4 candidates on the hunt for votes in spirited Watson Lake campaign

Four candidates, each with deep roots in Watson Lake, are vying for the legislative seat in what may turn out to be a tight race.

The Yukon Party's Patti McLeod is hoping to be re-elected for a second term, while the NDP's Erin Labonte, Liberal Ernie Jamieson and Independent Victor Kisoun are all running spirited campaigns.

• RIDING PROFILE: Watson Lake
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In 2011, McLeod beat NDP candidate Liard McMillan by only 34 votes. There were 845 registered voters that year.

Now, hundreds of signs clutter the main residential neighbourhood on the north side of the Alaska Highway. So far, Liberal and NDP signs appear to greatly outnumber those of the Yukon Party.

McLeod acknowledges that promoting herself at the doorstep is not easy.

"It is hard, and it is hard for me because it's not generally how I roll I don't walk around clapping myself on the back. So I just like to do the work, and I think people recognize I am in the community and I am working on their behalf," she said.

Jamieson said he's placed signs outside about 100 homes in the community, all with permission from a resident. He said he's knocked on virtually every door and looks for opportunities to talk to voters he's missed during canvassing.

"Catch them at the post office, catch them at the bank, catch them at the grocery store, I'm out hunting them, I've pretty much spoken with everybody one way or another," he said.

Time for a change, say NDP and Independent candidates

Labonte said she's spent so much time canvassing, volunteers have been filling her shifts at her parents' auto repair shop where, "mostly I change tires and do oil and firewood and a little bit of books when I can get it.But we're pretty busy, so I'm usually in there pretty dirty from head to toe.

"So many people are just really fed up with how things have been going and feel like it's time for a change, so I think it's a perfect time for somebody like me to be running," said Labonte.

Kisoun, the only Independent candidate in the Yukon election, said he's okay with being the underdog, but doesn't accept the conventional view that Independents don't win.

"Actually, some of my best friends told me I don't have a chance and I just laugh that off and take that in stride," he said.

His father, Dave Porter, served two terms as an NDP MLA for the riding in the 1980s.

"Myself, I've grown up in the political arena, just since I was a baby. I was campaigning with my dad as soon as I was born and I've seen the divisive nature, how the party system could work in the small communities, how it divides friends and families and communities," said Kisoun.

He says he entered the race because he believes an Indigenous candidate should be on the ballot, and could act as a bridge between the often-at-odds First Nation and territorial governments.

Southeast Yukon is rich in minerals, natural gas, timber and hydro-electric resources, and Kisoun says with unemployment among Indigenous people in the community running at 80 or 90 per cent, action is needed.

"That's got to change, something's got to be done.We're seeing high rates of substance abuse, we're seeing very violent and premature deaths, you know, that the youth are suffering from, and these are all symptoms of dysfunctional government in Whitehorse, in Watson Lake."

'We've fallen into an economic depression'

Labonte is motivated by similar concerns.

"I grew up in a time in Watson Lake where Watson Lake was really busy and there was mining and forestry and five fastball teams, and it's really nostalgic for me. So when I moved away to a very successful community and came back here to kind of see how much we've fallen into an economic depression, it got me wanting to be involved in my community and to try and make a difference," she said.

Jamieson believes forestry is the best option for the area.

"There's a quality supply of forest industry, or forest products here to develop the industry again. I grew up here as a kid, I went probably half of my working career was in the forest industry and it was quality paycheques, quality of life here," Jamieson said.

McLeod said, however, that she's not hearing many concerns at the doorstep.

"The primary issues that I've been finding at the door have little to do with the Yukon government," she said.

"Most people are very happy with the health care, they're for the most part happy with the education system.There's a few glitches, we have some program problems that maybe we need to sit down and talk about, but overall people seem to be pretty happy with the government."

She says there's one "overriding topic" she has heard about though concern about a carbon tax. It's been a common theme for the Yukon Party through the campaign.

"You know, Watson Lake pays a premium to live here and most folks don't want to pay any more," McLeod said.

• Yukon Votes 2016: More coverage from CBC North