The 2023 candidates: Inuvik Twin Lakes

Election day in the Northwest Territories is Nov. 14, and CBC North wants to give you the information you need to make an informed vote. We sent all the candidates a questionnaire asking them about themselves and where they stand on big issues.

Read their responses below, in alphabetical order by first name. If responses or photos are missing, it's because the candidate has not yet sent us their answers. We will add answers as we get them.

Responses have been edited for clarity, but reflect the candidates' own words and views.

• Lenora McLeod
• Lesa Semmler

Lenora McLeod

Why are you running for office?

I am running for office to have the opportunity to represent our community at the territorial level, by listening to the concerns and ideas of the constituents of Twin Lakes, and give the Twin Lakes constituents a voice and keep them informed on matters.

What experience would you bring to the role of MLA?

I have worked in both the public and private sectors and have gained valuable experience and knowledge in various areas: financial and management accounting, environmental assessment, oil and gas, economic development, and strategic planning.

I have also had the opportunity to be on boards, including:

• Children First Society as a director and then as a co-chair
• Gwich'in Development Corporation as a director
• Inuvik District Education Authority as a director
• Nihtat Gwich'in Council as a director

My educational background is:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an accounting major from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
• Diploma in Indigenous Community Development and Governance from the University of Victoria
• Certificate in Petroleum Land Administration from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

What is the biggest issue facing the territory right now?

The territory has a multitude of issues, and a multitude of successes. We often get so caught up in what is not happening and overlook the great things that are happening in our communities. Each community is different and cannot be treated as "one solution fits all." With that said here are some things as a territory that should be of concern:

• The cost of living
• Early learning and childcare
• Housing and homelessness
• Medical care and medical travel

What is the biggest issue in your riding?

Medical care:

• Increase resources to ensure our medical facilities and staff have what they need to get the job done
• Proper treatment of all; the level of care cannot be different depending on the patient
• Increase resources to help with the early detection of illnesses before they become untreatable

The cost of living:

• We need to look at ways to reduce the cost of living for our communities and territory or people will continue to leave
• We should never have to choose between paying bills or eating, but that is where we are at

Housing:

• Increase housing; we have more people moving away because they can't find housing
• Housing quality improvement; some of our residents live in housing that isn't safe to live in, but they do because there are no other options at this time

Community safety:

• Increase resources to combat the challenges we face with drugs and alcohol
• Increase resources for our people so our people don't worry where they will lay their heads each night

Strengthening relationships within the community:

• Building partnerships with Indigenous governments and community stakeholders is key
• We cannot do this important work alone and need to work together

Communication:

• There needs to be improved communication between MLAs and their constituents through regular updates and meetings
• Communication and collaboration with community stakeholders needs to improve

What needs the most improvement in how the GNWT operates?

Working together, at all levels of government, and removing the barriers that create more challenges for our communities and territory.

Not having all our resources in one basket, so to speak. We have seen the impact of that this year with the wildfires in Yellowknife. The territory literally shut down when Yellowknife was evacuated, this cannot be a solution and we must change the way we do things.

Celebrating what works well and learning from what doesn't work, and building from that. The culture around government is so negative that whenever we do something someone is there waiting to tear it down, our Legislative Assembly does not operate like the official opposition, we must hold each other accountable but also build each other up.

The budgeting process needs to be improved. In the 2022 fiscal year, actual expenses were roughly $170 million over budget. This is no small amount of money; that kind of money changes communities and our residents' lives.

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

Improve the quality of life for our community and the residents of the Northwest Territories.

Ensuring the territory negotiates an early learning and childcare agreement that reflects the needs of the territory. All social and economic challenges begin with childcare. If someone cannot access childcare due to cost or lack of availability then they cannot contribute to our economy by working; individuals who want to go to post-secondary cannot do so, which results in them being ineligible for most jobs, which again leads to not being able to contribute to our economy. When individuals cannot contribute to our economy, our social programs are then accessed, causing an increase. A quote from one of your articles in 2017 says, "for every dollar spent on early childhood education programs; the economy gets about $6 worth of economic benefit down the line".

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

Working to ensure there is meaningful consultation and shared decision-making.We must work together with Indigenous governments to improve the territory for all residents; we need to listen, we need to be respectful, and work together. The last government passed UNDRIP and, in my opinion, it was done in a rush and that left several Indigenous governments feeling unheard. As a government, we need to work at building our relationships in a meaningful way and not just checking off a box.

What should the territory do to address the impacts of climate change?

The territory budgets roughly $200 million for environment and economic development annually. How the budget is broken down within the department. I would have to learn more to understand what gaps are there and where we can provide support.

With that said we must listen to the land, the water and the air:

• We have seen some of the lowest water levels on record this year causing disruption to our quality of life
• Wildfires have devastated the territory this year
• Our elders tell us stories of how the land is changing, reshaping itself, fighting back
• There are scientists and universities who dedicated their lives to understanding climate change and we must listen to them to better understand how we can fight climate change together

What should the GNWT do to grow the territory's economy?

Support the local economy: The percentage of the capital budget that stays in the N.W.T. is minimal and for the regions is even less. What I mean by this, is that the amount of dollars expensed for capital projects in the territory often do not stay in the territory and stimulate the territorial/regional/community economy through jobs, contracts and the supply chain (materials, petroleum, consumer goods). Oftentimes, these areas are supplied by southern-based businesses and the profits do not stay in the territory/region/communities. How are we going to create a sustainable north if a large amount of the capital funding leaves the North? How are we ever going to grow the economy if we are not unlocking the potential of one of our most important resources: our people.

Promoting environmentally safe economic development is paramount: We as a territory cannot continue to develop our resources and then down the road be stuck with a giant bill because those who benefited pack up and leave the community and territory.

Tell voters more about yourself. What languages do you speak?

English

Do you live in your riding? If not, why did you decide to run there?

I live in the community, in the Boot Lake riding currently. We recently moved from the Twin Lakes riding as we outgrew our smaller home and needed a bigger one. Unfortunately, adequate and affordable housing is a challenge in our community. Although I do not currently live in the Twin Lakes riding, I feel my passion and commitment to our community goes without question, and heck I'll always be a "west end kid." Our community doesn't benefit from division, so where I live in the community at this time was not a factor in my riding choice, nor should it be for anyone ever running in an election. My decision was based on my commitment to our community.

If elected, will you seek a cabinet position?

A cabinet position is not my goal, my goal is to be a strong voice for our community at this time; someone who is willing to work with all MLAs and cabinet to ensure the residents of our community are heard and results are seen.

Would you consider the premiership, if elected?

Much like the cabinet position, the premiership is not my goal, I want to be a strong voice and advocate for my community. Although this can be done as the premier, I feel I can be more effective as an MLA, working in collaboration and supporting cabinet with our community concerns. We need to get away from the "us versus them" as it certainly doesn't benefit our residents.

Lesa Semmler

Why are you running for office?

Inuvik is my home and I want the best for our residents. I was inspired to seek re-election because I believe there is still so much more important work to do to make our community stronger. I believe my experience from the last term will aid our community in achieving that. I think my strong advocacy for the issues of Inuvik and bringing that strong voice to the Legislative Assembly has brought results for our community. I'm seeking re-election to continue being that voice for our community and continuing to work for our residents.

What experience would you bring to the role of MLA?

My past experience as MLA, as a GNWT manager, a registered nurse working on the front lines, and working in an Indigenous government I believe will assist me. These positions all provided me a better understanding of the issues that our community is facing. I'm experienced in how government works and the government processes that things need to go through to achieve results.

My experience also consists of me being on the following committee's during my fouryears as MLA:

• Chair, Committee of the Whole, member of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, member of the Standing Committee on Social Development, member of the Special Committee on Transition matters, chairof the Special Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs, caucus member, Standing Committee on Economic Development & Environment.

• My fouryears as deputy Speaker gave me the full understanding of how the entire Legislative Assembly functions alongside GNWT.

• I also have experience being a member of other boards and working groups at the community, territorial, and national level. I was chair of the Inuvik District Education Authority, the chair of the Beaufort Delta Education Council and a family advisory member to the Commissioners of the National Inquiry into Missing Indigenous Women and Girls.

What is the biggest issue facing the territory right now?

I don't think there is just one big issue that we are facing. We have many challenges that we are all facing that are all connected to each other. Things like the high cost of living, which has gotten to the point that it is not just the phrase the high cost of living anymore, it's the high costs of everything. High costs of food, high cost of power, high cost of heating, high costs of building, high cost of doing business, high costs of homes, high costs of and lack of childcare, high cost of providing health care and lack of health care providers just to name a few.

We are also facing serious climate issues like forest fires, floods, mental health and addiction issues and the severity of the illicit drug use in our communities that needs to be addressed. Education for our children and ensuring they graduate and can attend any post secondary.

What is the biggest issue in your riding?

What I'm hearing so far in my campaign from the people I have spoken to is that the high costs of living are becoming unbearable. People are telling me that it's becoming harder to keep up with heating their homes, high rates of power, high costs of food and interest rates on the mortgages are making life very difficult for many in my community. Even more so on our single income families and seniors.

The issues on attendance and ensuring our children are attending school and are getting the supports they need for learning and for their mental health so they can be successful. Everyone is worried about our people who are suffering from addictions and the barriers to treatment and aftercare when they return home.

For a small community of Inuvik these are just a few. There are many, many more issues that have been raised with me.

What needs the most improvement in how the GNWT operates?

The decentralization of government decision-making powers into the regions is a first and important step. Our regions and communities need to have a stronger say on decision-making that affects them. I am a strong supporter of decentralization and bringing more decision-making back to the regions.

GNWT cannot have the policies created in the capital by staff who do not live and may have never even stepped foot in a regional centre or small community. We cannot be a one-size-fits-all as we are unique in how we live, our cultures and our climates are very different from the south to the north of the Territory.

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

Having decision-making powers for the regions would be beneficial for the entire N.W.T. This could help with many areas like streamlining programs to better fit the needs of our region and being better able to adapt to the future needs of our region. Maybe then and only then will we see the quality of life for our residents become better as programs and the budget can be geared to the priorities of the regions.

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

I think communication is key in any partnership. Utilizing the new tables that were established by the last government I think is going to be important. Drafting legislation together under the lens of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and utilizing the Council of Leaders table is going to be crucial. The drafting of UNDRIP legislation was done at this table and the development of the action plan is also being developed at this table, in partnership with our Indigenous Governments and organizations. I think these newly established tables are one way to be successful.

What should the territory do to address the impacts of climate change?

Every region in the N.W.T. is being impacted and I think we need to work together to access every accessible federal dollar to help fight these impacts. The governments have the opportunity to access and provide dollars to help with things like:

• Increase funding for homeowners and less barriers to access funding to purchase energy efficient appliances, windows, doors, insulation etc. The current programs have some barriers that I have heard, I have also in the past herad the program has run out of funds before year end.

• Benefits to contractors who are building energy efficient homes.

• Increase funding and incentives for retrofittingalready existing homes with green initiatives.

• Investin green energy projects like wind, solar and hydro.

• Build adaptive infrastructure moving forward.

What should the GNWT do to grow the territory's economy?

We need to support local and already existing businesses to ensure money stays in the North.

• We need to try and stimulate other sectors of the economy and help the private sector as much as we can. It can be as simple as removing red tape in the process they face, to providing incentives for local businesses and ensuring that there are processes in place to ensure local businesses are being utilized to their fullest potential.

• We need to invest in and prioritize major projects that can help decrease the cost of living like the Mackenzie Valley Highway that could significantly decrease the cost of living and stimulate the economy for the residents up and down the valley.

• We also need affordable housing to be able to attract people to the North to live here. Growing our population will in itself, grow our economy.

• Promoting and supporting other sectors of the economy I think is going to be very important as we move forward. We have many other things we can offer as a territory and those things need to be considered as options. Supporting the oil and gas sector, alternative energy sector, tourism, other mining projects and promoting our resources that we have like lithium and other precious resources should all be options for our territory.

• Providing more land to the communities to build more housing both in the private and public sectors I think will help the economy.

Tell voters more about yourself. What languages do you speak?

English

Do you live in your riding? If not, why did you decide to run there?

Yes I live in my riding.

If elected, will you seek a cabinet position?

At this time, I am focused on my campaign for MLA.

Would you consider the premiership, if elected?

N/A