Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 22/98) - The fate of the territorial government's pay-equity dispute dominated opening day of the latest sitting of the legislative assembly.

Throughout Wednesday afternoon's members statements and question period, MLAs grilled Finance Minister John Todd over both pay equity and contract negotiations, and whether the two should be integrated.

They wanted a resolution to the dispute, either by going back to the table, removing pay equity from contract negotiations or bringing in a mediator.

"With the current impasse in the collective bargaining with the UNW, will the finance minister now remove pay equity from the negotiating table?" asked Iqaluit MLA Ed Picco.

Todd responded by saying that if he removes pay equity now and decides on a collective agreement knowing there are inequities, the GNWT could set itself up to be sued by the UNW.

"As I said many times in this House and as I alluded to in my Minister's statement, we are not prepared at this time to remove pay equity," said Todd.

While Todd did not budge on the pay-equity issue, he did say he would be willing to go back to the table with the UNW again.

"I am willing to say we are prepared to come back to the table, but we have placed the final offer.... The door is not closed but there is very little room at this time to manoeuvre," said Todd.

Yellowknife Centre MLA Jake Ootes argued that because of the pay-equity rift, he wants to know if the GNWT would be willing to form an outside panel of experts with the union to determine if the Hay Plan, which sets the term of a pay-equity settlement, is gender neutral.

"That panel would consist of three experts one from the employer nominee, another from the union nominee and an independent chairperson," said Ootes.

Todd said it's up to Northerners to solve their own problems. He then offered an outline of events and dates to indicate the government's efforts to resolve the issue.

"We have gone to inordinate efforts to work with our partners in the process to reach a resolve," said Todd.

"I see no requirement at this stage of the game for the third party to be involved in evaluating this situation. This should be evaluated by the partners in the process."