Waterfront development, the 2007 Canada Winter Games and transit may be the most pressing matters city council will deal with over the next five years.

That's according to a majority of the 10 candidates running for the one councillor seat in next Thursday's byelection.

The question came up at an all-candidates' meeting last night at the CYO Hall, hosted by the recently-formed Downtown Residents Association. About 25 people turned out for the gathering.

Candidate Pat Fewer was unable to make the meeting because he was out of town on business.

During the second half of the event, where the audience could ask the candidates questions, NDP Leader Todd Hardy, who's also a downtown resident and MLA for Whitehorse Centre, asked the nine candidates what the top three issues would be over the next five years.

'I'll keep it short and sweet for your time Canada Winter Games, waterfront and transit,' former councillor and current candidate Samson Hartland summed up.

Lianne Couch listed off the same issues. She later pointed out that housing for lower-income women and single parents is important as well as youth issues.

'I think we're forgetting our youth,' she said.

Others included those issues in their top three picks, while also noting other matters for the city.

'Not necessarily in this order, I think waterfront development, the busing or lack thereof, the fact that our city is going to grow at a fairly phenomenal rate so basically, residential density and how are we going to address that?' said Patty O'Brien.

Another former councillor seeking the vacant seat, Linda Casson Hare, said that as well as the Canada Winter Games and the waterfront, infrastructure development and economic diversification will also be among the issues for the city to deal with over the next five years.

Although candidates saw the Games as a big project for the city, it was also noted that after the national sporting event, the city will have to deal with the operational costs of the multiplex sports centre.

'It's a huge, expensive-laden initiative,' Peter Ball said. 'It's great for the city, but it's something we've got to watch.'

Jan Stick agreed the multiplex will also be a major issue for the city, as well as busing and the waterfront.

Earlier in the meeting, when candidates were asked prepared questions, Stick said she envisions the waterfront as being a welcoming place where she would hang out.

That would be a place with trails, art, green space and history of the area.

'The river was our highway before the highway was a highway,' she said.

While many wanted to add on to what is currently on the waterfront, others wanted to rid it of the additions that have been added in the last couple of years at Shipyards Park.

Hartland said he wants a healthy mix of arts, commercial, retail and residential development.

'What I can tell you though, is my vision does not include a big toboggan hill that blocks the view of half of the waterfront,' he said. He noted he doesn't think the 'bump' is part of many people's vision of the area.

'Removal of that bump is a key,' said Hartland, who was a councillor from 2000 to 2003 until he unsuccessfully ran for mayor in '03.

Hartland also noted his concern that there may be a bit of a clash between the Kwanlin Dun First Nation's proposed development at the former Motorways trucking yard and the heritage buildings that would be beside it.

Currently, there are empty homes in Shipyards Park. During Hartland's former term on council, city crews accidentally knocked down another house on the site.

In 2002, Hartland led a campaign for the territorial ombudsman to investigate the matter, alleging there was a conspiracy involving city and territorial officials, among others.

The investigation by the ombudsman would eventually clear those accused of any wrongdoing.

Woody Boychuck agreed the 'mole hill's got to go,' but also said he'd have to see what the city has proposed.

'The way it's going, there's nothing really proposed,' he said.

Ray Jackson also noted the importance of the history.

Many at last night's meeting noted the importance of presenting the area's history.

'I'd like to see a major historic presentation there,' O'Brien said, pointing to new technology that could be used.

The vision of the waterfront also needs to be tied into overall development in the city, Ball said.

Casson Hare suggested the area 'could be the heart of the city.'

Getting to and from the 'heart of the city' is also something many said the city should be working on.

An audience member asked the candidates what the city's role is in making Whitehorse more accessible to everyone. Suggestions came from several candidates who want to improve the transit system.

'Our bus system is not cohesive with what we need,' said Karen Giordano.

The key to accessibility is transit, which needs to be enhanced, O'Brien commented.

Buses could go to outlying areas of the city twice a day, for example, she said. (The city cancelled service to the country residential subdivisions in the summer of 2003.)

Others proposed a downtown loop or having a one-hour system and possibly partnering with the territory to improve the system.

The two former councillors seeking the vacant seat pointed to the gains that have been made in making the city more accessible with the disability accessibility policy, off-ramps at lights and the beepers installed at the lights on Main Street and Second Avenue for those with limited vision.

While those improvements have been made, Casson Hare also pointed to one area where it could be better.

'A key one, which I find frankly kind of offensive, is the fact we don't have accessibility into city hall,' she said.

'And it's very difficult for somebody in a wheelchair to get from the ground floor up into the council chambers.'

Casson Hare noted the lift device at city hall from the ground floor to the second level doesn't always work.

The advance poll for the byelection is today, with the byelection set for next Thursday.