Ryan Leef says he'll answer Yukon First Nations' election questions

Ryan Leef says he has every intention of responding to a list of questions submitted by the Council of Yukon First Nations"as fast as possible" but that he firstwanted to confirm the letter was legitimate.

The Yukon Conservative candidate was the only localcontender not to respond to the Council of Yukon First Nations by itsrequested deadline last week. CYFN's questionnaire included four questions designed to gaugeelection candidates' positions on several issues.

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Leef says "due diligence" has kept him from responding yet. He wanted to confirm the letter was legitimate asthe documentwas "absolutely void of any First Nation leadership signature," he says.

"It was void of the Grand Chief's signature. It was void of any signature from any chief across the Yukon."

Line Gagnon ofCalypso Communications, acompany contracted by CYFN to develop and distribute the questionnaire, says CYFNemailed the questions to candidates on Sep. 8. She says a CYFNdirectorthen met with Leef's campaign director early last week to confirm that he received the document.

Leef says he contacted CYFNGrand Chief Ruth Massie directly, andnow intends to respond to the questionnaire.

The four questions focus on issues deemed important to First Nations voters in Yukon, such as self-government, Bill S-6, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's final report, and missing and murdered indigenous women.

NDP candidate Melissa Atkinson, Liberal LarryBagnell and Green candidate Frank De Jonghave already replied.