Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Friday, January 18, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - While the premier rode to Ottawa last week under the banner of obtaining a devolution agreement for the NWT, he came back with a stance rarely heard in the legislative assembly.

"If there's no way to move ahead on this issue, we would look at putting it on the back burner," said Floyd Roland.

The premier returned Saturday from the annual First Ministers conference in Ottawa, which gives provincial leaders the chance to air their issues on the national stage, as well as gain some face-to-face time with the prime minister.

Roland said before the trip that his mission was to champion devolution and resource revenue sharing - the territory's long-standing battle to gain control over resource royalties similar to what provinces hold.

However, he said his short discussion with Prime Minister Stephen Harper barely broached the topic.

He spoke with Harper "under the umbrella of working together," rather than on devolution and resource revenue sharing specifically.

"It went well," he said of his first meeting with Harper, where he talked about the federal government's role in funding infrastructure and the NWT's role in Northern sovereignty.

"(We're) looking at building a positive working relationship with the federal government and our government."

When he became premier in October, Roland said he would take a "stronger approach" in his relations with the federal government.

"I really believe that Northerners need to benefit from the development of the resources here in the North," he said during his opening statement in the legislative assembly.

The thought of giving up on devolution doesn't sit well with one MLA, however.

"We need to keep moving forward on this," said Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins.

"I don't want to give up our political relevance."

He said this was the first time he's heard a premier talk about "turning off the heat" on devolution in his eight years in politics - and doesn't think it's the premier's call to make.

"This is an assembly decision," Hawkins said.

"This is bigger than the premier. Any backing off is the wrong approach."

Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley, however, said he agrees with the premier.

"We need to get our house in order to be much more effective when we talk devolution," he said.

He said the territory needed unity and a clearer vision of what it would do with revenues before devolution proceeds.

"I think that would strengthen our position at the negotiating table," he said.

Devolution talks stalled under the previous government's watch as it was unable to get all of the territory's aboriginal governments - some of whom are negotiating their own resource deals with Ottawa - on board.

Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy said he doubted devolution would end up "on the backburner," but presenting a united front might ensure the best possible resource-sharing deal.

"We don't want to end up like the Yukon," he said. "Their deal isn't that great."

Regardless, Roland said it was still possible for the NWT to take a stronger role in Canada, be it through sovereignty initiatives or building further highways through the territory to connect Canada "coast-to-coast-to coast."

"We can turn a corner and become a more self-sufficient jurisdiction," he said. "We can become a stronger player in Canada."