Politicians talk about Arctic sovereignty. But as a northern voter, I feel abandoned by Ottawa
I was evacuated in the 2023 N.W.T. wildfire. My vote will be decided by northern investments
This First Person article is the experience of Damien Haogak, who lives in Yellowknife. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
After four years of university in Edmonton, I moved back to Yellowknife in 2023 with my partner. The pandemic meant I didn't have many opportunities to return home, and I was happy to be back North, even if it meant a higher cost of living. This is where my heart is.
Wildfires were nothing new to me. In 2017, a wildfire threatened my community of Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., and my family and I were almost evacuated with everyone else.
But something about this season seemed different. At the time I returned home, Yellowknife was taking in wildfire evacuees from nearby N.W.T. communities, such as Hay River, Rae and Edzo.
And then, the fire approached the capital.
Thankfully, the N.W.T. government had kept tabs on wildfire threats and ensured that we were prepared for the moment. By 7 p.m. after the evacuation order was issued, the highway was congested with evacuees. My mother, along with both my sisters pulled up in her truck, alongside me and my partner, and we were soon making our way to the highway.
I will never forget driving through the night, smoke filling our vehicle and lungs as the road disappeared into the fog, the light of fire and embers illuminating the threat near us. Two years later, I still cannot think back to that time without the smell of smoke filling my nostrils.
We spent a month in Edmonton while firefighters fought the flames back home. Other communities within the N.W.T. faced similar threats of fire and smoke. My extended family, who were living in other communities in the Sahtu and Beaufort Delta regions in the N.W.T., also faced the same threats of fire and smoke. That entire month was spent worrying about the fate of my territory, and the community I grew up in were facing the effects of climate change.
That wildfire season and the near loss of many communities awakened a passion for politics in me. It showed me how various levels of government interact during a crisis, and the responsibilities of each level. Most importantly, it showed me that my territorial government and my city government cannot respond to these crises by themselves.
I often feel like the federal government has an important role to play in the North, but we are often forgotten.
Wildfire threats will continue, and Ottawa has no plans for a national wildfire-fighting force, even as experts warn it's badly needed. Some damage from the 2023 wildfires, like the CN rail to Hay River, is still not fixed.
When Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre visited Nunavut in February, he promised investments in northern security and a permanent military base in the Arctic. Mark Carney, during his bid for the Liberal leadership, mentioned the impacts of wildfires near his birthplace of Fort Smith, N.W.T., during his interview on The Daily Show. All the major federal parties have plans for investing in the military in the Arctic.
Being born and raised here in the N.W.T, this rejuvenation of interest in the North has put me in a cautiously hopeful mood — even if it took an election year to receive this kind of federal attention.
But military spending is just one aspect of defending our Arctic sovereignty. If we want to solidify Canada's claim as an Arctic nation, the federal government needs to invest in the people who live in those communities. That's how you show the world that you care about that land — because you have schools, homes, highways, etc.
Norman Wells, a town I spent a part of my life in, declared a state of emergency due to the rising cost of living. Groceries have always been higher in the North, given the cost of transportation, but it's become worse since the pandemic. Consistent telecommunications outages have left other N.W.T. communities without phones or internet for long periods and, as it is for many Canadians, the cost of housing in the North is also rising. I now pay $2,300 per month in Yellowknife for a three-bedroom apartment.
When deciding my vote, I want a party that will tackle the backlog of issues in the territory instead of empty promises about future investments.
For example, the Mackenzie Valley Highway project — an all-season highway from Wrigley to Tulita and Norman Wells — has been talked about for decades. If it were built, it would make a huge difference for my Sahtu community. When there is another wildfire, my community would have a better chance of evacuating. Right now, the only options are by river or air. But it's about more than just an emergency.
The ice road to Norman Wells is becoming less reliable due to warmer winters. The lower water levels on the Mackenzie River mean barges haven't been able to bring in essential supplies for the past two years. That means if my community wants to build new homes, there are delays in getting the construction materials. It's the same for the fuel to heat homes and generate power that needs to be trucked in or flown into the community, as do medical supplies and food, which makes it more expensive.
Projects like this — that support people like those in my community — would provide immediate solutions and benefits to my territory. When I cast my ballot, I'll be paying attention to which candidates say they'll help the territory secure federal funding, while also respecting and listening to Indigenous communities and local expertise. After all, I know my way around the N.W.T. better than Ontarians, and vice versa. I'm just hoping this time the federal parties are serious about investing in the North.
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