Yellowknife election candidates quizzed by students on housing, transit and recreation

YELLOWKNIFE — Yellowknife municipal election candidates answered questions from high school students at a forum at École Sir John Franklin High School on Thursday evening.

Both mayoral candidates and the 13 city council candidates who attended were given the opportunity to submit written responses ahead of time, and were cut off by a gong if they went over their allotted time.

Students Daphne Richard, Tendesai Mufandaedza and Logan Doll asked candidates how they would address issues like homelessness, active transportation as a way to reduce carbon emissions, and recreation.

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"Until there's somewhere for vulnerable people to go, there is really very little to gain from having increased bylaw patrols and all of this sort of stuff," candidate Jeremy Flatt said. "All you're really doing is adding another layer of suffering to the suffering people are already experiencing."

Many answers focused on adding more housing units in town, as well as ways for the city to support organizations looking to build affordable and social housing.

Candidate Skye Plowman said the city has an "absolute responsibility" to advocate to the territorial government for rent control to regulate how landlords can raise rents.

"If that doesn't line up with the cost of living, then next thing you know, people can't afford the homes that they've lived in for years," she said.

On transportation, candidate Rob Foote pointed to the transportation plan recently adopted by city council.

"My goal would be to continue to refine this plan to ensure that snow clearing, public transportation, active transportation and road safety are at the forefront of all conversations to give residents alternative options through all seasons," he said.

Candidate Roberta Campbell said she is in favour of reviewing bus schedules to expand hours of service, citing her experience in nursing school as a reason why.

"By 7 o'clock we'd have to be on the floor, changed in [our] uniform, ready to look at your charts," she said. "But none of us could take the bus, because the bus wasn't running at that time."

She also said she is in favour of adding more lighting to trails and keeping them maintained in the winter for fat bike users.

Student moderators pointed out that with a bid for the 2035 Canada Winter Games now abandoned, a lot of potential investment in the city's recreational facilities is also gone.

Candidate Nazim Awan said he understood there was disappointment around the abandoned bid.

"But I don't think hosting a major sporting event should be our only opportunity to secure that funding," he said, saying his experience working with the federal government could help the city take advantage of federal investments.

Candidate Simon Whitehouse said the city should be realistic about what taxpayers can afford, and should focus on improving existing recreation programs and facilities before committing to expensive new projects.

Candidate Fraser Fuite said he believes buildings can be built for lower sums than the current norm by taking inspiration from the "old days."

He also said when it comes to recreation, there are "particularly efficient and cheap ways to get fun."

"We should get penguins," he said. "The tourists would pay $25 a pop if we had penguins, like a penguin café."

The gong rang to announce his time was up, preventing him from explaining that idea further.

With files from CBC News