by by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (June 11/97) - The constitutional working group is looking to make a new friend in Ottawa.

Responsible for developing a new constitution for the Western half of the NWT, the group hopes to renew and reaffirm ties to the federal government following the June 2 federal election.

Topping the list of friends to make is the person responsible for signing the cheques and approving the group's work -- the new head of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

"There's a real need for leaders in the North to try to make some connections with the new minister of DIAND, whoever that minister will be," said constitutional working group co-chairman Jim Antoine.

To that end, members have been discussing setting up an early meeting with the new minister, who is to be sworn in today, along with the rest of cabinet, in Ottawa.

The departing minister, Ron Irwin, at times was accused of 'nickel and diming' constitutional change, suspending or delaying federal funding.

"Minister Irwin was very concerned that there were key and clear deliverables at every stage along the road," said Kirk Cameron, the group's DIAND liaison. "He would look for answers to the question `What am I getting for my money?'"

Cameron added the importance of constitutional development in the North is a message that has been impressed upon Ottawa.

"Minister Antoine, the GNWT and the aboriginal summit have all made it very clear that they want this as a high priority in the briefings to the minister...it's a message that's been well-heard by us in Ottawa."

The CWG is hoping the flow of federal funding will be less sporadic as it approaches the home stretch of a journey that began 15 years ago.

It is still working on the $295,000 it got from the GNWT and Ottawa in the winter to cover the cost of public consultations completed a month ago.

"We're more or less operating on a shoestring budget," said Antoine.

"We're able to get a lot of in-kind support from both the government of the NWT and the legislative assembly. We're utilizing some of the office space in the leg, as well as workers from the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. Even Kirk Cameron had one of his office staff working for us."

The three biggest items ahead are a second round of public consultations in the fall, a constitutional conference next spring and a plebiscite, to be held before April 1, 1999.

"Something of this magnitude and seriousness, we've got to get some serious funding for it so we're not tied up wondering where the next month's funding will come from," said Antoine.