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HomeNewsElection profile: Julian Morse
NewsNWT Election 2023

Election profile: Julian Morse

By Ethan Montague
(Photo: Julian Morse Facebook)

Upon election, what do you plan to accomplish in your first 90 days, what about a year? 

The 19th Assembly’s Transition Report recommended incoming MLAs spend more time on orientation and priority setting than previous assemblies, which I appreciate and agree with. I expect the first 90 days to primarily consist of the orientation and priority-setting process, and approval of an interim budget. 
 
Setting a clear and concise mandate is the single most important task MLAs will undertake during their term, and it is well worth taking the time to get it right. Much of the GNWT’s work flows from this; it is the primary means by which the political body gives overarching direction to staff, and MLAs hold cabinet accountable for results. It’s important that mandate setting be a collaborative process, ideally setting us up to pull together towards a collective vision for the NWT. 
 
Within the first year the assembly will pass the first full budget which reflects the new priorities, and would be into the process of legislative agenda setting and passing legislation. I speak to what I would contribute to the priority setting process in my next answer. 

 

What are the most pressing issues you plan to address during your time in office?

Addressing the housing crisis is my first priority. From there, my next priorities are ensuring access to affordable childcare, improving access to healthcare by investing in and evolving the primary care system, economic development and diversification, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Under each of those issues, I have a number of priorities and ideas, some of which I speak to below.

 

What is your plan to bring workers to the north, and keep residents in the NWT? 

Economic diversification is key. I spent 7 years on Yellowknife city council raising the profile of the potential which could be realized through development of the knowledge economy in our Territory. I chaired the University/Post-Secondary Advisory committee, which advised that the city and territory could benefit greatly from the transition of Aurora College into a university. This is a proven social and economic development model which has worked in numerous comparable economies and jurisdictions, and is crucial to a successful future for the NWT. 
 
We need to continue investing in and developing our tourism and arts sectors, both of which have far more potential than is currently being realized. 
 
Settling land claims to help Indigenous Governments realize the benefits of self-government would help bring much-needed capacity and certainty to the regulatory system. This will be key to ensuring the benefits of mining are maximized, and is the pathway by which mining can continue to be a major pillar of our economy.
 
We need to ensure procurement favours NWT-owned and staffed businesses and helps them grow, and that projects which take place here are geared towards maximizing this goal.  

 

As housing prices continue to rise, do you have plans to address the needs of those struggling to live in the north?

Yes. The territorial and Federal budgets for public housing have been too low for many years, with the need for housing far outweighing the available supply. We are in a housing crisis, and MLAs need to increase the territorial budget for housing if they want to get serious about addressing this crisis. 

Developing a long term plan for housing in collaboration with Indigenous Governments needs to be a priority. Currently, most Federal housing funding is project-based and tied to timelines. This leads to inconsistent work in the communities and much of the work going to outside contractors. I will advocate for creating a long-term plan for housing that considers the need for skill and capacity building. I believe this will help to spur skill development and job creation in the NWT, while also directly addressing the need for affordable housing.

In tax-based communities, particularly Yellowknife, land availability is constricted by the application process required by GNWT for municipalities to develop lands within their boundaries. It is an inefficient and unnecessary doubling of administration of an area for which governance is already devolved to the municipality. Freeing up territorial lands within municipal boundaries could help to alleviate land availability issues and help reduce the costs of private development. I would welcome exploration of other means the GNWT has in its wheelhouse to spur further housing development and likely support them.

Due to the rise in drug crime and homelessness in the territory and its communities, can you describe the number one crime-related issue you plan on addressing first?

Eliminating homelessness, poverty reduction, trauma-informed mental and physical health care, and addictions treatment are the keys to addressing crime in our society. 

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