Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 30/02) - A sheepish Premier Stephen Kakfwi told reporters yesterday that he has met with a number of MLAs who vocally opposed his leadership.

Stephen Kakfwi: Hopes to make peace. (NNSL file photo)

Kakfwi says he hopes to make peace in the legislative assembly.

"A lot of things were said in the legislature, and it's my job to ... try to understand why they're being said and to accept it in good faith, and to reach out to each MLA and let them know I accept that and there's no hard feelings. ... The thing to do is to rise above it and to show people that I'm not going off and become an angel of revenge and harbour all these bitter hurt feelings."

Kakfwi also reflected on his leadership style.

"I live in a glass house, and I think MLAs have come to acknowledge that I have some leadership qualities that are good, ones that serve us well, and they support those things. They also know like everyone else, I am not so good at many things.

"I'm a bit of a loner. I have difficulty socializing and reaching out. My communication skills at a personal level are not the best."

Kakfwi said he needed help in the form of advice on issues, saying he hasn't had a "good conversation" with MLAs Brendan Bell or Charles Dent for some time.

He also backed away from an aggressive stance he has taken in the past toward being re-elected. Instead of promises of another term as premier, he will consult his family and doctor before running again.