Deh Cho voters demand better housing

A former Grand Chief is facing off against a cabinet minister in the Deh Cho.

Its a riding where First Nations are very vocal about the devolution agreement in principle. Some also saw it as a region where an Aboriginal government faced off against the public government.

But voters arent talking much about territorial issues. Terri Simba in Kakisa says theres little interest in the election. She says people cant be bothered to vote because it doesnt seem to help when it comes to issues like housing.

"Here in Kakisa there are three or four houses that are vacant," says Simba. "Nobody is living in them and they have just been sitting there for three or four years. People wondering why there are houses and nobody living in them."

Social housing issue growing

Incumbent Michael McLeod says he hears those concerns loud and clear. He says the government has allocated many of the empty units to homeowners recently. But he says the program doesnt seem to allow everyone to be on equal footing.

"Having a down-payment has been a challenge," says McLeod. "The social housing issue is growing," he says. "The number of units we have available is not even close to what we need."

'The number of units we have available is not even close to what we need.' Michael McLeod

If people dont vote, that could hurt Michael Nadlis chances. The former Grand Chief says housing is one reason he is running. He says he wants to help those who are kicked out of their homes.

"Peoples self-esteem is affected," he says. "They are struggling to get a job but when they do get a job their rent goes up proportional to their income, so in that instance its rather sad to see people evicted," says Nadli.

But its not just homelessness the winner will have to manage. In Fort Providence, which is the largest community in the riding, Mayor Raymond Bonnetrouge says upgrading the water plant and the arena is on his mind.

No roomin Fort Providence's landfill

Another big issue is figuring out how to deal with the communitys garbage.

"Weve seen a ten-fold in municipal waste being added to our landfill," says Bonnetrouge. "Other than burying it, theres no territorial program in place to recycle it."

Although it appears quiet, this riding is one which will be closely watched. These two candidates faced each other in 2003, when McLeod won by just 13 votes with close to 80 per cent voter turnout.