On Oct. 21, residents of Fort Simpson will head to the polls to elect their next mayor and council.
Ahead of the election, SA国际影视传媒 sent a set of identical questions to both of the village's mayoral candidates SA国际影视传媒� incumbent Sean Whelly and his opponent Leslie Wright SA国际影视传媒� to learn more about their backgrounds, their platforms, and their plans for the community and its roughly 1,100 residents.
Whelly was the first to respond to our questions.
What is your professional background?
"I have an MBA from Thompson Rivers University. I have worked at the Dehcho Business Centre for 24 years. I have been the mayor of Liidlii Kue/ Fort Simpson for 12 of the last 15 years. I have 63 years of Northern living experience having lived my entire life in the NWT."
What motivated you to run in this election?
"There are significant planning issues that the village needs to complete. The Community Plan is 80 per cent finished. This plan will enable us to chart a course forward by identifying the best land available for a new, proposed health centre and a 48-unit long-term care facility. After the flood of 2021 and the housing challenges that continue to arise, it is important to create future development plans that will help promote residential housing growth.
"I want to continue controlling costs in the village so that property taxes and utility rates remain stable for residents. There have been no increases for the last six years that I have been the mayor.
"I have been involved in ongoing emergency planning and recovery for several years now. Significant wildfire protection measures, such as the firebreaks we built this summer for $1 million, need to be continually worked on. Emergency planning is something critical to the safety of our community."
What do you intend to do about the drug and alcohol problem in Fort Simpson?
"Working with the Liidlii Kue First Nation, Metis, social agencies and the will develop awareness and strategies for dealing with alcohol and drug problems. There are no easy solutions and a coordinated approach is likely to get the best results. A recent community meeting to address the problem was attended by 60 residents and shows the willingness of everyone to address the issue. Some actionable items would be to lobby for a detox facility and increased transitional housing for those trying to escape the cycle of poverty and substance abuse."
What facilities are most needed in your community, and how do you intend to procure them?
"We are lucky that Fort Simpson already has a library, childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 water park, fitness centre, golf course, curling rink, arena, swimming pool and extensive groomed trail system. An application has been made to CanNor for a multi-purpose outdoor track and field facility and this would be a great addition to the recreational facilities we already have. A regional tourism visitor centre funded to increase tourism would be an important development to support the Dehcho economy."
What other issues do you consider most important for Fort Simpson, and what do you plan to do to fix them?
"The future of Fort Simpson will be largely dependent on developing more tourism product and working to support tourism businesses. There are many other small businesses in the village and they too need to be encouraged and supported through local procurement and progressive land planning and stable tax rates. Lately, Japanese aurora visitors have begun to arrive, attracted by our darker skies, nearby lodges and beautiful views. Continued lobbying for a bridge across the Liard to improve transportation costs would link to the future all-season highway extension to Norman Wells."
