Yellowknife (Nov 03/06) - Premier Joe Handley faced some tough questions on where the Government of the NWT was on settling a resource revenue sharing and devolution deal with Ottawa.

While the premier mentioned positive meetings with Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jim Prentice and newly appointed federal negotiator Harvie Andre, he could not guarantee a deadline for concluding a deal.

All he could say this week in the legislative assembly is that an agreement in principle is anticipated in the next four months.

On Oct. 25, regular members carried a motion strongly recommending the federal, territorial and NWT aboriginal governments reach a fair and equitable agreement before the next federal budget.

Ramsay rubs some salt

Kam Lake MLA David Ramsay put out a press release Oct. 27 expressing pleasure at House Speaker Paul Delorey's ruling on Ramsay's point of privilege, following what he called threatening remarks and gestures made by then cabinet minister Michael Miltenberger.

The comments, made in the legislative assembly on Oct. 19, were directed towards Ramsay's wife and brother.

While regular members took the extraordinary measure of unanimously voting to remove Miltenberger from cabinet for his transgression, Delorey was still faced with ruling on Ramsay's point of privilege.

"The speaker's ruling validates without question that this was the correct course of action," said Ramsay in the release.

"The ruling confirms that intimidation will not be tolerated and that the integrity of the institution must be upheld."

Down, but not out

No longer environment or health minister, Michael Miltenberger got a little boost on Halloween as a motion passed appointing the Thebacha MLA to the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development.

As part of his role as a regular MLA, Miltenberger also joins the ranks of the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight.

New chief electoral officer

A motion has been made to name Saundra Arberry the new chief electoral officer for the NWT.

If approved she would begin her two-year term years on Jan. 6, 2007.

Harper cuts cause consternation

Regular members took a fair number of shots at the Conservative government over federal cuts to literacy, volunteer support and aboriginal smoking cessation programs that have affected the NWT.

Thebacha MLA Michael Miltenberger said thanks to the cuts, which have hit social programs in the North to the tune of $1 million, it should make voting in the next federal election for NWT residents a piece of cake.

"It's as easy as A-B-C," said Miltenberger. "In the next federal election it should be 'anybody but Conservative.'"

Education, Culture and Employment Minister Charles Dent was unable to guarantee the GNWT had the funds to subsidize shortfalls for literacy programming. Regular members carried a motion Oct. 31 that recommends the GNWT, "Convey to the federal government its strong objection to the recent cuts ... and press the federal government to reinstate these funds."

Social housing charges

Dent received notice social housing clients want their rent reduced following a motion by regular members, which also requested a re-examination of rates for aging and deteriorating units. Currently, units in non-market communities and those in places with a private housing market are assessed at a maximum of 32 per cent of a tenant's income.

The motion asks that non-market social housing tenants be assessed at 18 per cent of their income and in market communities, the 32 per cent mark be reduced to 25 per cent.

Three days later, another motion by regular members was carried requesting the administration of social housing, "Be once again placed under the control of the NWT Housing Corporation," but that the calculation of housing subsidies remain with Education, Culture and Employment. The motions are non-binding on the government.

Fixed election dates

Territorial elections will now be held every four years on the first Monday of October, following the passing of the Elections and Plebiscites Act.

See you next year

The fifth session of the legislative assembly wrapped up yesterday and members will reconvene in February 2007.