Finance minister John Todd announced last week the government is ready to spend $40 million to settle its pay-equity dispute with the Union of Northern Workers.

The union responded quickly. Jackie Simpson called the amount adequate, but only "as a downpayment."

The union wants $100 million to compensate present and past employees it says have been underpaid by the government since 1989.

An attempt to negotiate a settlement to the pay equity dispute broke down two weeks ago. Collective bargaining between the union and the government on a new contract began last week.

If a negotiated settlement can not be reached, a human rights tribunal will settle it for them.

Premier blasts back

Premier Don Morin (left) challenged those asking questions about the extension of a government lease to take their complaints to the conflict of interest commissioner.

"I'm fed up with the with the speculation and innuendo which is being repeated in this building, in the press and on the street about the Lahm Ridge Tower Lease," the premier told the legislative assembly Wednesday.

Morin told Hay River MLA Jane Groenewegen and other members raising questions about the deal to file a conflict of interest complaint, "if they have the guts and the political backbone."

Morin received a warning from Speaker Sam Gargan for his remarks.

Groenewegen said she would continue to question the deal, made between the government and a company controlled by former cabinet secretary Roland Bailey and Mike Mrdjenovich, a developer who built Morin's Yellowknife home.

Seniors subsidy review

The government is making seniors' programs more accessible, announced Health and Social Services minister Kelvin Ng last week.

As part of a review started last spring, the government is going to standardize the age of eligibility for seniors programs at 60.

Ng said the government will produce two brochures, published in English and Inuktitut, outlining the programs and services the government offers seniors and the eligibility criteria for them.

The government is also working on making it easier to apply for seniors benefits by developing an assessment form that can be used for all programs.