Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 20/99) - Dates were set for a showdown over electoral boundaries between the government and a grassroots Yellowknife group in the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories on Friday.

Justice John Vertes set aside March 1 to 3 for the court challenge launched by Friends of Democracy on Dec. 9. Vertes also ruled that five native groups -- including the Dene Nation, Metis Nation, North Slave Metis Alliance, Lutsel K'e Dene Band and Sahtu Secretariat -- have the right to participate as a collective intervenor in the proceedings.

In setting the dates, Vertes took into consideration that preparation time is required by all three counsels but that, ideally, a decision should be reached before April 4 -- since any boundary changes must occur six months before the Oct. 4 legislative election to allow time for such matters as enumeration.

"That's the window of opportunity," said Vertes.

Friends of Democracy filed a motion challenging the government's decision to have the new western territory inherit existing electoral boundaries when Nunavut comes into existence April 1. Friends of Democracy contends that electoral boundaries should be redrawn to better represent population distribution, a move that would guarantee more representation for the capital.

Friday's session went smoothly, though Vertes stressed that all three parties must be prepared for the hearing.

"Let me say that I do not want, with all due respect, to have the presiding judge walk into the courtroom on March 1 and be asked for an adjournment," he said.

In debating the status of the native groups in the process, Vertes addressed both their own counsel, Charles McGee of Davis and Company, as well as the plaintiff's representative, Ron Skolrood.

Vertes said that as representatives of large numbers of NWT citizens, specifically aboriginals concerned with a matter that might affect their political influence and progress on land claims and self-government, they certainly have the right to participate.

"These proceedings raise significant issues that affect not just the citizens of Yellowknife but all of the Northwest Territories, seeing how it involves constitutional matters," said Vertes.

The justice left open, however, the question of whether the intervenor group would have the right of appeal should the plaintiff win its suit.

Earl Johnson, representative for the attorney general and the government, said that while he and McGee have common interests, they will approach the hearing as individuals.

"We're on the same side in many ways, in seeking to defend the legislation," he said, "but may differ in our strategies and how we argue the issue."