1) What made you decide to seek another term on town council?
Simply put, I love Inuvik. It is my home. Having served five consecutive terms on council, I know firsthand how to get things done. It is also an important way for me to give back to my community. I have had the opportunity to build incredible things as a member of council. I also know we can do even better.
As a council, we are meant to come together and create the best opportunities for those who call Inuvik home. I have seen firsthand how important deep knowledge of the community is, and the need to ensure that council has the benefit of being supported by those who have lived here all their lives and understand what makes Inuvik so special.
2) What have you learned from your last term?
As a member of council last term, I saw firsthand the importance of ensuring we have a sustainable economic foundation for our town. Without a long-term and sustainable fiscal plan, the town simply resorts to increasing taxes and pushes the burden onto our residents. If we want to continue to attract talent, families, community builders, and our people to stay and live here, we need to remove some of the costly barriers. We need to ensure that our staff are working hard as public servants, and that we are making solid, evidence-based financial decisions to ensure the short- and long-term strength of Inuvik and the people who call it home.
3) What do you see as the big issues facing Inuvik this election?
The biggest issue facing Inuvik this election (that the town can control) is the need to create new sources of revenue and economic investment to support our infrastructure. In my previous term as councillor, I worked hard to enable significant investments in municipal infrastructure. With the development of these capital works, it is now necessary for us to secure the funding necessary to support this infrastructure. It is not enough to have a building, a house, or a treatment centre. We need long-term, ongoing, and reliable funding to support the programs and people that make this infrastructure matter. Our community is incredibly strong when we come together, and we can demonstrate this when we have the operations and maintenance funding to support the infrastructure investments we have successfully secured. This support will allow us to grow existing programs and build new ones SA国际影视传媒� all in service to the people of Inuvik.
4) How do you propose that these issues be resolved?
This issue can only be resolved if we can come together as a community. Local government, Indigenous government, territorial and federal governments SA国际影视传媒� we must all work together to ensure the necessary resources, economic support, and community investment are brought to Inuvik. I have a long track record of success in forging and building partnerships with intergovernmental and community partners. I will continue to use the relationships and reputation I have built in Inuvik to secure ongoing and much-needed funding to support our programs. I will continue to bring together various orders of government, private business and community builders to ensure we have the resources and support we need to not just sustain but to grow InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 strength and commitment to its residents.
5) What is your favourite thing about Inuvik?
Inuvik is my home. It has always been my home. It will always be my home. No matter how much it changes, no matter how many people come and go, it is always home. Inuvik is where my family is. Inuvik is where my children and grandchildren live. Inuvik is in my blood. I love Inuvik. Inuvik has supported us, sustained us and made us who we are. Inuvik is the only place I would ever want to live and the only place I ever have.
6) Anything else you would like to add?
I am incredibly grateful for the support from voters that I have received in each of the last five elections. I am incredibly proud of all I have had the opportunity to accomplish. To be clear, I have not done this on my own. I want to thank all of the residents of Inuvik who have helped to build, shape and grow our town. We still have a lot of work to do, but I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has committed their time, work, blood, sweat and tears to make this town a home not just for me, but for so many talented, hard-working, and dedicated people. Thank you.
The advance vote for the municipal election is Oct. 11 and election day is Oct. 21.
