Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 27/02) - The toll of political life can be measured in time away from family, grey hairs, sleepless nights.

In many cases it can also be measured in pounds.

Combine a steady stream of meetings with a steady stream of tasty, free food and weight gain is an almost inevitable result. It's a lesson rookie MLAs learn all too quickly.

Eric Lindros-size to begin with, rookie MLA Roger Allen learned the impact of his career change the hard way. Now a cabinet minister, Allen used to work with young offenders. He spent some of his time sharing his bush skills with them at outpost camps.

Allen tipped the scales at a svelte 192 pounds when he took office. Four months later that was 218. Another four months upped the ante to 237. Another four months and ... well you get the idea.

Though politics hasn't been quite as much of a growth experience for another rookie MLA, Great Slave's Bill Braden said his family is getting less and less subtle in drawing his attention to his weight gain.

"My 34-inch GWG's don't drape the same way anymore, and my collar size has gone up another half inch," Braden reported.

Braden said he's put on three to four kilograms since getting elected two years ago. That rounds out to 15 pounds.

We can only imagine what things were like in the early 1990s. Then the end of every session signalled the start of a big party, when the free food was complemented with free booze. Ah, the good old days.

Not all MLAs gain weight. Brendan Bell keeps his weight down with daily exercise.

"I try to limit myself to one dessert a day," said the reputedly iron-disciplined rookie. He said the exercise routine is tough to stick to when on the road. Bell figures the food serves an ulterior motive.

"The idea is to make sure the members are full and not grouchy," he said.

Range Laker Sandy Lee said her weight fluctuates by about 10 pounds normally and that hasn't changed. But she added the job is dangerous for her waistline.

"As long as I can fit into all my clothes, I'm fine," she said, later adding she keeps about four different sizes in her closet.