In the race to become the next Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, Kelvin Kotchilea is running with the New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP).
BACKGROUND:
Born and raised in Behchoko, Kotchilea has a wife and three daughters, and has strong ties to his culture and heritage in the Tlicho region.
“I participate often in traditional events such as dene hand games, traveling on the land & hunt to provide for my family. I have worked for GNWT for 14 years; 10 of those years were with the Department of Environment and Climate Change, as a Renewable Resource Officer. I also spent time as a Financial Coordinator with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), and Management Board Secretariat in Yellowknife.”
Kelvin’s education is in Environment and Natural Resource Technology and Business Administration, and feels confident that he will be able to make proper environmental and financial decisions in parliament.
“My academic background demonstrates the ability to research and analyze information. I gained leadership qualities and training in the forest fire management program over the years.”
HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE:
Kotchilea shares that the concern he has been hearing about the most when talking to voters is the cost of living.
“Health care, housing needs and lack of infrastructure in the communities at the doors, especially in the small communities. It comes up over and over in my conversations with people. Many folks across the NWT are struggling to just get by.”
COST OF LIVING:
Kotchilea’s main pledge is to remove the GST from essentials, and provide a tax-cut to working and middle-class families, which he estimates could save up to $1,400 per year.
“We would support healthcare such as expanding Pharmacare and Dentalcare to all territories and provinces such as the NWT – something the Liberals have said they wouldn’t expand. I believe that a cap on all essential groceries and other items is something the Federal Government must consider. Large Grocery Chains have been gouging consumers and have shown record profits while everyday people cannot get by.”
Kotchilea also wants to restructure the Nutrition North Subsidy Program, as he feels it is not working properly for the North.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING:
Kotchilea is hoping to invest money into building homes that people can more easily afford, and to help first time homebuyers in acquiring their dream homes.
“Creating a housing market for people, not for corporate landlords. Ban big companies from buying up existing affordable homes and jacking up the rent. Build affordable homes on public land and invest in the Public Land Acquisition Fund to help non-profits purchase land to build affordable homes. In the North federal lead housing programs have worked in the past, which was supported by CMHC, these types of programs need to return to our northern communities to increase the housing demands and short supply.”
Kotchilea is also wanting to tackle homelessness by examining the root causes such as mental health and addictions, citing the Housing First Initiative and his desire to focus on prevention and land-based wellness programs.
TARIFFS AND TRADE:
Calling Donald Trump’s trade war “reckless,” “devastating,” and “a threat to Canadian industries, workers, and families”, Kotchilea says that the NDP will reject trade deals that sell out jobs, health care, and resources to the highest bidder.
“We support retaliatory tariffs, we’ll protect and grow good jobs across Canada, especially in industries hit hard by Trump’s tariffs. We’ll rework EI so it works for people—with higher benefits, faster access, and coverage. We’ll invest in infrastructure that puts people to work—using Canadian steel, Canadian workers, and Canadian-made solutions. We’ll use every dollar from retaliatory tariffs to directly support impacted workers in steel, aluminum, and auto. We’ll lock in protections for Canadian industries, Indigenous rights, labour laws, and public control—because our country is not for sale.”
THE NWT’S BIGGEST ISSUE:
Kotchilea believes that the most important issue facing the NWT today is affordable living. He feels that housing is the bottom line for Northern residents.
“I have heard that loud and clear from NWT residents. Young people can’t find homes they can afford and struggle to pay rent. Seniors struggle on fixed income and families can’t afford groceries to provide nutritious food.”
WHY SHOULD SOMEONE VOTE FOR YOU?
Kotchilea believes that the world currently exists in a very divisive stated, and says that he is a strong believer in cooperation and consensus.
“I am the right person at the right time to be the MP for the NWT. I will work will all parties and all levels of Government for the betterment of the NWT, and its people. I know the issues and priorities of Northerners. I am also a hard worker and understand the struggles of raising a young family. I have worked in Government and understand how to set and implement policy. My experiences allows me to represent Northerners. Coming from a small community, I relate and empathize with northerners when it comes to programs, services, and funding.”
FINAL THOUGHTS:
“The question this election is: who is in it for the powerful and very wealthy, and who is in it for working people like you? I am ready to stand up for the NWT and its interest. I will stand up to billionaires, bankers and Trump. I will fight for Canadian and northern values. The rich and the powerful have had government after government. It’s the people’s time. If we finally put working people in charge, we can achieve a great deal. We can put a price cap on essential groceries, build homes and cap rents, hire doctors and nurses, cut your taxes and make billionaires pay what they owe, tackle the climate crisis, and stand up for Canada against foreign interference like Donald Trump’s Tariff’s.”
True North FM has reached out to all of the NWT candidates with the same questions, and will share their responses once they have been given.
