N.W.T. cabinet ministers voice criticism of own government

Two Northwest Territories cabinet ministers are doing something on the campaign trail they don't usually do: criticizing the territorial government.

Incumbent Great Slave MLA and current Health and Social Services minister Glen Abernethy says the territory can do better when it comes to providing housing for low-income earners and the homeless.

"One of the things that's frustrating for me when I travel to the communities is seeing the number of vacant houses that are government-owned in all the communities — houses that should either be used for public housing or for home ownership," he said at a candidates forum in Yellowknife this week.

"I also know there's a large number of individuals who want to access those homes but they don't match the programs [that we have], which suggests the programs don't work."

Incumbent Kam Lake MLA and current Justice and Industry, Tourism and Investment minister David Ramsay said the lack of aboriginal women working high up in the government is problematic.

"The fact that we don't have an indigenous woman currently as a deputy minister, I think that's an issue that we'll have to solve with the next government," he said.

"We have to go into the workforce and identify young, up-and-coming aboriginal women for leadership positions."

Ramsay also expressed disappointment that the past government did not conclude long-in-the-tooth land claim negotiations with the Dehcho First Nations.

"We need to continue to work on that trust and respect with aboriginal partners in the N.W.T.," he said.

Also among Ramsay's regrets: not securing $5 million from the departed Harper government to help build a new fish processing plant in Hay River, despite some lobbying.

"We're hoping, with the change in government in Ottawa, we'll be successful."

Ramsay has at least one more forum on his schedule before the election. He and his opponent, Kieron Testart, will be taking part in CBC North's online forum Monday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. MT.