Infrastructure is priority for many in N.W.T. ahead of federal election

With the federal election date set for next month, CBC N.W.T. is asking residents and voters what matters to them, and what they want candidates talking about during the election campaign.

Merven Gruben, the former mayor of Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., and operator of E. Gruben's Transport, says he cares about infrastructure, particularly housing and military upgrades.

He says people in his community are living in 50- to 60-year-old houses that are condemned.

"It's just terrible," Gruben said. "A lot of people are sick and all because these houses are so old and nothing is being done for new ones. It's a terrible situation."

He also wants to see a focus on protecting the western Arctic, given its proximity to Russia. He thinks Tuktoyaktuk is the perfect place for a coast guard and military presence.  

"If you bring infrastructure work up here, that'll bring, you know, people and houses, new houses, new buildings, which is really, really badly needed up here. But the government keeps promising these things."

Ulukhaktok Mayor Pat Klengenberg also says his community needs more tourism and military infrastructure. With a renewed focus on the Arctic, he hopes his community will benefit from infrastructure upgrades.

• What issue matters the most to you this federal election, and why? Share your personal stories with us at ask@cbc.ca.

"What we need in the community is better airports, able to expand the range for our air force to monitor our Arctic Ocean," he said. 

"If our airports are upgraded so that they can accept the aircraft that we need to monitor, that would not just be good for the military, but that would be really good for our communities to be able to have proper runways … especially to provide emergency services to our communities."

For Nahanni Butte resident Megan Bertrand, access to health care is also top of mind. Her remote community has no road access during the summer months.

"Being in a small community, it's really hard to access emergency medical care," she said.

The community used to receive regular visits from doctors and nurses, she said, but that has waned in recent years. 

Bertrand would also like candidates to talk about improving food stability and prices, and access to fresh food that doesn't spoil by the time it gets to small communities. 

Jimmy Kalinek, a harvester and outfitter in Inuvik, says food prices and the cost of living make it "very expensive to live up in the North."

"A lot of people can't afford the things that they want to do or what they want to buy just because of those taxes and those extra expenses that the federal government imposed on us," he said, in part referencing the carbon tax that Prime Minister Mark Carney is axing as of April 1. 

Kalinek said access to nutritional food is also difficult. Hunters and trappers can get food traditionally off the land, but that costs money too, with equipment and gas. 

Billy Archie lives in Aklavik and says the price of heating fuel is important for him ahead of the election. 

"Something that the northern people have to realize is that we have a lot of minerals and a lot of oil and gas up here and it's something that we can make sure we get the best deal for everything, right?"

He hopes news of a possible local gas plant in the region will make a difference. 

"I mean, paying $2.73/litre for heating oil for our home, is just, it's challenging."

Grace Blake, a leader and elder in Tsiigehtchic, told CBC that Indigenous knowledge and building community infrastructure are topics she wants to hear from candidates about.

"How to live in both worlds, but to be proud to be Indigenous. And I support politicians that speak that same language."

Blake said her community of about 138 people has been asking "forever" for a local RCMP presence and community nurse.

"We are first people in this country and we need to be treated as such, all the way down to the smallest community."

What matters to you heading into this election? Call CBC N.W.T.'s talkback line at 1-800-661-0708 and in Yellowknife, 867-920-5444. If you're interested in writing a first-person perspective for cbc.ca, learn more here.