Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (Jun 26/98) - The NWT legislative assembly has turned to a well-known Fort Simpson man -- and two others -- for advice on the makeup of the future of the western NWT's legislature after division.

Nick Sibbeston, who served a total of 16 years as an MLA over three decades -- including a stint as government leader -- has been named to the Northwest Territories Electoral Boundaries Commission. The other members are Lucy Kuptana and Justice Virginia Schuler.

"We have been instructed by the legislative assembly to attempt to hold hearings in at least one community in each of the existing western electoral districts and to take into consideration the consultation schedule of the Constitutional Working Group when planning our public hearings," she said in a written statement.

The commission will have until the fall to make its recommendations. They will include the boundaries, name and representation of the new electoral districts to be proposed for the new western territory for the next general election in the fall of 1999.

Regionally, commission members will be holding hearings in both Deh Cho and Nahendeh ridings the week of Sept. 7, Sibbeston said Tuesday.

Nahendeh, currently represented by MLA Jim Antoine, has the most communities of any riding. Observers expect that changes will be made, perhaps leading to the creation of another riding, before the next election.

In early August, commission members will hold hearings in the Mackenzie Delta, Hay River, Fort Smith, Fort Resolution and the Sahtu areas.

Sibbeston says the commission marks another step in the NWT's march towards responsible government.

"The boundaries commission is especially important," he said, noting that any proposed changes will have to be made in light of self-government negotiations that are proposed or already under way.