Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Jan 19/00) - There are still plenty of issues to be discussed when the legislative assembly meets in Rankin Inlet next month.

That's the message from Baker Lake MLA Glenn McLean, although he readily admits being disappointed the Nunavut government's budget has been delayed.

Finance Minister Kelvin Ng pushed back his schedule for the preparation of Nunavut's 2000-2001 budget to allow for community consultations.

The delay means it could be the beginning of February before MLAs see the draft budget figures for each department. They expected to see the budgets early this month.

And that means the final budget may not be tabled in the legislative assembly until late March.

McLean says now there probably won't be any budget discussions in Rankin, the Business Incentive Policy, Housing Task Force and pre-discussions on the Education Act will take centre stage.

The Baker MLA says although it's disappointing the budget wasn't tabled in time for discussions in Rankin, the session will still hold importance.

McLean says people will still see MLAs and cabinet take part in debates over policies and legislation.

And, more importantly, he adds, it will give groups that want to discuss their concerns access to ministers and MLAs.

"This sitting gets us closer to the people and having a legislative assembly in Rankin is going to attract people from all over the Keewatin," says McLean.

"Organizations being able to discuss their concerns with their MLAs right there is a big plus.

"That's the upside I still see in it. Yes, I'm a little disappointed we don't have budget figures, but there's still important topics to be discussed."

McLean says the budget delay will restrict MLAs in their lobbying efforts with the finance minister.

"We will have to approve a supplementary bill which will be 25 to 30 per cent of the budget," says McLean.

"So, that restricts us as far as moving any other monies around, but it won't restrict us totally from making recommendations or deletions.

"The main point with the final budget now, as far as I'm concerned, is that MLAs are given enough time and detail to properly analyze the data we're provided with.The way it's looking now, I'm concerned we won't get that time."

The legislative assembly will meet in Rankin, Feb. 17-28.