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Range Lake

Kieron Testart

1. What in your experience and background makes you the right person to shepherd the Northwest Territories’ economic development through the next four years?

I have worked as a Deputy Sheriff and Policy Analyst for the Government of the Northwest Territories, and have extensive experience in governance, politics and leadership, including being elected MLA for Kam Lake in 2015. During the 18th Assembly I served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning and was a member of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Environment and the Special Committee on Transition Matters. After serving my term as an MLA, I worked in the non-profit sector before becoming the Director of Economic Development for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. I gained a wealth of knowledge and experience from this work, including serving as Incident Commander for Dettah and N’dilo during the wildfire evacuation. I understand the challenges the North is facing and have dedicated my work in recent years entirely to economic development projects and policy, uniquely positioned in a First Nations context.

 

2. As an MLA what action will you take to increase land availability within the City of Yellowknife?

As an MLA will you commit to the expedited transfer of all lands in the municipal boundary, under the administration and control of the Commissioner of the NWT, to the City of Yellowknife?

We can remove the barriers to economic growth in our communities by transferring all uncontested public lands held by the Government of the Northwest Territories within municipal boundaries to their local governments. This will assist long-term community planning, create new economic development, expand real estate markets, and allow communities to grow their revenues without raising new taxes.

 

3. As an MLA or member of Cabinet how do you plan to address and facilitate economic immigration to our region to promote economic growth and job opportunities?

How will you support the integration of newcomers into our unique northern communities?

We can expand labour market supply and improve the NWT’s competitiveness through immigration with a strengthened NWT Territorial Nominee Program that combines skilled worker recruitment with business investment with the addition of a new stream targeted at family reunification. These programs will be supported with the creation of Newcomer Support Services that will improve the settlement, language, employment and the community support that newcomers need as soon as they arrive in the NWT to put them on a path to success. We can also cut the red tap from our licensing bodies to ease the transfer of skilled professionals with foreign or southern credentials into the NWT labour market. Housing is also crucial, which can be enhanced with developer incentives and new access to land.

 

4. As an MLA what specific steps will you take to support and strengthen the local/northern construction Industry?

We need to increase the output of local tradespeople in the territory and in the city. This means encouraging the adoption of trades in NWT schools, promoting apprenticeships and internships for practical work experience. Additionally, we need to take measures to make the north an attractive place to live and raise a family, by investing in the development of affordable housing units, tenant protections and rent stabilization, and homeownership support programs for low and middle-income families through grants, subsidies, and low-interest loans. By revitalizing the minerals industry, we will also create new opportunities for construction in both exploration and mining production that will benefit Yellowknife and all NWT communities.

 

5. As an MLA how will you look to leverage remediation projects so that associated jobs, work, contracts, innovation stay in, and benefit, the NWT?

I believe that future remediation processes should be built into the active life of the mine, and therefore that work can be done by the people hired to work at the mine and live in the area. There is no such thing as a “remediation economy”. There is a mining economy in the NWT and remediation is a vital part of sustainable resource development. It cannot be considered a standalone industry as modern mining has reclamation built into their closure plans which limits the opportunities apart from abandoned mine sites, such as those on the Ingraham Trail. The talents and expertise the NWT develops in reclamation will support a revitalized mining industry and ensure our environment remains pristine for future generations.

 

6. As we look to diversify the NWT’s economy, what economic growth opportunities do you see inherent in Yellowknife’s airport?

Do you think it is time to transition the Yellowknife Airport to an airport authority model allowing for greater flexibility to invest in infrastructure, improve services, and manage their finances?

Yes, we should transition the Yellowknife Airport to an independent airport authority. This was my position in the 18th Assembly and I remain consistent to this end. We need to ensure a hands-off approach to economic growth through an expanded Yellowknife Airport that can make the investments it needs to grow the transportation, logistics and tourism sectors.

 

7.As an MLA how will you make downtown Yellowknife a more attractive place for tourists to visit and for future business investment?

How do you view the intersection between homelessness and public safety?

Northerners know that to have safe streets in our communities we need the right resources in place. We can ensure more resilient communities by addressing the underlying causes of crime and fostering cooperation between law enforcement and the people they serve. This means more funding for community policing given directly to municipalities and First Nations that will allow them to foster strong partnerships between law enforcement and residents, promoting collaboration and trust-building. We can enhance these efforts by providing funding for local substance abuse prevention initiatives to address the root causes of addiction and related crimes. We will also provide funding to invest in programs and activities that support young people to deter them from engaging in criminal activities.

8. As an MLA, what concrete steps will you take to build the collaboration necessary to implement comprehensive solutions to these issues?

What accountability measures will you commit to implement to ensure meaningful action takes place to address these issues?

 

Northerners expect results from their government and that their elected leaders will follow through on their promises. When so much depends on the machinery of the GNWT, it can be hard to ensure that political mandates are being fulfilled in a meaningful way for NWT residents. What I commit to is a new culture of constant engagement between all levels of government and will retain an open door policy for all leaders and stakeholders. A clear example of how I intend to live up to this new culture will be by making new offers for all active negotiating tables within 365 days and ensuring a nation-to-nation approach is applied fairly to all negotiating parties, and implementation of all outstanding self-government obligations by the GNWT. I will also advocate to empower local governments to have more autonomy over decision making with respect to development, taxation and Public safety.

 

Nicole Sok

1. What in your experience and background makes you the right person to shepherd the Northwest Territories’ economic development through the next four years?

I played a significant role in supporting my spouse in launching his business, which has given me firsthand insight into the determination, dedication, and drive of small business owners. I'm aware of the obstacles and challenges that often confront these enterprises. However, it's essential to recognize that I am just one individual among nineteen, and the effective facilitation of economic development hinges on the composition of specific portfolios, the individuals holding them, and the degree of collaboration among them. In the event that I assume such a role, I am more than willing to seek guidance from those with the expertise I may lack, attentively listen, and thoroughly assess the information at hand. I am not averse to taking calculated risks, but I also understand when a more cautious approach is warranted.

 

2. As an MLA what action will you take to increase land availability within the City of Yellowknife?

As an MLA will you commit to the expedited transfer of all lands in the municipal boundary, under the administration and control of the Commissioner of the NWT, to the City of Yellowknife?

I find it perplexing how much Commissioner's land is within the City of Yellowknife's boundaries. It appears counterintuitive for the Government of the Northwest Territories to retain ownership of this land, especially considering the city's pressing land shortage issue and the housing crisis, which hinder growth and elevate living costs. In my role as an MLA, I would be committed to expediting the transfer of surplus lands within the municipal boundaries and ensuring accountability throughout my tenure in the assembly.

3. As an MLA or member of Cabinet how do you plan to address and facilitate economic immigration to our region to promote economic growth and job opportunities?

How will you support the integration of newcomers into our unique northern communities?

Aside from the Immigration and Nominee program which is delivered in conjunction with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), I believe there is opportunities to take advantage of work-holiday visas under the International Experience Canada program. Although these would be temporary employees as visas last a year, this could still provide benefit to many businesses looking for extra staff or seasonal dependent jobs. This would require a serious and intentional advertising campaign to promote the territory as a destination for these kinds of employees. However, there is the constant issue of where to house these individuals, in which adding more units to the housing stock needs to happen. This week, an event for newcomers will be hosted by the Communauté francophone accueillante (Welcoming Francophone Community of Yellowknife) which is a great example of how to engage newcomers. Gearing events to new residents so they can experience what communities are about and have to offer is another way to encourage integration within the community.

 

4. As an MLA what specific steps will you take to support and strengthen the local/northern construction Industry?

This is a three-fold answer. Firstly, procurement changes need to be made. Too many tenders go out bundled, requiring the need for a General Contractor (ie. mechanical and electrical tenders that end up getting combined). With the loss of two large, northern construction companies in recent years, the scope of these tenders and the amount of company
capital to start projects and pay subcontractors is an inhibitor to bids. Going forward, this status quo will benefit larger southern companies that have the labour force and capital for larger projects. Second, increasing apprenticeship opportunities through high school and beyond will increase the number of committed and invested, homegrown tradespeo ple within the life of the 20th assembly. Thirdly, the territory should consider the likelihood and prepare for a recession, in which case the best way to move out of that is through make-work projects, and the territory requires a lot of infrastructure. Making sure remediation, road and utility projects, and government housing projects have a minimum northern hire target, like the mines, will help bolster our construction industry.

 

5. As an MLA how will you look to leverage remediation projects so that associated jobs, work, contracts, innovation stay in, and benefit, the NWT?

As mentioned earlier, the field of remediation is evolving into a distinct industry. It may be beneficial to introduce legislation that mandates a minimum northern hiring and contracting requirement to ensure that the local workforce and businesses are actively engaged. The 19th assembly's consistent efforts to put pressure on major corporations awarded substantial remediation contracts, such as the case with Giant Mine, have begun yielding positive results and should be a continuing practice.

 

6. As we look to diversify the NWT’s economy, what economic growth opportunities do you see inherent in Yellowknife’s airport?

Do you think it is time to transition the Yellowknife Airport to an airport authority model allowing for greater flexibility to invest in infrastructure, improve services, and manage their finances?

Although I do see the pros to an airport authority model, I do not believe that now is the time for it. Airport authorities require less stakeholder engagement, and as the airport falls within the riding of Range Lake, I believe residents have the right to meaningful engagement throughout the expansion process. Regarding any model that may be used, I would like to ensure that the GNWT is fairly compensated for its investments to that point. I would also like to point out that without adequate infrastructure in the territory, user-fees that are determined by an authority, may not be in the best interests of residents, or may make air travel more expensive. During covid, Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, which is an airport authority, went into debt. This leads to questions for how to ensure it’s not northern residents and taxpayers unfairly bearing that brunt if the same occurred here.

That being said, I have always been in favour of Option 2 in regard to any expansion design. Option 2 is less intrusive on residents of the Range Lake riding, not just in noise, but in additional traffic near the exits to the residential neighbourhood. It also allows for long term expansion projects, that can be built as multi-step, multi-year projects. Additionally, the layout allows for the addition of an international terminal, or terminal and gate expansion. These steps would have long-term benefits to the tourism sector as it creates a more accessible territory, with shorter and less costly travel. It would also benefit us becoming a world leader in cold weather technology testing. Although I appreciate that Option 2 is more costly, it does appear to be set up for a larger return on investment.

 

7.As an MLA how will you make downtown Yellowknife a more attractive place for tourists to visit and for future business investment?

How do you view the intersection between homelessness and public safety?

Regarding the intersection between homelessness and public safety, I see it as a complex issue that requires a multifaceted and collaborative approach. Prioritizing housing for vulnerable individuals is critical. This ties in with mental health and addictions. Investing in mental health and addiction support Is essential for addressing in a trauma-informed man-
ner, the root causes of much of the city’s homelessness and reducing public safety concerns. We need after-treatment options in all communities.

8. As an MLA, what concrete steps will you take to build the collaboration necessary to implement comprehensive solutions to these issues?

What accountability measures will you commit to implement to ensure meaningful action takes place to address these issues?

Collaborative working groups, comprised of individuals from diverse sectors such as business leaders, housing advocates, and community leaders, must meet and engage in constructive dialogue. It is by such collaborative processes that substantial advancements can be achieved. Encouraging the GNWT to reassess its role, shifting towards a more
supportive and facilitative role, can foster increased collaboration across various government levels. Actionable steps might involve establishing a minimum public engagement period to guarantee comprehensive input from stakeholders, along with increased transparency in the methods use for the promotion of said public engagement.

 

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