Yellowknife (Feb 06/06) - Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche said the government needs to do something about bison invading the communities of Nahanni Butte and Fort Liard.

A herd of about 350 animals have periodically wandered into town to dig up gardens and destroy trees, said Menicoche on Thursday.

"The damage is very serious in these communities," said Menicoche.

"I'm sure they'll be looking for the establishment of a buffalo bill for the management of these buffalo there."

Environment minister Michael Miltenberger said his department has their work cut out for them.

They're already trying to establish management plans for the barrenground and woodland caribou.

"We're looking at some options, such as possibly having to destroy a number of the animals to get them out of the community," said Miltenberger.

Show me the light

Monfwi (North Slave) MLA Jackson Lafferty says it's time to erect a traffic light at the intersection of Highway 3 and the access road to Rae.

Increased winter traffic of heavy equipment going to the diamond mines is raising safety issues in Rae, said Lafferty on the opening day of the legislative assembly's winter session, Wednesday.

"When will (the transportation minister) commit to meeting with the Tlicho leadership to deal specifically with the lighting system at the Rae access road," Lafferty demanded.

The minister, Michael McLeod, said his staff will pay a visit, but made no promises to install traffic lights any time soon.

"We weren't aware that there was a safety concern at that intersection," said McLeod.

Thanks, but no thanks

Jane Groenewegen, MLA for Hay River South, was one of many MLAs to congratulate defeated Liberal MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew this week for her 17 years of service in Ottawa, but she wasn't too thrilled by the Liberal's national campaign during the recent federal election.

The campaign - much as it was when it was last fought in 2004 - was dominated, she said, by Liberal attacks on the Conservatives and leader Stephen Harper for their socially conservative views on same-sex marriage and abortion.

"I never cease to be amazed by people and parties who hold themselves out as so inclusive and so tolerant," said Groenewegen.

"Yet so quickly berate others with a different moral or political conviction in an area such as traditional values."