Yellowknife (Oct 08/03) - Despite some protest, the new Office for the NWT Human Rights Commissioner is to be located in Yellowknife.

In the decision Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen called a "total shock," the NWT Management Board chose the capital over four other communities up for consideration. These included Hay River, Fort Smith, Rae-Edzo and Inuvik.

"The GNWT has an obligation that where possible, to spread things around," she said. "This decision certainly doesn't go with that philosophy of decentralization."

Groenewegen maintains that there is suitable office space available in Hay River and that it was overlooked because of incorrect information provided to the board.

Board chair Tony Whitford said the decision to locate the new office in the downtown Laing building was based on information provided by Public Works and Services. He said accessibility, space size and cost factor were all considerations.

"Rent (in the Laing building) is minimal, if at all," he said. "The board made its recommendation and the decision is final as far as I'm concerned."

In the legislative assembly Tuesday, Groenewegen asked Minister of Public Works and Services Vince Steen to revisit the possibility of Hay River in the hopes of reversing the board's decision.

Steen said that he would follow-up her request, either in person or by way of delegation. Information, however, gathered on that trip would be used for future considerations only, he stressed.

"I can't revisit a decision made by the Board of Management," he said. "We supply information to the board, we don't make decisions for them."