New era of openness
Cabinet and regular MLAs engage in office 'turf war'

Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 06/00) - A squabble between cabinet ministers and regular MLAs over a proposed $60,000 renovation of cabinet offices last week highlighted the new level of openness of government in the NWT.

"It's a new day and age and we all have to adjust because of previous matters that came up in the 13th assembly," said board member and Inuvik MLA Floyd Roland.

Roland was referring to the successful conflict-of-interest complaint Hay River MLA Jane Groenewegen launched against then premier Don Morin in 1998.

Territorial government watchers may recall that at the time the board, then known as the management and services board, rejected a request from Groenewegen for legal expenses she incurred to pursue her successful conflict-of-interest complaint against Morin.

At the time, board meetings were closed and members were not allowed to discuss board matters publicly.

Groenewegen is now deputy premier and a member of the board of management and meetings are open to the public. She was one of the few friends Kakfwi had at the board meeting, defending the expansion as an economical use of available space.

Saying her perspective on the proposed expansion of cabinet offices may be affected by her previous experience as a businessperson, Groenewegen supported the expansion.

"When you can use that space sensibly, for a small cost, it makes sense," she said.

The renovation would have expanded the cabinet area into two offices used by regular MLAs in previous governments, increasing the size of a cabinet meeting room and opening up new space for photocopying and storage.

"The present cabinet room is very small. Everyone who has been in it agrees, perhaps with the exception of a couple of ex-ministers," said Kakfwi. He later said the issue has become a "sort of ours and theirs turf war."

Referring to the reference, Roland responded, "Mr. Kakfwi made reference to a couple of ex-cabinet ministers. I take it he's referring to myself and Mr. Miltenberger, since we're the only ex-ministers at the table."

Both Roland and Yellowknife MLA Charles Dent said the seven-member cabinet should be able to get by on space that for years was adequate for larger cabinets.

"It seems to me government has grown though we've gotten smaller," said Dent. "Given our fiscal situation why would we spend $60,000 on our own offices?"

The renovation request was turned down by the board when it was first presented, last Monday. Following that meeting, the premier requested a chance to discuss the decision with the board.

When Thursday's meeting began, Kakfwi said photocopier space had been found and another room secured for cabinet meetings.

"This issue is resolved as I understand it," he said, later asking, "What does it take to make a decision?"

The board later voted unanimously to uphold the decision not to renovate.