It calls for members of the Union of Northern Workers (UNW) to be allowed to vote directly on the GNWT's latest contract offer.

Todd pounded the table in agreement whenever such a suggestion was made in the chamber Wednesday.

Empty chairs

Two empty seats in the legislature spoke volumes about territorial politics when the assembly met this week.

The seat normally occupied by Premier Don Morin sat empty with the NWT's leader busy with the conflict of interest inquiry.

Another seat just down from Morin's, that of Hay River MLA Jane Groenewegen, was also empty for most of Wednesday's business.

Groenewegen, who officially raised the complaints currently occupying the premier's time, was in the assembly briefly Wednesday before departing.

But what about the Stones?

Yellowknife South MLA Seamus Henry used the late great Beatle John Lennon's words to help him push for any future road to resources to start from Yellowknife.

"The late John Lennon said, 'Give peace a chance.' I say, let's give the facts a chance," Henry said while arguing all facts support such a road starting here.

He also took a shot at Hay River Mayor Jack Rowe, who has said publicly the road should, instead, start from Rae-Edzo, bypassing Yellowknife.

"He (Rowe) is willing to spend taxpayers' money to lobby for the interests of one community in the territory over another, when it is clear that there is no advantage to his community either way," Henry said. "I wonder what other motivation there could be for his position?"

Rowe happened to be in the assembly's public gallery at the time and could be seen grinning as Henry fired his volley.

Snooze-fest

Wednesday's activities at the legislature obviously didn't sit well with everyone on hand to watch from the gallery. Some, it seems, wished they were somewhere else.

At least three people could be seen sleeping as MLA's spoke below them in the chamber.

Diamonds, diamonds

Work at ensuring the secondary diamond industry gets a strong foothold in the North continue.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Charles Dent briefed MLAs on a recent agreement he signed with the Diamond High Council in Antwerp.

The GNWT and the council have agreed to work together to train NWT residents to serve as diamond polishers and cutters. Besides the council and Dent's department, the training partnership also includes Aurora College and the Flemish government's Department of Education.

"We are working together on two initiatives," Dent said. "The first is the development of standards and certification for occupations in the secondary diamond industry. The second initiative is pre-employment training for the secondary diamond industry."

The 16-week program will begin in January in Yellowknife, Dent said.