Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 27/99) - With the territorial election set for a month after the city holds its Oct. 20 byelection, the competition for at least two city council seats could be very slim.

A brief look at the two jobs will tell you why you never hear of MLAs resigning their seat to run for city council.

Start with pay.

Councillors get an honorarium of $8,064 per year plus expenses of $4,034. If they travel they collect $142 per day to make up for missing their day jobs.

By comparison, MLAs make a king's ransom.

Rounded out to about $15,000, a councillor's total income and expenses adds up to about $10,000 less than the four Yellowknife MLAs, on average, claimed in expenses and living allowances in 1998.

MLAs also collect a salary of $60,000-$70,000 per year. If a candidate is lucky enough to get elected and hop into a cabinet position, the salary jumps to the six-figure level.

If money was the only issue, you could count the number of candidates in the byelection on one finger.

"As far as painting a picture that makes it look more attractive, it just isn't there," said Coun. Bob Brooks.

Brooks said a number of former MLAs have said they believe serving on council is more difficult than serving in the legislative assembly.

"You really can't be doing it for the money," said Brooks. "You have to do it because you want to get things done."

That's one of the big selling points for people going into municipal politics, said Brooks, being able to make a direct difference in the community you are serving.

But don't expect people to be lining up around the block to pat you on the back. As Brooks noted, direct contact with the public translates into direct wrath when the public is displeased.

One need only look back to public reaction to the recent tax hike to see how quickly and vocally the public reacts to municipal issues.

Brooks said that's part of the price municipal politicians pay for the higher level of accountability they have compared to their territorial counterparts.

MLA Jake Ootes said MLAs are, or at least should be, as accountable as municipal politicians.

"MLAs have a responsibility to make themselves available to their constitutents, and I think I'm very close to mine," said Ootes. He noted council positions are part-time whereas being an MLA is "very full-time."

The Yellowknife Centre representative said municipal and territorial politics are inherently different, the one dealing with issues that affect the day-to-day lives of residents and the other dealing with issues with territory-wide implications.

Asked if he was considering resigning his seat to run in the municipal byelection, Ootes replied, "Absolutely not. I enjoy my role in the legislative assembly. I love the job."

For those who are looking to make a difference in the lives of their neighbours, and aren't that concerned about working long hours for little pay, nominations for the byelection open Sept. 1 and close at 3 p.m. Sept. 15.