Conservative candidate Floyd Roland's top priority is the N.W.T.'s cost of living
'That's what we are about: building a solid future'
At 10 a.m. Conservative candidate Floyd Roland and his campaign manager arrive at Northwind Industries in Inuvik, N.W.T., to address the morning crew.
The company was one of two firms awarded a $299 million contract to construct the Tuktoyaktuk-Inuvik highway. There's an "elect Floyd Roland" sign out front.
"Some people would ask, 'why build a road right up to the coast?' Well number one, for our own sovereignty," Roland says.
"But more importantly we go through the heart of our own natural gas fields in the Delta. And that gives us access to the future. And that's what we are about: building a solid future.
"Make your vote count. Because I'm like you. This is home and I am hoping we can grow the future," Roland says.
With a coffee cup in one hand and a campaign button on his left breast, Roland is campaigning on a number of issues — the cost of living, a slow Northwest Territories economy and infrastructure project investments. But he's also pitching himself as a familiar face in territorial politics who gets things done.
"I've been telling people a voice at the table is really important, because right now, the Northwest Territories, our voice is not at the table when they talk about what programs to invest in."
Roland identifies one such potential program: a natural gas well called M18 about 18 to 20 kilometres outside of Tuktoyaktuk near the new highway. He has said in the past that tapping this well could make a gas-to-liquids plant in the region viable.
He told a parliamentary committee this year such a plant could produce 3,000 barrels of fuel a day and it would cost about $400 million to build. Roland says that's not a lot, given that the territory spends as much as $200 million annually on fuel to its communities, and it could be a cheaper fuel source for the N.W.T.
"Once the road is built, that gives us easy access to that project," Roland tells the Northwind crew.
No stranger to politics
Roland was an MLA for Inuvik for more than 15 years and served as N.W.T. premier.
There was a conflict of interest complaint by MLAs during his time as premier. Roland had a secret extramarital affair with a legislative assembly clerk who attended in-camera committee meetings of the regular MLAs, who act as the Opposition in the territorial assembly.
An adjudicator ruled Roland "failed to maintain public confidence in his integrity, objectivity and impartiality" by not disclosing the relationship in a timely manner. The adjudicator also ruled the error was made in good faith and dismissed the complaint without punishment.
After he left territorial politics, Roland was elected mayor of Inuvik, but stepped aside in August to run in the federal election.
Top priority: cost of living
After the morning meeting with the work crew, Roland meets local businessperson Tom Zubko at the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility. Both gaze up as a white 13-metre satellite dish rotates like a ballerina. Four dishes, or receivers, download data from polar orbiting satellites.
"I told [Roland] that this was something to pay attention to because it probably had legs," Zubko says.
Roland says he worked at the territorial and municipal level to develop the site and there's potential for growth.
"In the Beaufort-Delta we have been so used to oil and gas. This is a new industry," Roland says.
However, the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility doesn't automatically translate into jobs for Inuvik. One company eyeing the ground station admitted recently that it won't be bringing any permanent jobs to the town.
Roland says he'll push Ottawa to support small- and medium-sized business sectors and projects in the North. He says he wants the federal government to support businesses that produce goods and services people need in the North, such as wood pellet production in Hay River.
He says his top priority is reducing the territory's cost of living. Roland says he would get Ottawa to adjust the Northern Residents Deduction and index it to the cost of living.
In the Northwest Territories, four candidates are running in the federal election Oct. 19. CBC will profile all four candidates.