by Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 17/97) - Under the Nunavut Political Accord, the federal government should shoulder increased division costs, the minister responsible for western transition planning said.

The accord "clearly stated that the government of Canada would ensure that levels of service would not decline as a result of the creation of Nunavut," Frame Lake MLA and Education, Culture and Employment Minister Charles Dent said in the legislature.

Last week, the Creation of Two New Territories Transition Action Plan identified $116 million in new division costs beyond the $150 million Ottawa set aside 18 months ago for division.

The accord was signed in 1993 by the federal government, Tunngavik Federation of Nunavut and the GNWT.

"It is the view of this government and the western caucus that this (accord) obligates the federal government to pay the reasonable incremental and transitional costs that affect both east and west," Dent said.

Dent made the comments Tuesday prior to tabling the western action plan.

The plan proposes a new senator for the new western territory, something is beyond territorial powers.

Currently, Yukon and NWT each have one senator. With the creation of Nunavut, the structure of the NWT assembly will also change.

Ten MLAs will leave the existing legislative assembly with just 14 members. The NWT Act, requiring a minimum of 15 members, will have to be amended to allow for a minimum of 14 members.

These two moves are needed before April 1, 1999.

Dent said a November report on the new western territory will be cover costs.

"One of the most important considerations for the people of the western territory leading up to the territorial election in the fall of 1999 is that "services continue uninterrupted," he said.