Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 15/99) - Yellowknife will not be getting the two additional seats in the legislature that a commission recommended last fall -- but it might receive three.

The territorial government announced Friday it will not appeal the recent ruling by Supreme Court Justice Mark de Weerdt, and will recommend five additional seats for the legislature.

Western Caucus Chair Michael Miltenberger said, however, that caucus also decided Friday it would offer "political and financial support" to any appeal by the Intervenor party in the suit, represented by the Western NWT Aboriginal Summit.

Miltenberger said the caucus would recommend that cabinet prepare a bill adding three seats to Yellowknife and one each to Hay River and Inuvik.

"We went around the table and everyone stated their position and this is the formula we came up with," said Miltenberger, adding that the caucus will work to meet the March 31 time frame outlined by Justice de Weerdt and have the changes in place for the next territorial election on Oct. 4.

The 14 western MLAs met to discuss the de Weerdt's March 5 ruling Thursday, when they also heard a presentation by the aboriginal summit.

Summit executive director Marina Devine said Friday she could not comment on the caucus decision, and Dene Nation National Chief Bill Erasmus and Metis Nation NWT president Gary Bohnet were unavailable for comment.

The Friends of Democracy issued a statement Friday saying they welcomed the "wise" decision.

"This will be an excellent start to the government of our new territory as we embark on our post-division future," wrote president Robert Slaven.