Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Providence (Apr 21/00) - There's a little more protocol than he expected, but otherwise Michael McLeod says he is feeling quite comfortable as the MLA for the Deh Cho.

"It takes a little bit of getting used to bowing, when to stand up, when to sit down (in the legislature)," he said in an interview last week. He added the time clock, which counts down the two-and-a-half minutes MLAs have to make statements in the legislature, is also quite intimidating.

"As soon as you get up and say your first word the clock is turned on. It was very difficult for me to adjust the speed of my speech ... if you talk too fast it sounds like you have marbles in your mouth. If you talk too slow the Speaker cuts you off."

McLeod, speaking this time from the more relaxed confines of his temporary office in the Metis Local building in Fort Providence, said last week was the first time he's had time to begin touching base with his constituents in person since he was sworn-in as an MLA in January.

He's been involved in two legislative sessions and committee work since then. McLeod is a member of the Accountability and Oversights committee and deputy chair of the Social Programs committee. During the first orientation session and the following weeks, there was a stretch of 27 consecutive days without a day off, he said.

"It's meant a lot of time away from home," he said, adding that it's been an adjustment period for him and his family. "There's been some long days."

After learning about how to draft members' statements and the research that goes into them, McLeod raised issues such as the need to re-assess housing programs in small communities, aboriginal language, support for the Western Arctic Leadership Program in Fort Smith (which a number of Deh Cho students are enrolled in), and road issues.

"I reinforced that they should recognize that there's a need for a bridge (to cross the Mackenzie River)," he said, adding that the funding could possibly come from the National Highway Strategy. McLeod said the GNWT's deficit situation and consequent fiscal restraint has put a real strain on what the MLAs are able to accomplish. Many campaign issues require new money, and it's simply not available, he said. The fact that the members of the 13th assembly legislated a four-year funding formula means there's little chance of finding other avenues, he suggested.

Regardless, the issues of housing and economic development remain top priorities in the Deh Cho, said McLeod. The oil and gas industry looks promising on the employment front, and he believes preparing for development can be carried out parallel to the Deh Cho Process (self-government negotiations among the First Nations).

"We have to start looking at what is around the corner ... if a land-use process is established in the next six months, we better be ready," he said, adding that timber harvesting and other value-added industries are also options to pursue.

Having been involved with the Deh Cho Process for many years, McLeod said many of his government colleagues have much to learn about the initiative and he's been doing his best to bring them up to speed.

Without having been at the negotiating table, there's a "huge learning curve" for many MLAs and bureaucrats, he said.

Part of McLeod's learning curve has been the style of government at the territorial level. He said he sees it as a combination of consensus government and party politics. It's not as effective as it could be if everyone were working together to find the answers to issues, he said.

"All of a sudden we become two parties in a sense with the regular members as the opposition. It's forced upon you almost. I think, at some point, we're going to have to go whole-heartedly into one (system) or the other."