Great Slave | Glen Abernethy, Chris Clarke

Chris Clarke, anewcomer to N.W.T. politics, is taking on former health minister Glen Abernethy in Yellowknife's Great Slave riding.

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The Great Slave district reaches along the shore of Yellowknife Bay, taking in the middle- and higher-income residential neighbourhoods of School Draw Avenue, as well as several apartment blocks. The riding is a combination of "old Yellowknife" families and a lot of apartment buildings that tend to attract a more transient population. The territory's largest high school, Sir John Franklin, also lies here.

Glen Abernethy

Before entering politics, Abernethy worked for the territorial government for 15 years, mostly in human resources. He was first elected as MLA for the riding in 2007, after the retirement of longtime MLA Bill Braden. He was voted into cabinet in the 17thassembly, and was named the Health and Social Services minister.

Abernethy has also served as the minister of Human Resources, Justice, Public Works and Services, and was responsible for the Public Utilities Board, seniors and people with disabilities.

Abernethy says his priorities are the cost of living and the related question of economic opportunities. He saysreducing the cost of living can help boost the economy.

Abernethy also wants to build "on the good work that's already been done" by the GNWT on mental health and addictions issues.

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Chris Clarke

At 38, Clarke is a newcomer to territorial politics. He was born in Hay River and raised in Pine Point, Fort Smith and Yellowknife.

Clarke has a bachelor's degree in environmental science and a master's degree in architecture. He hasworked in both the private sector and government, including Environment Canada, the NWT Housing Corporation and the territorial Department of Health and Social Services.

Like Abernethy, Clarke says the cost of living is the most important issue in this election. He wants to see more subsidies for business and energy consumers.

He thinks the GNWT can better control the cost of living by keeping energy costs down as it expands renewable resources and develops new local industries that would provide less expensive consumer goods.

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