Yellowknife (Aug 11/06) - A new federal appointment could see devolution and a resource revenue sharing deal for the NWT finalized by next summer, according to Premier Joe Handley.

To help get the job done, the Harper government has hired former Conservative cabinet minister Harvie Andre as chief federal negotiator on the issues.

"I hope it's a sign the feds will roll up their sleeves and settle these outstanding issues," said Handley adding that the six-to-eight month contract given to Andre indicates the transfer of Indian and Northern Affairs' land and resource management responsibilities and increase its share of resource royalties, is close to becoming reality.

"I think we can have the resource revenue portion done this fall and devolution, something a bit more complicated, finished by next summer."

Specifically, Handley says there are "human resource issues" with ensuring the GNWT receives enough cash from Ottawa to take on federal rolls and responsibilities when they are passed over to territorial control.

This funding would be over and above what Handley hopes to negotiate on the resource revenue front.

While Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale called Andre's contract - to be between $250,000 and $500,000 - "outrageous" and suggested that the former Mulroney cabinet minister of past political and business activities had, "the potential for a conflict of interest," Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington dismissed Goodale's claims.

"To me this is just cheap political opportunism," said Bevington from Ottawa last week. "The Liberals like playing political tricks like this while ignoring the issues Northerners want addressed and Northerners like most Canadians are sick of this and want action, not just words."

Andre was a Conservative MP from 1972 to 1993 and held several ministerial posts. A highlight of Andre's political career was when he turned Canada Post's financial woes around. The Crown Corporation - created with Andre's help in 1981 but suffering under high labour costs and competition - finally posted a profit ($98 million) in 1989 under his direction.

Andre also has significant interests in the energy sector as president of Cresvard Corporation, Chairman of Bow Energy Resources and President of Wenzel Downhole Tools Ltd.