Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Dec 18/98) - Floyd Roland, Inuvik's MLA since October 1995, is now in cabinet thanks to a vote from peers in the legislative assembly Dec. 10.

Roland's election came hours after Jim Antoine defeated Stephen Kakfwi in an assembly vote to make Antoine the new NWT premier after former premier Don Morin resigned Nov. 26.

Roland, 37, will take on two portfolios: Public Works and Services and Transportation.

But despite increased responsibility and additional work, Roland is quick to make clear Inuvik is his home.

"I would be kidding myself if I said I'll be able to manage my time where the exact amount of time I was able to spend at home, I'll be able to do again," he said hours after being sworn-in Dec. 11.

"I know the workload will be heavy so I will be spending more time in Yellowknife but my family will still be in Inuvik and I'll still be travelling back as often as I can so I don't see my time away from Inuvik will increase a whole lot."

For example, Roland says this week he has scheduled briefings in Inuvik with employees in both departments.

"The work I can do as a minister in Inuvik, I'll organize and have arranged to do at home as much as possible."

In future, he says it is possible more meetings will take place in Inuvik where people fly up from Yellowknife instead of people from Inuvik having to fly south to Yellowknife.

"That's a possibility," Roland said on the phone from Yellowknife.

"(But) with the heavy workload, if I get caught in the drag or the system that Yellowknife is headquarters and you have to meet in Yellowknife then I will be spending an awful lot of my time down here."

Roland won the cabinet post, vacated by Antoine, on a fifth ballot, outpolling Yellowknife South's Seamus Henry, Thebacha's Michael Miltenberger, Yellowknife North's Roy Erasmus, Yellowknife Centre's Jake Ootes and Nanakput's Vince Steen.

Roland, Ootes and Steen remained on the final ballot where Roland was finally declared to have a majority of votes.

"Unfortunately, none of my family were here to witness it in person which was disappointing in a sense, but it was on short notice," Roland said of both his election and his swearing-in.

Roland describes his position as Minister of Public Works and Services as a "twist of fate," since he worked in the department for 14 years in Inuvik including the four years he spent as an apprentice mechanic.

After a stint working in the private sector, he returned to work at public works as a mechanic and after 10 years was acting as a foreman in the shop.

Roland served on Inuvik town council for three years, including a term as deputy mayor from 1994 to 1995. He was also chair of the hunters and trappers committee from June 1994 to October 1995, and president of the Western Arctic Tourism Association.

Roland and his wife Shawna have three sons: Justin, Quincey and Samuel; and a daughter, Courtney. Roland also has a son, Austin.

"The support that I've received show that the people have trust in me to carry out business in a responsible manner," he says.

"When I speak to individuals, I speak openly and I'm approachable."