RIDING PROFILE | Pelly-Nisutlin — Frank de Jong, Stacey Hassard, Ken Hodgins, Carl Sidney

About the Pelly-Nisutlin riding

Pelly-Nisutlin straddles a large area that includes the communities of Faro, Little Salmon, Ross River, and Teslin. The size and make-up presents challenges for an MLA — for example, Teslin is a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Ross River.

The Yukon's electoral boundaries commission grappled with the issue: the municipal government in Teslin wanted to be folded into the Southern Lakes district,with Carcross and Tagish. The Teslin Tlingit Council wanted Teslin to form a separate riding. The boundaries commission concluded that the community's population is too small, and ruled against the idea, while acknowledging the anomaly.

Pelly-Nisutlin sits on the traditional territory of the Teslin Tlingit Council and the Ross River Dena Council. Since party politics were introduced in Yukon in 1978, the riding (previously called Ross River-Southern Lakes) has never elected an MLA from Ross River, and there are no candidates from that community in this election.

How did they vote in 2011?

Electors on list: 748
Voter turnout: 74%

- Yukon Party (Stacey Hassard) 49.3%

- NDP (Carol Geddes) 32%

- Liberal (Carl Sidney) 13.1%

- Independent (Elvis Presley) 5.6%

The CBC contacted all candidates to ask why they were the best person to elect in this riding, and how would they improve it.

Frank de Jong — Green Party

Frank de Jong, leader of the Yukon Green Party, teaches at the Del Van Gorder school in Faro. He's the former leader of the Green Party of Ontario, and was the federal party's candidate in Yukon last year. He has a B.A. from Western University, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa.

"I am asking voters in Pelly-Nisutlin to elect me as their MLA because I will: support green business start-ups and help local businesses go green; work with the Kaska Nation to achieve self-government, including control over resources; bring in a territorial public transit system (like the Husky Bus) so Faro, Ross and Teslin citizens can more easily travel to all Yukon communities; oppose new hydro dams in Pelly-Nisutlin in favour of conservation, solar, wind, geo-thermal and bio-mass; help our young people complete post-secondary education and find meaningful careers; push for a Guaranteed Annual Income so no Yukoner will ever again live in poverty; legislate a "Citizen's Dividend" (like the Alaska Permanent Fund) so all Yukoners will receive their share of Yukon's mineral wealth; bring in proportional representation, getting rid of strategic voting and where the number of MLAs a party receives matches their popular vote."

Stacey Hassard — Yukon Party

Stacey Hassard was elected MLA for Pelly-Nisutlin in 2011 and has served as minister of economic development. He's worked in the construction industry and owned a local store and motel in Teslin. He's a former councillor and deputy mayor of the Village of Teslin.

"I'm excited to be seeking re-election in the diverse riding of Pelly-Nisutlin. I feel that having lived in the riding for most of my life gives me a good perspective and in-depth knowledge of the people and the challenges that we face. I believe that my involvement in business as well as my time spent serving in various levels of government provides me with the experience to best represent the constituents of Pelly-Nisutlin. Over the past five years I have worked very closely with my constituents, non-profit organizations, First Nation governments, and municipal governments to find ways to best deal with the issues they are facing.

"While I feel much has been accomplished over the past five years, the work is never complete. I truly enjoy working with and helping others, and I look forward to continuing on with this work."

Ken Hodgins — NDP

Ken Hodgins is a former director of community services with the Yukon government. He is also the former chief administrative officer with the Town of Faro.

"I have worked in the public sector on many community-led economic development initiatives and as a senior advisor to territorial, municipal and First Nations governments in Yukon's rural communities. I worked to empower our communities with the tools they need to create local solutions. I've also spent time in the private sector, having owned and managed businesses in rural communities. I know what it takes to translate good ideas into effective action.

"My work has allowed me to travel regularly to the communities of Ross River, Faro and Teslin that make up the riding of Pelly-Nisutlin. They are diverse communities with unique histories and I intend to be a strong facilitator for positive, locally-driven change in each of them as part of a Yukon NDP government.

"I'm running because there is so much untapped potential in this region and I know I can be a part of realizing that."

Carl Sidney — Liberal

Carl Sidney is a former deputy chief and chief of the Teslin Tlingit Council. He also ran as the Liberal candidate in Pelly-Nisutlin in the 2011 Yukon election. He's the former chair of the Yukon Salmon Subcommittee and has sat on the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB).

An aide writes:

"Being born and raised in the Pelly-Nisutlin area and returning to call it his full-time home over 15 years ago, Carl feels that he is able to represent all the communities in this riding," an aide writes. "Through both personal and professional connections, he has been involved in issues, projects, boards and committees that have made a difference in the Teslin, Ross River and Faro areas.

"In his work over the years as Chief and Deputy Chief of Teslin Tlingit Council, chairing the Yukon Salmon Sub-Committee, being a member of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board as well as serving on various other boards and committees he has strength in building connections and being a voice for the people he represents.

"He looks forward to meeting with all areas in his riding to learn more about the issues on the minds of his constituents and to bring those forward to continue to build a healthy, strong and vibrant Pelly-Nisutlin area and ultimately work towards these goals for all of the Yukon."

The CBC will profile all candidates, by riding, in the lead-up to voting day, Nov. 7.