Yellowknife (Mar 14/03) - Tu Nedhe MLA Steven Nitah thinks territorial government jobs are too concentrated in large centres like Yellowknife.

And if something isn't done to spread the wealth, he added, small communities will die as people flee to where the jobs are.

Nitah directed comments to RWED Minister Jim Antoine in the house last week.

To drive home his point, he asked Antoine to read out a list of precisely where RWED government jobs are located to illustrate an imbalance he feels has gone on too long.

There are 486 RWED positions, Antoine said, breaking them down into North Slave region, 44; Fort Smith, 102; Fort Simpson, 68; and Inuvik region, 88. RWED headquarters is based in Yellowknife and employs 184.

"That clearly paints a picture," Nitah said, "where the government jobs are, and where the government benefits are."

On Monday, Premier Stephen Kakfwi said at "every opportunity," whether it's territorial departments, territorial employees or federal, there's "always an obligation on our part" to assess whether or not government jobs should be located where they are.

But not every community can handle those jobs, he said. They don't have the infrastructure.

"Some communities have good airports," he said. "They are more accessible." Modern banking services and housing also make it "more attractive for employees."

"But the issue is, am I in support of locating and looking at other places, all communities? Yes."

Last week Antoine agreed that putting more government jobs in smaller communities is an issue he will address this year.