Order of Canada Member Arlene Hache has announced she is running for MLA in Yellowknife Centre in the Oct 1 territorial election.
In her announcement she states that downtown is her home where she has worked and lived for 35 years.
Hache states she is a leader with solutions of homelessness, addictions and community violence.
She says her decision to run is focussed on bringing lived expertise to the decision-making table when it comes to addressing challenges both residents and the business community face on a daily basis in the downtown core.
“Responses to the escalating violence in the downtown core have been well meaning but largely miss the mark, Hache states. “The sense of community I and others have known has been replaced by fear and dread as the downtown core struggles to survive increased levels of violence that have erupted in the absence of any measure of accountability.”
Hache says territorial leaders have stopped talking about safety and their responsibility to assure residents are protected.
“They have chosen to portray Yellowknife Centre’s issues as solely a matter of addictions and a lack of services, Hache states. “They have chosen to ignore the fact that we also have issues of violence, victimization, aggression and lack of safety.
Hache received the Order of Canada in 2009 for her work with Indigenous people.
She is up against current Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green.