Question 1 - Yellowknife is entering a significant economic transition as the NWT's diamond mining industry changes, with two mines now moving through closure while many of the major projects expected to create new economic opportunities are still several years from full construction. What should Yellowknife be doing now to navigate this transition and position the community for long-term economic success?

Despite the closure of the mines, Yellowknife's local economy is filled with potential. Our tourism industry is at an all-time high and we are seeing new hotels go up all around town. The possibility of Con Mine reopening becomes more realistic every day, we have DND/NORAD knocking at our door to invest billions. The Federal government seems serious about actually building the Mackenzie Valley Highway! We literally can’t find enough locals to work at the Giant Mine Remediation project right now.

So I am excited about the future of our economy and want everyone to get their piece of the action and that the City supports you in doing so. Specifically the City needs to ensure anyone who comes in with an idea at City hall is met with support, not years of permits and red tape.

Question 2 - Crime and public safety concerns are also creating direct costs for Yellowknife businesses through theft, property damage and increased spending on security and other measures to protect their employees and property. As a member of City Council, how would you address the impact these issues are having on the business community?

There are over 300 homeless people in Yellowknife, they fight to get shelter space, or they sleep in tents, stairs wells or couch surf. Most are just trying to live and we need to provide them housing. That is the only lasting solution. A small portion of people, many of whom aren't even homeless commit a disproportionate amount of the crime. Anyone who has worked in the criminal justice system knows this, the same offenders, hundreds of charges.

Recognizing the City doesn't have control over the criminal justice system the City has to use the tools it has. The City should start enforcing public drinking, at least the most blatant examples, the RCMP need to prioritize a downtown presence. The City needs to create a street ambassador program that partners with current street outreach workers to ensure the first line of response has trust with those on the street and knows the appropriate services to navigate them to. But at the end of the day the lasting solution to these problems is finding people homes.

Question 3 - Yellowknife needs more development to support housing, economic growth and the long-term needs of the community, but development can involve difficult trade-offs and face barriers that prevent projects from moving forward. As a member of City Council, how would you approach growth and development in Yellowknife?

• I am supportive of developing all the infill lots, that’s Con/Burwash (depending on the outcome of the residents who sued the city to oppose housing there), Niven Phase eight, and Taylor Road.
• I am supportive of developing the other side of Frame Lake but would like to see the frame lake trail be a fully paved walkable trail around the entirety of the lake similar to how the one side is now.
• I want the City to take a more active role in working with NGOs to build affordable housing and prioritize affordable housing being constructed.
• In addition, we need to enforce faster permitting standards.

Question 4 - The major projects expected in the North will require a larger and more diverse workforce in the years ahead. How should Yellowknife prepare its residents and businesses to participate in and benefit from those opportunities?

Fortunately, many of those companies serving the diamond mines and Giant Mine remediation have the opportunity to serve the incoming federal investment. We just need to ensure there is work in between to keep them employed. Yellowknife can create local incentives through its procurement, it can ensure its larger tenders are feasible for local companies, it can publish a clear timeline of upcoming contracts so companies can prepare and it should work with the GNWT to ensure companies are trained and have understanding of the processes such as federal procurement and security clearance.