Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 16/98) - The North's city-rural divisions were laid bare Thursday night in the legislature as MLAs defeated motions to grant the City of Yellowknife any further territorial representation.

With some exceptions, MLAs voted with an urban-rural split obvious. MLAs from the city -- and a couple of additions -- wanted the increased number of city representatives.

Last month, the 1998 NWT Electoral Boundaries Commission recommended Yellowknife receive two extra MLAs in the post-division legislature.

"I think you have to grow up in a small community to realize what you don't have until you come to Yellowknife," Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko said while speaking against the idea. Thebecha's Michael Miltenberger agreed.

"In my opinion, Yellowknife has clearly had unique advantages," he said while labelling the NWT's capital a "rich and privileged" community.

North Slave MLA James Rabesca said city MLAs often have an easier time when lobbying for Yellowknife then representatives from the communities.

Yellowknife MLAs fought back unsuccessfully.

"Yellowknife is certainly not over-privileged and we pay our way here," Yellowknife MLA Jake Ootes said during a fiery response to Miltenberger's comments.

"We will tear our hair out trying to make this government accountable," he said.

Another Yellowknife MLA, Charles Dent, who sits in cabinet, also made this argument.

"Cabinet will almost completely control the governing process (without a better balance of ordinary MLAs)," he said.

Discussions of a possible legal challenge didn't worry NWT Premier Don Morin, MLA for Tu Nedhe. He voted against the extra seats for Yellowknife.

"I think you can get many different opinions from many different lawyers," he said.