Looking for solutions
Territorial government committee seeks alternatives to adding five more MLAs

Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (Jun 25/99) - They're looking for some viable alternatives, not complaints.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations paid a visit to Fort Simpson Tuesday on its tour of the NWT.

Chair Roy Erasmus remarked early in the meeting that the committee wasn't interested in "merely covering old ground."

The consensus seems to be that constituents in the NWT do not want to add five MLAs -- three in Yellowknife, one in each Hay River and Inuvik -- but there must be a workable solution presented to avoid such a situation, he said to a handful of people during the afternoon hearing. A second hearing had been scheduled for the evening in the same location.

Fort Simpson Mayor Norm Prevost asked what possible alternatives there could be if Justice Mark de Weerdt had already ruled on the issue. Erasmus said the addition of five MLAs wasn't carved in stone.

For instance, MLA Michael Miltenberger had suggested that a couple of the smaller ridings be merged and then only one more MLA would have to be given to Yellowknife.

Under that scenario, De Weerdt's population proportion of plus or minus 25 per cent would also be met, Erasmus noted. However, not many members of the public have suggested that route and it's the public's input that will count when the committee reports to the legislative assembly in late July, he said.

There's also an option of mailing suggestions to the legislative assembly clerk's office before mid-July, he said.

Committee member Don Morin added that a "sunset clause" could be created which would see the number of MLAs jump from 14 to 19 for only one term, giving them four to five years to sort out the issue permanently as well as a new constitution and self-government and land claims issues before the following term begins.

Prevost said, "I would like to see (the number of MLAs) start small, stay small and build according to our needs."

He added that the proposal to have two cabinet members from the northern, central and southern regions has some merit in an attempt to strike a balance of power in the NWT.

Liidlii Kue First Nation (LKFN) Chief Ernest Cazon concurred when it comes to government making do with less rather than more, especially in light of pending self-government negotiations in this region. He said the LKFN is aware the territorial government will always be there in spite of negotiations with the federal government so it's best if all parties work together.

Erasmus suggested that a political accord could be struck, allowing aboriginal leadership and MLAs to meet a few times each year to discuss matters such as policy changes and the budget.