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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - On Friday, Premier Floyd Roland addressed his personal relationship with a clerk of the legislative assembly publicly for the first time after some MLAs called for him to resign because they saw it as a conflict of interest.

Up until then, Roland had not commented on the matter. But on Monday, it was the first order of business.

"I want to apologize for the effect this has had on the work of this assembly," he said.

Roland then voiced his commitment to improving communication between cabinet and regular MLAs in response to the nearly three-hour long discussion on Friday that detailed what some MLAs saw as failures of this government.

Cabinet barely survived a no-confidence vote after the debate Friday. Roland invited regular MLAs to take part in the five strategic initiative committees that were created in last year's budget. To date, only one committee - the refocusing government committee, which is tasked with the pending board reform initiative - has membership from regular MLAs.

"I think there is general agreement among all members that we need to move forward and do the best work we can for the people of our territory," said Roland.

Supplementary health program stalled again: April 1, 2010

On Tuesday, Health Minister Sandy Lee announced she is pushing back the implementation date of the much-debated supplementary health benefits program to April 1, 2010.

This comes after protests from seniors and following a motion Friday where regular MLAs voted unanimously to recommend the Department of Health and Social Services stop the implementation of the supplementary health benefits program and put in place a new policy that will help low-income families with some medical and drugs costs.

The motion, raised by Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy, recommended the government put off any implementation of new policy until at least April 1, 2010, and that cabinet consult thoroughly with the public. As well, it asked the health department to come forward with in-depth financial research and analysis that would take into account what the potential loss of government revenue will be from residents who may leave the territory as a result of the policy.

Front-liner input to reduce expenses: Bisaro

Wendy Bisaro said she thought if the government really wanted to rid itself of operational inefficiencies, it would ask its front-line workers for suggestions.

In pressing Michael Miltenberger, lead minister in the refocusing government committee last Thursday, Bisaro asked why front-line staff were not being included in committees to look at ideas on how to cut everyday costs.

"There are employees who certainly have valuable ideas that would work in the front lines. They experience all kinds of situations where they can see where expenses can be reduced, where waste can be terminated," she said.

Miltenberger said he will pursue any such "outside the box" thinking and bring the issue up to cabinet or the financial management board for "initial discussions."

He committed to getting back to Bisaro on the issue by the end of the session.

Quote of the week

"Maybe the next phone call I will be making here is to the auditor general of Canada."

Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay, questioning whether the Discovery Air $34 million bailout, announced in mid-January, was a political decision.