N.W.T. premier questions federal parties on 7 territorial issues

Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod has asked the leaders of the four major federal political parties for their positions on seven issues "critical" to the territory, in the lead-up to the federal election on Oct. 19. 

McLeod has sent a letter posing seven questions about issues that are "critical to the continued creation of a unified, environmentally sustainable and prosperous N.W.T.," he writes.

The letter was sent to the Conservative, Liberal, New Democratic, and Green parties — the four parties with representation in Parliament running a slate of candidates across the country.

Among the issues are funding for transportation infrastructure and power projects, strategies for countering the N.W.T.'s population decline, plans for further devolving authority over resources to the territory and addressing the problems of climate change and the cost of building and maintaining social housing.

"I was just back from Tuktoyaktuk where we saw a tremendous amount of shoreline erosion there mainly due to climate change," he said.

"The big challenge is we are seeing climate change affecting us, yet we don't want to see a significant increase in our cost of living."

McLeod won't say if he's in favour of a carbon tax, but he says he doesn't want to add another burden to the economy as it seeks to cap carbon emissions.

The federal government, said McLeod, should make it attractive for places such as the Northwest Territories to pursue sources of renewable energy.

His letter says the responses he receives from the parties by Sept. 18 will be posted on the territorial government's website.