1257+:(677(55,725,(6 Dene Nation wants reset with GNWT Volume 74 Issue 25 MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2019 $.95 (plus GST) And then there were 5: time to choose an MP Candidates running in the federal election are making their rounds Federal election special edition (Clockwise from top left) New Democrat Mary Beckett, Conservative Yanik D'Aigle, Luke Quinlan of the People's Party of Canada, Green Paul Falvo and incumbent Michael McLeod, are running for the Northwest Territories seat in the House of Commons. They took part in a candidates' forum in Yellowknife Oct. 9. Publication mail Contract #40012157 "We need more ordinary people like Raymond Yakeleya to shine the light on what we need to pay attention to." 7 71605 00200 2 – Antoine Mountain explains why the Tulita filmmaker's example is one to be followed, page 9. 2 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 14, 2019 news NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 14, 2019 3 Did we get it wrong? News/North is committed to getting facts and names right. With that goes a commitment to acknowledge mistakes and run corrections. If you spot an error in News/North, call (867) 873-4031 and ask to speak to an editor, or email editorial@nnsl. com. We'll get a correction or clarification in as soon as we can. NEWS Briefs Ehdiitat election probe Aklavik Fresh off an election, the Ehdiitat Gwich'in Council will be holding a Special Assembly on Monday Nov. 4, to discuss the findings of an investigation into a recent vote. According to the Sept. 24 election results, Michael Green- land won with 59 votes to 33 votes for his opponent andrew Charlie. Both candidates previously served as councillors. The results also said voters elected James Blake, Gladys Edwards, Mildred Edwards, Randy Edwards, Danny Green- land and Kathy Greenland as directors for council. – Nick Pearce Campaign worker leaves politics Somba K'e/Yellowknife Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo A constituency assistant to MLA Julie Green is retiring Our Time representative Thomas Gagnon-van Leeuwen, left, asks a question to the two person panel of from politics after he was caught tampering with election the 100 Debates on the Environment debate. The event was held at the Northern United Place auditorium signs. on Oct. 3 and drew about 50 people. In a 17-word email to News/North, Craig Yeo stated that at age 65, this was his "last job." CBC reported in late September that during the campaign Yeo had been caught removing and replacing the signs of fellow Yellowknife Centre candidate Arlene Hache in the Northern United Place apartment building. Most candidates skip "I know I caused them and you harm in hurt and anxiety and damaged your right to have your voice heard in the current election," wrote Yeo in his apology. "I did this on a stupid impulse without forethought and respect for you or for the harm I would cause." – Brett McGarry green-themed forum Traffic enforcement up Inuvik Paul Falvo, Mary Beckett address environment questions A low number of calls for service to bylaw freed officers by Simon Whitehouse candidates meeting on Wednesday, was ing where Northern workers are paying to focus on traffic issues, according to the service's Monday Northern News Services wrapping up tours of the Deh Cho and a greater percentage of their incomes for report to council. Somba K'e/Yellowknife South Slave this week, with plans for visits shelter. With RCMP participation, the municipal enforcement Only two out of five candidates seek- to Katlodeeche and Enterprise on Friday. Other organizers were critical, too. division also made a document stop that pulled an impaired ing election for the NWT seat later this City of Yellowknife Councillor Shauna Craig Scott, executive director of Ecol- driver off the road, in addition to handing out several cita- month showed up to a debate in Yellow- Morgan was the moderator throughout the ogy North, echoed the same sentiment. tions. knife on Oct. 3 called 100 Debates on the evening. "Overall I was happy with the audience The service similarly upped patrols around the library to Environment. About 50 people were in attendance. and turnout," he said. "It went really well respond to public intoxication around the area, and smoking The event, sponsored by D'Aigle was in Tsii- and I was disappointed with turnout of on the property, in addition to loitering. GreenPAC, "a non-govern- ghetchic, Fort McPherson candidates obviously." – Nick Pearce ment organization based "We offered to and Inuvik for the remain- Scott asked the two candidates what in Ottawa" was part of a der of last week. they would do to ensure a healthy environ- Diamond sales down nationwide effort to hold bring them in David Bob, president ment for future generations of Northern- NWT debates in 100 ridings across by Zoom Video of the Northern Territories ers. In one year alone, sales of De Beers diamonds have the country on Oct. 3. Federation of Labour, said Falvo took a shot at D'Aigle, who had fallen 39 per cent, according to a report in Bloomberg Press. Paul Falvo of the Greens ... but they it was a good opportunity attended the first public debate in the city The diamond giant reported sales have slumped to $3.216 and Mary Beckett of the for his organization to part- on Oct. 2 and who had criticized McLeod billion for 2019 from $4.41 billion in 2018. NDP were the lone can- declined." ner with other like-minded for not attending that one. D'Aigle how- didates taking a range of groups to learn how to run ever was out of town for the environment The financial news outlet is calling the reduced dia- David Bob mond sales part of a "deepening crisis" as there is an questions that included how a debate as well as to share debate. over-supply of polished diamonds on the global market. they would meet internation- resources in putting an event "Thanks Mary for being here," Falvo De Beers Group holds a 51 per cent stake in the Gahcho al obligations on reducing together. said. "I know Yanik was lamenting last Kue mine, located 280 kilometres Northeast of Yellowknife. greenhouse gas emissions to "I thought it went pretty night Michael's absence and now we are – Brett McGarry plans on protecting wilderness to pro- good," Bob said. "It was unfortunate that down to two." tecting Canadians from toxic substances two candidates cancelled last minute and Later Falvo said he was disappointed with the strengthening of the Canadian one was a no-show. that few candidates showed up. Porritt Landing dredging Environmental Protection Act and the Pest "We offered to bring them in by Zoom "The turnout was disappointing and Hay River Control Products Act. Video Communications but they declined." I took a shot at Yanik because he com- Dredging of Porritt Landing, which had been set for last Incumbent Liberal MP Michael Bob had asked how candidates would plained at Michael," Falvo said. "They all week, is now set to go ahead this week. McLeod, who was also absent from an all address a rising crisis in Northern hous- had an opportunity to participate." "Our internal staff here is managing a bunch of other priorities associated with end of season," Glenn Smith, the assistant senior administrative officer with the Town of Hay River, said last week. "So it's just been bumped a week as we work on other projects of higher priority." The $40,000 project is being funded by the GNWT. – Paul Bickford Children's sweaters recalled Somba K'e/Yellowknife Health Canada is recalling children's sweaters sold at Northern Transition in Yellowknife's Centre Square Mall. Pacapopskidz sweaters use drawstrings that can become caught and result in strangulation, according to Health Canada. Roughly 16 units were sold at Northern Transition from January 2013 until September 2019. More sweaters were sold at other outlets and online. There have been no reports of injuries but parents are advised to remove the draw strings as soon as possible. Contact Northern Transition at 1-867-873-9908. 4 NEWS/NORTH NWT, Monday, October 14, 2019 news MP hopefuls lock horns in Yk Indigenous issues and carbon tax among hot-button topics by Brett McGarry Since many audience/viewer Northern News Services questions were similar, moderator Somba K'e/Yellowknife Loren McGinnis asked all candi- All five federal candidates made dates if their party would support the a case as to why NWT residents U N DR I P. should vote for them in the fast- D'Aigle opened up by saying that approaching Oct. 21 election during Canada would not be able to imple- a forum held in the capital Oct. 9. ment the United Nations initiative Incumbent Liberal Member of "line by line." Parliament Michael McLeod was "It's something that needs to be joined by New Democrat Mary Beck- reviewed negotiated to make sure ett, Conservative Yanik D'Aigle, the we implement it effectively," said Green's Paul Falvo and People's Party D'Aigle. of Canada candidate Luke Quinlan. Beckett said the NDP is "definitely The quintet barbed over topics in favour" of using the UNDRIP as a ranging from the environment to tenet of their government and ensure Indigenous issues at the CBC-hosted the recommendations from the report forum in the Ndilo gym. on murdered and missing indigenous girls and the Truth and Reconciliation Carbon tax and climate change Commission are enacted. Falvo opened up the discussion McLeod said Liberals, NDP on the carbon tax by asserting that and Green moved an UNDRIP bill we are in a climate emergency and through the House but Senate Tories introducing a carbon tax would be Brett McGarry / NNSL photo killed it.