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CANDIDATE ANSWERS: Mike Drake, Nahendeh

Our editorial board has put together three questions for all MLA candidates and acclaimed members seeking public office as part of our coverage of the 2019 territorial election.

Over the remainder of the campaign, we will publish responses on our website.

The three questions are:

  1. What is your position on the carbon tax and would you repeal it if the Liberal government is defeated in the federal election? How should the NWT play a part in combating climate change?
  2. How do you as an MLA intend to improve the economy?
  3. Would you support an Indigenous-based addictions treatment centre in the Northwest Territories?

    1. What is your position on the carbon tax and would you repeal it if the Liberal government is defeated in the federal election? How should the NWT play a part in combating climate change?

    Mike Drake, MLA candidate for Nahendeh
    photo sourced from Elections NWT

    While I understand other jurisdictions have moved to repeal the carbon tax, I would like to better understand the ramifications the carbon tax has on the NWT before agreeing to repeal it. We need to continue to inform other jurisdictions in Canada of the effect Climate Change is having on northern Canada, and advocate for change. The NWT also needs to ensure our industries are not contributing to climate change in a negative way.

    As well we need to lobby the Federal Government for funding to assist where we are already effected.

    2. How do you as an MLA intend to improve the economy?

    There are a few things we should be doing to create economic opportunity in the NWT.

    We really need to move forward with the remaining Land Claim negotiations and provide certainty to potential investors. Our regulatory process has been noted as cumbersome and hard to maneuver and we should be looking at improving these potential regulatory obstacles.

    3. Would you support an Indigenous-based addictions treatment centre in the Northwest Territories?

    Yes, this is something we have been missing for many years now. I wonder how much it costs the GNWT annually to send northerners to treatment facilities in the south ?

    A northern Treatment Center could also provide other treatment related programming that all northerners may benefit from. It's just a really good idea