Ed. note: here, the Star presents profiles of the territory’s five federal election candidates in alphabetical order. All five candidates’ profiles are available for free to view.

Larry Bagnell, the Yukon’s Liberal member of Parliament, hopes to win a fifth term representing the Yukon on a platform of tax reductions, affordability, infrastructure investments, First Nations independence and climate action.

Bagnell, 69, hopes Yukoners will reflect on his party’s successes in the last four years when they cast their vote on Monday.

“Things are so good, and we want to make sure we can keep going,” Bagnell told the Star.

He told Yukoners at several forums this month that his lifelong dedication to poverty reduction has continued to drive him as a public servant.

In a September interview with the Star, Bagnell said he believes his party has delivered more to Yukoners than any previous government, and sees strength in the party and party head Justin Trudeau’s leadership.

“It’s the first time in seven campaigns I have so many things that are exciting to talk about in our record,” Bagnell said.

He described expansion of renewable energy and solar projects in the territory, child care agreements, Yukon College’s new science building, help for low-income seniors and progress with Yukon First Nations.

Still, Bagnell told voters he puts Yukoners before the party and has, in the past, voted against the Liberal government on issues he thinks are important to the territory.

Bagnell and his party have committed to ensuring middle-class Canadians are tax-free on the first $15,000 they earn, a plan he says would save the average family nearly $600 in taxes annually.

He also plans to move forward on the Northern Resident Deduction to provide Yukoners with a minimum of $1,200 in deductible travel costs.

To address climate change, Bagnell hopes to help Yukoners retrofit their homes through the introduction of interest-free loans up to $40,000.

As part of his platform of affordability, he has committed to working with telecom companies to lower the cost of cell phone services by 25 per cent over four years. 

His party has pledged to create 250,000 additional before- and after-school spaces for kids under the age of 10 and lower childcare fees by 10 per cent country-wide.

For the benefit of seniors, Bagnell and the Liberals promise to increase Old Age Security by 10 per cent once Canadians turn 75 and increase Canadian Pension Plan survivor benefits by 25 per cent.

To help First Nations communities grow, Bagnell would address major infrastructure needs, including housing, roads, high-speed Internet, health facilities and treatment centres by 2030.

He said his party is excited to launch the Indigenous Program in Arctic Bay by 2018 and wants to continue working with First Nations communities to protect the land.

Bagnell served as the Yukon’s MP from 2000 to 2011 before being ousted by Conservative Ryan Leef in 2011. He won the seat back in 2015 with nearly 54 per cent of the vote.

During his time in office, Bagnell served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of Indian and Northern Affairs in 2003 and minister of Natural Resources in 2004.

His parliamentary committee experience includes work in the transport, defence, industry, veterans affairs, justice and human rights and aboriginal affairs sectors. He co-founded the Parliamentary Friends of Burma in 2006.

Locally, Bagnell has several years of public service under his belt.

He served as president of the Yukon United Way, Yukon Learn and the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre.

He currently chairs the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Liaison Committee and vice-chairs the International Committee of Parliamentarians from all Arctic Nations.

Bagnell’s hobbies include fishing, canoeing and playing baseball with his kids.

At a recent forum, he noted that it can take a new MP several years to become familiar with the complex federal system, and he has developed close contacts in Ottawa, to the territory’s benefit.

“I know people know how much I’ve fought for the Yukon over the last 15 years,” Bagnell said. 

“I’ve worked very long hours, and I’ve tried to listen to everyone.”