2025 Federal Election

Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty says she is running to be the next MP for the NWT because she cares deeply about the people and communities of the North.

After high school, the Yellowknife-born bilingual (English/French) Alty completed a diploma in Film and Video at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), followed by a degree in Communication Studies from the University of Calgary.

Her career included roles in communications and community relations with the Diavik Diamond Mine, non-profits, and the Government of the Northwest Territories. She has always been committed to community service and has volunteered on several boards, including as President of the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Arctic Mayors Forum, and the NWT/Nunavut Chamber of Mines.

In 2018, she was elected the 15th mayor of Yellowknife, following two terms as a councillor.

Angela Davidson — also known as Rainbow Eyes — is a member of the Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation in BC.

From working as a trained Land Guardian with her Nation to defending the last stands of old-growth forests on Vancouver Island at Fairy Creek, Rainbow Eyes has dedicated herself to protecting the land.

Her ability to travel to the NWT to campaign cold be compromised, as she was convicted on seven counts of criminal contempt for repeatedly violating court orders prohibiting some forms of protest at the 2021 Fairy Creek protests against old-growth logging. She is attempting to appeal.

Since her time in the forest, Rainbow Eyes has been building connections within the Green Party of Canada — connections that led to her role as Deputy Leader. She now serves on the Indigenous Peoples’ Advisory Circle of the Green Party, is an elected Councillor for her Nation, and sits on the board of the Northwest Indigenous Council.

Fairman brings a wealth of experience living and working in Canada’s North. Her early years in the communities of the Mackenzie Valley give her a deep understanding of Northern and rural life.

Living in Yellowknife, after receiving her graduate degree from the University of Alberta, her extensive experience with the federal government and as a health policy researcher has provided her with an appreciation and understanding of the Canadian political system.

Fairman believes the Northwest Territories can provide leadership for Canadians on issues of the Indigenous economy, sovereignty, and regional strength, especially given the current complex geopolitical context and focus on resource development and economic growth.

Before becoming the Conservative Candidate, Fairman was Executive Director of the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research and held senior positions in the Federal and Territorial governments, focusing on community and economic development.

Kotchilea is of Tłı̨chǫ heritage from Behchokǫ̀. And growing up in a small community, Kotchilea says that successive Liberal and Conservative governments in Ottawa have left Northerners behind.

Kotchilea cites the housing crisis and climate emergency as main concerns. He also says our healthcare system should be truly universal and include prescription medication, dental care, vision care, and mental health services.

Though now residing in Yellowknife, Kotchilea remains active in his home community. He’s passionate about traditional culture, such as Dene handgames and being out on the land.

Kotchilea also wants to restructure the Nutrition North food subsidy program. Homelessness needs to be addressed by examining the root causes, such as mental health and addictions. He says programs such as Housing First and land-based wellness programs are heding in the right direction.

1) Canadians typically support transferring greater authority to the three Northern territories; however, they express opposition to the revenue from resource extraction that could fortify our economies. As the NWT's diamond mines begin to close, fostering investment and innovation becomes crucial for the Northern economy. Please share the top lines of your economic vision for the NWT.

Rebecca Alty's answer: The Northwest Territories has incredible economic opportunities that can be supported by the federal government. Mining has been and will continue to be a key driver of the North's economy, and I want to work with Indigenous communities and industry to support responsible development of natural resources in the NWT, including critical minerals. We know that closing the infrastructure gap will support economic development, which is why I advocate for projects like the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the Slave Geological Province Corridor.

I will be a strong voice for growing other sectors of our economy, including Indigenous tourism and culture, conservation, and agri-food and fishing. As MP, I will advocate for Indigenous employment and skills training and apprenticeship opportunities that address the needs of local communities. I will also work hard to secure federal investments from CanNor and other departments and agencies for projects that will spur Indigenous economic development. Through working with Indigenous governments and businesses, together we can help create a healthy and diversified economy in all communities across the NWT.

---

2) Since 1975, Canada has engaged in discussions and finalized 26 contemporary treaties with Indigenous communities, of which 18 include self-governance clauses or related agreements. Currently, 11 negotiations are ongoing in the Northwest Territories, some of which have persisted for many years and often face substantial delays during federal election periods. Should these negotiations move faster, given the economic boost that could result? Or are there other considerations to maintain the status quo?

I strongly support the completion of land claim and self government negotiations, and believe that the Government of Canada can do more to reduce the time it takes to get agreements negotiated, finalized, ratified, and implemented. I am glad that under the current Liberal government the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę Government have successfully negotiated and ratified their self government agreement, and as MP I want to ensure more Indigenous governments can achieve similar milestones in the coming years. I have heard from Indigenous leaders across the NWT that they would like to have more frequent negotiation meetings, as some tables are only meeting once or twice a month.

I will advocate that CIRNAC improves the availability of federal negotiators so we can speed up the progress at the negotiating tables. I also know that Indigenous governments want greater support with the implementation of their land claims and self-government agreements, as they are wanting to implement their own programs and services in areas like land management, language revitalization, and infrastructure. As MP, I will also work with Indigenous governments who have completed their negotiations to make sure they have the support necessary from the federal government to fully achieve their goals.

---

3) There have been several violent incidents this year in communities across the NWT, resulting in property damage, bodily harm and homicides all connected to the illegal drug trade. Almost all of the major arrests are of people not from the NWT and very often they are on bail for previous drug crimes in their home province. If you are the NWT's next Member of Parliament, what ideas do you have from a federal perspective to curb the illegal drug trade in the North?

Through my conversations with Indigenous and community leaders and residents across the NWT, I know that mental health, substance abuse, and crime is a serious concern for us all. As MP, I will work hard to support efforts to more effectively combat and disrupt the drug trade, and make sure people struggling with addictions and mental health challenges have access to the culturally sensitive support and aftercare options that work for Northerners. There are areas where work is already being done on these fronts with federal support that I want to support further. For example, last fall the NWT received $4 million in federal support through the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund. The federal government has also introduced bail reform through Bill C-48 that toughens bail rules for repeat violent offenders, domestic abusers, and gun crime offenders.

The Liberal government is also supporting local projects across our territory with programs like the Substance Use and Addictions Program and the Emergency Treatment Fund that are helping governments and organizations assist people with addictions. More recently, the federal government announced $7 million in funding for the Endacho Healing Lodge, which will provide services here in the NWT for Indigenous peoples dealing with trauma and addictions challenges.

---

4) Smaller communities in the NWT are seeing their population remain stagnant or decrease over the years. While there is no simple, one-size fits all approach to preserving the culture of Indigenous people who want to remain in their communities, what do you see as a way forward, from a federal perspective, to allow people to live with dignity from cradle to the grave?

I strongly support measures that will help Indigenous communities in the NWT address the housing, health, and cultural needs of their residents.

On the housing front, over the last nine years the Liberal government invested over $700 million to support housing in the Northwest Territories, and for the first time ever Indigenous communities in our territory are receiving direct federal support to build and repair homes for their members. I believe a big part of the solution to housing challenges in the NWT is through flowing more investments directly to local communities and organizations, who are best positioned to meet the needs of their residents.

When it comes to healthier communities, I support the steps taken by the Liberal government to improve access to services for all Northerners. The Canadian Dental Care Plan is already helping eligible children, seniors, and persons with disabilities have more affordable dental services, and starting in May it will expand to people aged 18-64 as well. I will also work hard to support the implementation of a pharmacare agreement between Canada and the GNWT, that will cover costs associated with contraceptives and diabetes medication. We also know that access to healthy foods for children is critical to their development, which is why the Liberal government is investing $7.4 million through the National School Food Program to ensure every child in the Northwest Territories has more access to nutritious meals in school.

Speaking of kids, I also want to make sure we can make our government’s child care program even better in the Northwest Territories. I have heard from parents and daycares that while the investments from the federal government are helping many, more support is needed, especially in smaller communities. As MP, I will work with the child care sector and the GNWT to improve access and affordability of services, and ensure there is culturally appropriate care available for Indigenous children.

Similarly, I want to build on the progress that has been achieved in recent years when it comes to federal support for Indigenous languages in the NWT. Over the last five years, the Liberal government has provided over $36 million to help reclaim, revitalize, and strengthen Indigenous languages across the Northwest Territories. As MP, I will continue this progress, and work with local Indigenous governments and organizations to make sure they have the resources they need for language programming.

“We do need to make sure that our laws are being enforced, and so increasing the resources when it comes to RCMP, when it comes to border security. So the other announcement today (from party Leader Mark Carney) was more training, more spaces at the (RCMP) Depot, making sure that all positions we have in the North are filled.

“Because a lot of the violence that we’re seeing is related to drugs (support is needed) for on-the-land healing and addictions recovery programs, including housing. In Yellowknife and Inuvik, even Fort Providence, the federal government has provided funding. So in Yellowknife, it was funding to the city, and then the city was able to purchase a house, and the territorial government’s going to operate it the transitional housing for addictions recovery program, so being able to help people get out of drugs.

“When it comes to public safety, there’s a need for enforcement, and there’s also the need to to address the the root causes of a lot of the violence that we’re seeing. There’s some serious, as Kelvin mentioned, organized crime coming up to the Northwest Territories. So we can have a justice system, and there’s the court process, but there is also alternative justice processes. And so really looking at what’s going to be best for the the accused, if it’s alternative justice,

“One of the most recent projects that the federal government’s funded is the Dene Wellness Warriors. They’re looking to set up a healing centre.

“There has been $700 million worth of housing funding in the Northwest Territories over the past 10 years with the Liberal government. We you know, money has been allocated and directly to Indigenous governments. Shovels are still getting swung. Houses are coming in. It’s not going to be a change overnight. However, these programs are the right steps, and there’s a number of other wellness programs, a lot of on the land healing programs”

Angela Davidson was just released on bail in BC and had a long drive to her home, so she could not appear live on Cabin Radio’s debate. She did offer a pre-recorded statement:

“I was planning on attending this forum today, but I was just released from prison … for protecting ancient old growth at Canada’s largest act of civil disobedience on the unceded territory. The BC Court of Appeals ruled that I was over-incarcerated in my sentencing. We are now appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada.

“Our prisons are overcrowded. Too many Indigenous women are incarcerated in our system with the ratio of nine to one. The Canadian government must put the well-being of the people before the economy, meaning funding for social services as well as a reconnection to the land.”

“The people that are coming into Northwest Territories are very organized when it comes to drug trafficking. They actually have a two-week, two-week rotation in and out, and that’s what’s making it very difficult for the RCMP is to build this case when they’re very young individuals that are coming up north. They’re 17, 18, 19, 20, with very clean records. Their parents don’t even know they’re up here in the Northwest Territories selling drugs.

“People from the communities know who these individuals are, but the laws in their eyes, give more protection to dealers and criminals. And (many) communities don’t even have a full-time RCMP detachment. With the new Democratic Party, that’s part of the social aspect of funding.

“All communities that I’m visiting are struggling with this social issue. Every community in every region I have visited has a funeral service or had one right before I arrived. It’s very disheartening, especially coming from a small community.

“So we do have to fix a lot of our social programs. And enforcement is going to be one of them, because … it’s people that are coming into our communities that are causing all of these extreme activities … and sometimes murder.

“Once (addicts) come out of these recovery programs, they’re basically thrown right back into the same situation — overcrowdedness, couch surfing, and if they can’t find a place to stay, then they tend to go to the party houses, because it’s a gathering hub.

“But another set of questions is on employment, because (when in post-treatment), now they have to pay rent, and they have to pay bills, and they have to learn how to do money management. So it is a really big, massive problem, and it’s not a problem specific to the Northwest Territories.”