Candidates in this year鈥檚 territorial election have no doubt been bombarded with question after survey after request of their time about their positions on all sorts of subjects.
One of those groups that put questions to the candidates was the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and the results are in.
The chamber put eight questions ranging from work experience to economic diversification to all candidates running in Yellowknife. A total of 13 legislative hopefuls responded from six of the seven ridings in the city.
Adrian Bell, the chamber鈥檚 president, said the questions were based on the chamber鈥檚 priorities.
鈥淗aving a majority of the candidates respond shows an interest in engaging with the business community,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e realize that they鈥檝e received lots of requests and they pick and choose what to respond to, but it鈥檚 important that they get back on these issues.鈥�
It鈥檚 no secret that the business community in Yellowknife has been struggling mightily for the last little while. It鈥檚 a problem that鈥檚 only been made worse following the evacuation this past August.
Bell said it鈥檚 a very challenging time for small businesses in the city.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge risk for people to become entrepreneurs and we鈥檙e seeing a high turnover,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we wanted to get them on the record and hold those who are elected accountable.鈥�
Bell specifically pointed to the first question of the survey: What in your experience and background makes you the right person to shepherd the NWT鈥檚 economic development through the next four years?
He said that question was asked because the chamber wants to see who has a proven track record.
鈥淎nyone can have ideas, but you take a look at the individuals and their resumes and see how they鈥檝e gotten things done,鈥� he said.
It鈥檚 also a way to see how people can work together, he added.
鈥淲e saw examples in the previous assembly where people didn鈥檛 work well together,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ew blood is good, but you need collaboration in consensus government in order to make it work.鈥�
Bell said the chamber isn鈥檛 endorsing any one candidate over another because the chamber will work with whoever is elected.
You can see a full list of answers at the chamber鈥檚 website.
