DEH CHO
With the legislative assembly back in session infrastructure and continuing to present issues on behalf of constituents are at the forefront for two MLAs.

The completion of the new Trout Lake airport is one of the items Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche will be pushing for during the fall session of the legislative assembly. - NNSL file photo

The fall session of the assembly got underway on Oct. 16. Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli said he'll use this session, as well as the remaining year of his term, to continue to provide a consistent message on behalf of his constituents.

Nadli said he tries to work from the signals given to him by local leaders. With addressing the next capital budget being one of the primary purposes of the fall session, Nadli said there are no particular projects that he's been asked to press for funding for.

"At this point it's business at usual," he said.

There are some good initiatives underway in the Deh Cho including the construction of the new health centre in Fort Providence and the community hall in Kakisa and a push for tourism development in Enterprise, that Nadli said he will continue to draw attention to so the momentum continues and departments continue to respond to the needs of communities. Raising constituents' concerns is also important for the MLA.

Most recently on Oct. 17, Nadli made a statement about dog control in Fort Providence.

"People have to carry sticks just to go to the store to ward off dogs," he said.

Stray dogs seem to be a common problem throughout the NWT, including in a number of Deh Cho communities, Nadli said. There needs to be more support for spaying and neutering and other dog-related programs in communities, whether through the NWT SPCA or the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche, meanwhile, is planning on using the fall session to press for more funding for transportation infrastructure in his riding including additional kilometers of chipseal for Highways 1 and 7 and the completion of the Trout Lake airport.

He'll also be looking for commitments on the replacement of the Fort Simpson Health Centre. Both the Village of Fort Simpson and the wider community have been asking for consultations, Menicoche said.

"The government still hasn't been able to commit to anything," he said.

On Oct. 16 the 17th legislative assembly clarified its position on the timing of the next territorial general election. If the federal election, currently scheduled for Oct. 19, 2015, still overlaps with the campaign period for the territorial election, set for Oct. 5, 2015, by April 1, the election in the NWT will be postponed until Nov. 23. If the dates for the federal election are moved before April 1, the NWT election will continue as planned.

Moving the NWT election date will avoid a three and a half week overlap between the campaign periods for the federal and territorial elections and municipal elections for tax-based NWT communities that are also set for Oct. 19.

With only a year left in the term either way, Nadli has already made the decision to run for re-election. He plans to be practical and realistic with the time left in this term.

"You've got to continue raising the concerns on behalf of constituents, that's what we're here for," he said.

Menicoche is also taking a business as usual approach to the last year.

"I'll continue working hard with my nose to the grindstone," he said.

Funding for transportation infrastructure and progress on the affirmative action policy will be among his goals. Menicoche said he's been challenging the territorial government to hire more aboriginal and long-term Northerners so the government's workforce more closely resembles the make-up of the territory's population.

Menicoche said in some cases

it seems more qualifications than necessary are required for the positions and residents are being screened out of the job competitions as a result. People need and want a chance to get their foot in the door, he said.

Menicoche hasn't made a definitive decision yet on running for re-election. With the continued confidence of constituents, he said he'll consider doing so.