NDP leader states his priorities for Nunavut and Nunavik

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair made the most of a two-day campaign visit to Iqaluit this week by visiting local media, orchestrating photo-ops and holding a feast at Nakasuk school. (PHOTO BY STEVE DUCHARME)

Nunatsiaq News sat down Sept. 30 with New Democratic Party leader Thomas Mulcair, who visited Iqaluit to promote the NDP’s northern platform and support Nunavut candidate Jack Anawak.

While campaigning in Iqaluit Mulcair announced a $32 million expansion over four years for Nutrition North Canada to extend the program to 50 First Nations communities.

Mulcair also committed to spending $100 million for clean energy projects in 25 remote communities that rely on diesel fuel for power.

1. One of the recommendations of the recent coroner’s inquest on suicide was that the Government of Nunavut declare a public health emergency. What would an NDP government do to help the territory if the GN declared a public health emergency?

If declaring a health emergency means being able to move more resources faster, then it’s a good idea. These are not statistics, these are people, and these are families that are going to bear these scars for the long term, so they need help now, but we also have to make sure we have preventative health to make sure there are no more [suicides].

That has to be the goal. There are deep problems that are often rooted in the types of things that were described in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report… We’ve got to assume responsibility for that. It’s not enough to apologize. The resources have to flow and we have to make sure we get experts there.

2. You’ve just promised $100 million for remote communities to replace diesel with clean energy. Can you elaborate on that?

One hundred million dollars is a lot of money, but we’re going to work with communities to define those areas, for example, where you might be able to have access to small-scale hydro [-electric project] that can supplement [electricity].

Wind would be a great supplement. For a good part of the year, solar would also be able to help, but we also know that with the particularities of the North, there are times of the year when neither hydro nor solar would be available. You have to be creative, you’ve got to help find solutions and I know that we can do that.

3. What would an NDP government be prepared to do to deal with the housing crises in Nunavut and Nunavik?

What we want is an NDP government to be a reliable long-term partner, so that’s why we’re also talking about transferring some of the existing gas tax on a long-term basis so people can start doing better planning long-term.

Here in Nunavut, 2,000 families don’t have access to decent housing, the waiting lists are far too long, and we’re going to change that. [Jack Anawak] was telling me about a family here where there are 18 people in a small lodging. We’ve got to start finding solutions.

4. You mentioned that Jack Anawak would play a key role in your government. What would that role be?

It’s not appropriate to mention that sort of thing before an election — but I can tell you he’s going to be very close to me, because he’s a very strong candidate and a great person and a very experienced man.

He’s going to play a key role in our government, he’s an extraordinarily experienced man and I’m very proud to have him running with us.

5. Where does the NDP stand on devolution? Would they grant Nunavut provincial powers?

This is the type of thing that has to be done right, because if you wind up devolving and you don’t follow through with the resources, then you are creating problems instead of helping to find a solution.

We’re going to make sure we stay in step together, but you can’t dictate and advance the result of that sort of discussion. You have to make sure that the resources are there to be able to do it long-term.

I know that the people here have everything that they need in their hearts and in their experience to be able to deal with their own territory. We’ve also got to make sure the government is able to follow through long-term.

6. Is the NDP open to the idea of offshore oil and gas development in Nunavut? How do you feel about the prospect of seismic testing near Clyde River?

When I was minister of the environment [in Quebec] I imposed a moratorium on seismic testing and I met, during my last trip to Iqaluit, with the mayor of Clyde River and reassured him that seismic testing should not be taking place because I know the effect on whales and other marine mammals.

We’d take our time, we’d sit down, we’d find out what’s required. We’re not going to make a decision in advance without consulting the local population. That’s been the basic flaw with the National Energy Board.

Under Stephen Harper we no longer have a reliable, credible, thorough environmental assessment process and the public doesn’t trust them… You have to make sure that you’ve brought people onside or your project is not going to go through and that’s Mr. Harper’s basic mistake.

7. What will the NDP do to enforce Canadian sovereignty in the North?

You have to be able to have real-time information of what’s moving through those passages [Northwest Passage]. As the ice leaves, there’s going to be an increase in pressure, there’s going to be an increase in pressure on Canada’s sovereignty — but we’re not in a position to do anything about that are we?

Mr. Harper’s talked for 10 years about building our Arctic offshore patrol vessels and we haven’t even started building them. The Russians have built dozens of heavy-duty icebreakers and we’re not even part of the game in our own backyard.

That’s a tragic mistake and a critical failing by the Conservatives, but we’re going to start correcting it as soon as we start government.

8. Would you be committed to more Canadian ships in the Arctic?

We have to make sure they’re patrolling and you’re taking care of your own sovereignty. We have a very large territory and for all intents and purposes, we’re not doing anything to affirm our sovereignty up there. We’re going to have to start taking care of that — otherwise somebody else will.

NDP candidate Jack Anawak is running against Liberal Hunter Tootoo and Conservative incumbent Leona Aglukkaq for the Nunavut House of Commons seat.

After the last election on May 2, 2011, the NDP finished third in Nunavut with 19 per cent.

We edited the transcript of Mulcair’s answers for length.