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KEY CONCERNS
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| During my election campaign I had key concerns that were important to me and, as your elected MLA in Kam Lake, the following issues and concerns are still on my priority list. |
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A
Word on the NWT Trust Fund
I was the only candidate in the election
who advocated for the creation of a permanent trust
fund to ensure that benefits from devolution apply
to all northerners. All residents of the NWT deserve
to benefit from the resources extracted from our
territory.
The state of Alaska set up a permanent trust fund in 1982 that is primarily
funded by oil and gas revenues. Between 1982 - 2003, the fund dispersed
$12.5 billion in yearly dividends to Alaskans, who received a dividend
cheque of $1200 - $2200 annually.
As devolution talks continue, the GNWT must pressure Ottawa to initiate
the creation of an NWT fund modeled on Alaska’s. This is a great
opportunity and ensures that everyone who lives here will benefit from
our resource based economy, and will continue to contribute to its growth
and development.
We need to start work on this immediately as it is an incentive to stay
in the NWT to live, work and raise our families, and build strong and
vibrant communities throughout the NWT. |
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Fiscal Responsibility
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Ensure that government operates openly and honestly. |
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Spending must be done wisely. Fiscal management can be achieved by controlling spending and properly allocating funds. |
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It is imperative that when we do reach a deal with Ottawa on resource revenue sharing, the benefits apply to all northerners. |
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Explore the development and set-up of a permanent trust fund that would see a portion of revenue from resources go to work for every person that lives in the NWT. |
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| Healthcare |
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Stabilize funding for healthcare. We should not have to deal with ward closures. |
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Continue to invest in the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals. |
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Support the nurse practitioner and northern nursing programs. |
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Support increased funding for seniors, as well as for additional facilities and housing so persons who wish to retire and live in Yellowknife can do so. |
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Establish a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre. |
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Explore the creation of a palliative care unit. |
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| Economic Growth and Diversification |
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We must take every opportunity to foster value added industry and services in the development of our oil and gas potential. Refineries, petrochemical facilities and cold weather testing are a few examples. |
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The planned airport expansion and runway extension should be completed to cement Yellowknife’s important role as the transportation hub of the North. |
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Tourism must be given a higher priority. The NWT must market, develop and promote our products and services much more aggressively. |
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| Education and Training |
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Put resources to work training people in the trades. Skilled trades are the jobs of the future. The government has to realize our apprenticeship program needs more money and people to make a difference. |
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Expand access to student financial assistance programs. |
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Find a permanent home for Aurora College. |
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Increase the number of students graduating from high school. |
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| Community Investment |
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Develop a recreational area for the city once the correctional center is removed. |
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More work needs to be done on the transfer of lands to the city to facilitate future planning and development. |
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Create an overall recreational area concept for the Fred Henne/Long Lake area. |
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Continue pressure on the federal government to find a permanent solution to the underground storage or arsenic trioxide at Giant Mine. |
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