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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Dehcho Hall in Fort Simpson is closing and the John Tsetso Memorial Library will be without a home. On Feb. 4, Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche said he wanted some short and long-term help in locating a suitable home for the library.

He suggested expanding the school library to accommodate public access to the facility.

"This has been done successfully in other NWT communities," he said.

Minister of Education Jackson Lafferty said there were currently no vacant units in Fort Simpson that could house the library in the short-term. He added the department will be meeting with the district education authority to talk about potentially moving the library into the school.

Beaulieu's change of heart

Tu Nedhe MLA Tom Beaulieu voted to support cabinet in a non-confidence vote on Feb. 6, after he had seconded the motion on Feb. 4 to oust them. Beaulieu explained his decision days after the vote.

"I did not want to see this budget session set back," he said.

Beaulieu said he thought, had the motion passed, there would have been further dissension amongst MLAs.

"When there are 11 people that fire you and then three or four of them move into cabinet, that means the three or four members that were just fired would have to work in harmony with the people across the floor," he said.

He originally seconded the motion because he thought it would be a fresh start for the government.

"But the more I thought about it, the more I thought personally that it would be more damaging and more damaging to the North."

He said he heard from constituents who both supported and opposed the motion.

"I did it because of how I felt about it," said Beaulieu.

He said he would have preferred going after a specific minister, to tell them what they were doing wrong.

MLA offended by racial overtones from health policy

The proposed supplementary health benefits program would have erased the extended health care benefits non-aboriginal seniors in the NWT currently receive, and at least two MLAs said the new policy needlessly flared up animosity amongst non-aboriginal and aboriginal residents.

Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko said Metis and aboriginal treaties negotiated free health care and said he wanted to do away with race, creed and colour when it came to universal health care.

"I, for one, take offence to the racial overtones that have developed because of this policy," said Krutko.

Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins agreed.

"It's unfairly pit neighbour against neighbour when they've worked, lived and some will live and die here in the North together," he said.

"It's caused a friction that is unnecessary."

Earlier this month, Health Minister Sandy Lee pushed back the implementation date of the policy until April 1, 2010.

Chip-seal theme day

MLAs representing constituencies without large urban centres spoke about the need to re-institute a main street chip-seal program.

Tu Nedhe MLA Tom Beaulieu said the chip-seal would not only help dust problems in his riding, but also give kids more recreational choices, like roller-blading and skateboarding.Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko and Sahtu MLA Norman Yakeleya also spoke in support of the issue.