Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 27/98) - Ordinary MLAs looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow can keep on looking.

Numerous requests, from members including Hay River's Jane Groenewegen, Thebacha's Michael Miltenberger and Rae-Edzo's James Rabesca, for additional education dollars, have been made. But cabinet said extra money just isn't there.

Premier Don Morin was quick to inform members that even though the government reported a surplus in this year's budget, the money should be kept on hand in the event of an emergency such as a busy forest fire season, which they did not get last year.

Morin said the government is also determined to move towards division with a balanced budget. So no additional spending is planned.

"The budget was very clear what we as a government were going to do," said Morin last Thursday.

"As far as education is concerned I think there are many people out there that have a concern about our education. There is now rainbow. There is no pot of gold and the end of the rainbow.

"We have limited financial resources and we have to address that issue of education within the limited amount of financial resources that we do have."

Miltenberger asked Education Minister Charles Dent if the government would be prepared to take the $40 million off the collective bargaining table and put a portion if it towards education. Dent made no commitments.

Rabesca, also concerned about lack of funds for education, tabled a petition containing 14 signatures from his riding showing support for more money.

On Friday, Finance Minister John Todd echoed the premier's sentiments following questions from Groenewegen.

"I sometimes wonder why we have a budgetary process. We only finished our budget two or three months ago. All members were actively involved through the committee process. Budgets were allocated and then approved," said Todd.

"There were concerns raised then about education, as there was about health care, as with pay equity, with housing, with economic development and child welfare. There are a variety of issues out there, with all due respect to my colleague, that everybody sees as a priority."

However, if there is a "ground swell" of support to reallocate money to education the cabinet will accept recommendations, he concluded.

Groenewegen asked Todd to help ordinary MLAs find out where the government is spending money to excess and re-allocate it to education.

"Would the finance minister support us in a request to the auditor general to review some of our contracts and leases engaged in by this government to identify excess sources of funds for education?" she asked.

Todd said the auditor general reviews the GNWT's books annually.