Yellowknife (Dec 17/03) - Premier Joe Handley has vowed to make the executive council more mobile over the next four years.

But first, Handley dealt with some house cleaning.

On Monday at the legislative assembly, Handley responded to an article in News/North in which Hay River North MLA Paul Delorey raised concerns about the absence of an MLA from that community in a cabinet position.

Delorey said because Hay River is the second largest community in the NWT, its citizens deserve a seat.

But Handley said this should not be an issue, because the new executive council will be doing more travelling to reach communities all over.

"I don't see this as a problem," he said. "We are accessible to people of all parts of the NWT. Throughout the four years, we will move our meetings around."

During former premier Stephen Kakfwi's term in office, the cabinet, for the most part, met in Yellowknife, and only made a couple of trips each year to other communities.

Handley said that under his command, this will change.

Although Handley has handed his position of transportation minister over to Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod, Handley said he'll still oversee talks toward construction of the Deh Cho bridge.

"I will retain responsibility for negotiating the Deh Cho Bridge project until that is signed," said Handley.

The project is expected to be completed in 2005 and involves construction of a kilometre-long bridge over the Mackenzie River in Fort Providence. Handley was involved from the get-go when he was minister of transportation in the 14th legislative assembly.

He expects those talks to be finalized within a month.