Campaign spending laws slow Green candidate

“It’s unbelievable, when a plane ticket from Rankin Inlet to Iqaluit costs $1,000”

By NUNATSIAQ NEWS

JOHN THOMPSON

Green Party candidate Feliks Kappi, 26, hopes to tap into the youth vote.

And with half of Nunavummiut under the age of 25, that’s a significant chunk of voters. During an interview last week, he said conversations with potential young voters in Rankin Inlet seemed promising.

“They see that connection. While before, politics was always for older people,” he said. “It opens their eyes a little.”

Melting permafrost, rising ocean levels and an uncertain future for polar bears all became big news over the last year. With the effects of global warming being felt in the Arctic first, Kappi said change is needed, and that extends to Nunavut’s representative in the House of Commons.

“We need a change. We need to change our mentality, rather than just say, ‘this is the way things need to be,’” he said.

He applauded the character of incumbent Nancy Karetak-Lindell, but said that after four consecutive wins, she should have a cabinet post by now.

“Nancy is a great person, but she’s with the wrong party.”

Kappi said he would like to see affordable daycare in every community, free breakfast and mid-day snacks at schools for children, and a call-in centre staffed by professionally-trained and paid counselors.

He counts suicide, the housing shortage and malnutrition among his biggest social concerns.

Without a travel budget, Kappi will depend on reaching voters through appearances on local radio stations, as well as with flyers that he plans to distribute to the communities.

He says the $1,000 cap on corporate donations, introduced during the last election, makes it especially tough to campaign across a territory as large as Nunavut.

“It’s unfair to Nunavut candidates,” he said. “It’s unbelievable, when a plane ticket from Rankin Inlet to Iqaluit costs $1,000.”

“We should have a Nunavut-specific formula to help the candidates move about freely.”

He’s also concerned that ballots won’t have the names of candidates printed in Inuit syllabics.

“Here in Nunavut, where the majority is Inuit, we can’t have Inuit syllabics. There’s something wrong with that.”

But in most communities, staff will speak Inuktititut, said Elections Canada officials.

“Basically, we’re trying to offer services at the local level, because we can’t change national policy,” said chief returning officer Ranbir Hundal.

Kappi encourages youth voters to avoid the rush and head to the polls early, during advance polling on Jan. 13, 14 and 16. “It’ll be a little more relaxed atmosphere,” he said.

He also welcomes phone calls and emails from voters who have any questions for him. He can be reached at 645-2473 or fedawg@hotmail.com.

“If we don’t have a voice to say what we need in Nunavut to Ottawa, we’ll be continually ignored.
“Hopefully I’ll be the voice for Nunavut in Ottawa.”

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