From housing and affordability to fair taxation and global humanitarian concerns — voters in the Northwest Territories have a lot of things on their minds during this federal election campaign.
Whether they live in larger centres like Yellowknife or smaller communities like Fort Smith or Inuvik, many voters say they want candidates to be accountable and connected to the challenges Northerners face.
Rashmi Patel lives in Fort Smith. She’s self-employed and says she has been struggling financially while trying to get her business off the ground. For her, economic fairness is key, which means pushing for tax reform.
“One of the biggest things is to tax the rich,” she said. “We need to start taxing the corporations and the millionaires and billionaires that are benefiting from [the infrastructure we’ve built].”
Patel said food prices are out of control and that housing should be a fundamental right. She believes that if the wealthiest pay their fair share, that money can go toward critical infrastructure and social programs for everyone.
Having struggled herself with housing and income, she feels strongly that the elected Members of Parliament should include people who have lived through similar challenges.
Mathieu Lamontagne-Cumiford lives in Inuvik and says one of the most significant issues for him is the lack of accessible housing.
In some N.W.T. communities, housing is only available if it’s tied to a job, he said, creating a serious disadvantage that affects people who aren’t currently employed with those specific companies.
“In some northern communities, the disparities between populations that have housing provided with employment and without employment are as big as 30 per cent,” he said.
For Lamontagne-Cumiford, housing shouldn’t be dependent on work. He’s calling for government investment in social housing and construction programs that ensure everyone has a safe and stable place to live.
“It’s something that you need to live — so it shouldn’t just be tied to a job,” he said.
As a millennial in Fort Smith, Starr Wolki says she’s been feeling the crunch of rising food prices and housing that’s unaffordable.
“My dreams of wanting to own a home are being quickly dashed by everything that’s going on in the world right now,” she said.
Wolki says that a party’s values are more important than just the candidate’s, but making sure voters are being heard is critical. She hopes the candidates genuinely understand what Northerners are facing.
“I care more about if the people are being represented properly by who they vote for,” she said.
Marcel Leguerrier also lives in Fort Smith. He is less concerned with party platforms and more interested in the qualities of individual candidates. He also says that for him, leadership matters most.
“You need a good leader to lead the country,” he said.
Leguerrier hopes that the country will get “back on track” and that the next government will resolve some of the issues the country has faced over the years.
Longtime Fort Smith resident Brad Bourque said he’s “sick of the Liberals putting us in the hole” and hopes for a new direction for Canada’s leadership.
“We need change,” he said. “It’s been terrible the way it’s going.”
Bourque has long supported the Conservative Party, starting with former prime minister Stephen Harper. Bourque said the party’s overall beliefs and values are key to him.
“[Conservative Leader Pierre] Poilievre seems to have a half-decent agenda,” he said.
Reyhan Sarikaya has lived in Yellowknife for 20 years. A homeowner raising three children, she says the rising cost of living is becoming unsustainable, and housing is a critical issue. She wants to see politicians take real action to support working families.
She’s especially concerned about outsourcing jobs from outside the North, and says keeping work and wages in the territory is critical for economic stability.
“We really have to keep and secure all the jobs for the workers here in the territories,” she said. “My income is not enough to support my family anymore … everyone’s counting every penny.”
Sarikaya also wants to see stronger leadership on international issues, especially regarding war and conflict. She hopes Canada will take a clear stand on issues affecting Palestine, Sudan, and Yemen.
“We all have a role to play, regardless of how small it is, it’s going to make a difference,” she said. “Every voice matters, and in the end, collectively, we’re all going to benefit from helping each other.”
