Inuvik (July 19/04) - If Roger Allen's Inuvik Twin Lakes constituents want a word with him, they can find the territorial MLA at mile zero of the Mackenzie Highway.

Roger Allen: "I'm entitled to a vacation."

"I'm on six weeks holiday," Allen said last week after News/North tracked him through directory assistance to the home that he owns at 5509-50th Ave., Grimshaw, Alta.

"I'm entitled to a vacation," he said.

Seldom seen in Inuvik since he was re-elected last year, Allen said that the date of his most recent visit to the community " is my personal business."

Formerly the lead minister on the issue of homelessness in the Territories, Allen said he has discussed his living arrangements with other MLAs.

"I've spoken to my colleagues and we have a common understanding," Allen said, but declined to discuss the details of the understanding.

The legislature's board of management recently cancelled Allen's $30,150 annual living allowance earlier this month after he failed to offer proof that he lives in the crude shack at 107B East Campbell Lake, about 20 km outside Inuvik and the address he gave as his residence.

The board gave Allen 90 days to repay about $10,000 in living allowance benefits he has received since April.

Speaker Paul Delorey could not be reached, but Doug Schaurete, acting clerk of the legislature, said there is no legal requirement for an MLA to live in the Northwest Territories.

Allen attends legislative sessions and committees, Schaurete said, but there is also no legal requirement for an MLA to answer calls for assistance from constituents.

If Allen's constituents are unhappy with him, they will have to wait until the next territorial election to register their displeasure, he said.

"There is no recall legislation in the Northwest Territories," Schaurete said.

Clarence Wood, who came second to Allen in Inuvik Twin Lakes in the last election, said that he has seen the former territorial justice minister only briefly since then.

"I've seen him once in the last four months," Wood said. "That doesn't mean he hasn't been here, but as deputy mayor of Inuvik, I get a lot of calls that would go to him if people could find him."

During the election campaign, Allen lived in an apartment rented from Northern Management Development Ltd., but owner Sam Kassem didn't know if Allen was still paying rent.

Made pointed references

Wood said he made pointed references to Allen's prolonged absences from Inuvik and tried to make it an issue in the campaign, but voters paid little attention.

"It's one thing to know that the MLA is rarely in town and another to prove that he doesn't live here," Wood said.

The only phone listing for Allen in Inuvik is his constituency office at Ingamo Hall, but he is not often there, according to the receptionist.

"When people call we refer them to his legislature office," the Ingamo Hall receptionist said.

Allen had been renting an apartment in Yellowknife where his wife works as a teacher and his children attend school, but his telephone number is no longer in service.

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