplishments that we're working toward, is providing better housing. Even though it's a long stretch, we're working toward that with our agreement between the Northwest Territories Housing Corporationand the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

That, and developing a working relationship with cabinet and regular MLAs, have been a very tough one to navigate, being from a small community. Being outvoted a number of times, I think this has been one where we've really been able to come together to represent our regions.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing the territory?

It depends which region you live in. For us in the Far North, the cost of living has outrun the cost of doing business and other things.

As well, the funding we receive for many of our municipalities is also one of the factors.

What is the biggest issue in your riding?

There's three: on any given day, one could be a higher priority than the other. That's the cost of living, housing, and the health-care system.

If you could accomplish only one thing while in office, what would that be?

One thing I would ensureis that people have a home to stay in. That's one of the biggest contributing factors to our society.If people are homeless, especially young people and parents of children, they won't worry too much about their attendance at school, among other things. And I think that's one of the things that when you walk around the communities, you see the lack of infrastructure in our communities.

No one's ever forced to be anything in their lives.Here, we're almost forced to be homeless for a period in our lives.

What would you like to see the territory do to address the impacts of climate change?

I would like to see GNWT, Inuvialuit and other Indigenous governments work together to look at projects and make sure infrastructure is safe, so we can continue to do operational maintenance, because we do have a small operational window in the summer months.

Working together on community monitoring projects and projects that affect our habitat as well.Although we have to adapt, we need to ensure that we're doing things right and we're doing things safe environmentally so our children and grandchildren can have the same lives we have. Develop sustainably and responsibly.

What would you change about how the government currently operates?

I would look at how we're operating as a whole, and definitely seek out where the bottlenecks are, because there are decisions sometimes that are made that affect people negatively.I would also ensure that there is continuity on projects and working relationships with Indigenous governments.

What do you think the GNWT must do to improve and protect the territory's economy?

We must ensure that we're looking at responsible mining. Mining is our industry right now and we need to look at how to do it responsibly.

We need to ensure we involve them in environmental process and include Indigenous communities and knowledge.I think there's a great opportunity to succeed.

What would you do as MLA to improve the GNWT's relationship with Indigenous people?

I would ensure that our government-to-government relations and everything at that level, our communication is focused, so that we know what's going on withall theIndigenous governments, and move forward together.

If elected, will you be seeking a cabinet position?

Coming from my region, we haven't had a northern minister for some time, I would definitely consider that.

Would you like to be premier?

If elected, I would look at the lay of the land. That's been a thought that has come up from some people and I would definitely consider it.

• Back to top

Alisa Blake

• Campaign Facebook page

Why did you decide to run for office?

There's not one answer, of course. The common factors seem to be a desire to serve and the feeling that I can make a difference.I have the leadership ability and I believe the policies and politics that I believe in will obtain results.

I am running because I know that I can develop strong relationships, which is the foundation of everything I do, both professionally and personally. My upbringing, along with myvarious jobs and volunteer positions, will be useful and great qualities to represent the people of Nunakput as a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

We need to take a firm hard look into the greatest needs of our people here in the Northwest Territories. Specifically, poverty, as it has been shown time and time again,affects all areas of life. Poverty begins when resources are insufficient to meetbasic human needs. This would include things likeshelter, food and accessibility, but alsoquick and adequate healthcare, employment, and education.

When these resources needed to meet human needs are below the standard of living, this sets the pattern of poverty. If this pattern is allowed to continue, this leads to crime and addiction issues.

My desire is to listen and work with the people of Nunakput to bring about positive change, added resources and an upgrade of systems that will enhance the lives of the people.

What previous experience would you bring to the role of MLA?

Currently, I am employed at the Mine Training Society in Yellowknife as a safety trainer/job coach. I have been employed with the society for approximately fiveyears. This work has allowed me to travel extensively throughout the communities in both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, providing certified work readying skills that has been highly successful in helping people secure employment.

Being in the communities for several weeks at a time has allowed me the opportunity to interact with people and become familiar with social and economic issues in the various regions. Working with the Mine Training Society has allowed me to work with Aboriginal governments, territorial governments and the mining industry.

The mandate of the Mine Training Society is to train Indigenous and Northern people to be able to take advantage of the economic opportunities presented by industrial and resource development in the North. I help to deliver safety training in communities across the North, at the request of our various partners.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?

In my personal life, my family, the close bond and willingness we have to nurture and help each other as well as others.

In my professional life, receiving my pilot's license, andreceiving the Governor General's Aboriginal Youth Role Model Award.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing the territory?

The economy. Whether we are in the southernmost part of the N.W.T. orthe northernmost part,it comes down to economy. Economy is what drives a territory, a community. When the economy suffers, it causes our residents to leave our territory in search of employment, and discourages potential residents moving to the N.W.T. It also causes a decline in how we are able to support programs that are needed.

What is the biggest issue in your riding?

The biggest issues that I am hearing while meeting with constituents in their homes are, housing, healthcare, cost of living, addictions, education, homelessness, and elder abuse, just to name a few.

If you could accomplish only one thing while in office, what would that be?

That is a very difficult question to choose just one thing as I want to see that the we build our communities economically and socially and attract infrastructure investment to assist and enhance community and family's' social well-being. Improve housing conditions.

What would you like to see the territory do to address the impacts of climate change?

Look toward alternative energy solutions:wind, solar, hydro. Working closer and supporting scientists and researchers and having them collaborate with our elders and involve the youth.

We also need to have adequate funding provided by the federal government so that we can discover solutions and how best to tackle climate change.

What would you change about how the government currently operates?

We need to remember that the people who elected usentrusted us as their voice. We must represent them. We are people who understand how our communities operate, function, strive.

We need to realize that policies developed for the south have a great rate of failure when trying to be implemented in the North. Bureaucrats appear to make decisions and manage, but it is the elected representatives that should be at the forefront.

What do you think the GNWT must do to improve and protect the territory's economy?

Offer more tax incentives to entice exploration of natural resources likegold, diamonds, precious metals and oil and gas, but we must make certain that we're looking at responsible mining. Mining is our industry power now and we need to look at how to do it responsibly.

We need to make certain we contain them in environmental procedure informed byIndigenous communities and knowledge.

What would you do as MLA to improve the GNWT's relationship with Indigenous people?

Government and elected officials should not impose solutions on the people.Rather, we must engage the Indigenous community in solving some of the difficult issues.This allows for a voice and an investment to ensuring that the plan or initiatives will be endorsed and supported by the people.

Without this, the time, effort and money that could go to projects will not fulfill the needs of the people in their home communities.

If elected, will you be seeking a cabinet position?

No, I will no be seeking a cabinet position.

Would you like to be premier?

No.

• Back to top