Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 30/99) - Roy Erasmus says the response to public hearings on the proposed boundaries bill has been mixed, but has produced some novel suggestions.

The MLA for Yellowknife North also serves as chairman for the Standing Committee on Government Operations and has been hosting a series of hearings in Yellowknife late last week intending to draw out opinion on a bill making its way through the house.

Bill 15: An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act proposes adding five seats to the 14-member assembly, three to Yellowknife and one each to Inuvik and Hay River.

Aboriginal groups, represented by the Western NWT Aboriginal Summit have consistently opposed the March 5 court ruling that sparked the bill, but were recently denied the right to appeal the ruling.

"The summit's appeal to Justice de Weerdt's decision was unsuccessful," said Erasmus at Thursday afternoon's meeting, "so now it's more important than ever to hear suggestions from the public."

But Yellowknife's hearings were only sparsely attended -- as were meetings in Rae-Edzo and Inuvik, where the committee kicked off its road show June 15.

Some MLAs, like Jake Ootes, have questioned whether hearings are practical at this point, citing the cost, their own ability to voice their constituents' arguments and existing reports that already state the case plainly.

Ootes, MLA for Yellowknife Centre, nevertheless turned out as an observer last week.

"I decided not to participate because this process was redundant," he said. "Reports are still available from the boundaries commission and the constitutional working group."

Ootes said he couldn't speak for the communities but felt his own constituents' position is clear.

"Many feel let's get on with Bill 15 and get it through the house and do what needs to be done to hold an election and get a mandate for new members."

City councillor Bob Brooks echoed Ootes in addressing the committee.

"The perception...is that it's because of apathy," he said, "but a lot of people are not coming out because they like it the way it is."

But Erasmus said the situation was different at the two hearings in Fort Simpson.

"It was absolutely overwhelming, from the minute the doors opened, it was just one person after another making presentations," he said. "They're resigned to the fact that (the bill is moving forward) but people say there has to be some decision-making power moved to the communities."

Erasmus said the turnouts in the other communities were small because Inuvik and Yellowknife stand to benefit from the changes and because Rae-Edzo's leadership was out of town -- busy in discussions with Diavik representatives.

The chairman said ideas raised so far include further decentralization of government offices, an all-aboriginal Yellowknife riding and a 2-2-2 formula of regional representation in the cabinet -- (an idea Ootes said was known before the hearings began).

Erasmus said one novel proposal raised in Simpson won't find its way into the committee's report.

"It notes that Yellowknife has grown to such a degree simply because it's the capital but that it isn't centrally located," he said, "and so maybe Fort Simpson should be the capital."

The hearings continue in Fort Smith and Hay River next week, the legislature is accepting written suggestions until July 12 and the committee must present its report when the assembly reconvenes July 26.