Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 03/00) - Divisions between the territorial cabinet and ordinary MLAs grew last week with the news of the postponement of $10 million in government construction projects.

In the case of a planned construction of a new Aurora College campus in Inuvik, the bad news was compounded by the way it was delivered -- at the last minute.

Inuvik Boot Lake MLA Floyd Roland said he was informed of the delay last Tuesday despite being assured by the Education Minister Jake Ootes he would be kept informed of any changes.

"The only thing transparent about this government is the government's commitment to transparency," Roland told the legislative assembly March 29.

The new campus, to cost $8 million, was to replace an aging army base that was converted to student rooms, said Inuvik Mayor George Roach. Roach said the campus is very costly to operate.

"Kids are walking around there with their parkas on with the assumption that they just had to get through it this year," said the mayor. "I don't know what (the government) was thinking."

The new residence was to be built on the former site of Grollier Hall.

Roland said getting such bad news earlier allows he and his constituents to better prepare.

"Because I was a member of the 13th assembly, I know we were provided with more information than we are now," he said.

Questions about why the project, once slated to be a private-public partnership (in which a private company builds a facility and then leases it to government), was switched to a capital project have yet to be answered, said Roland.

Ootes said he knew the project was going to be delayed a month before he informed Roland and offered an apology for not providing the information sooner.

Another project postponed by the same department was the planned renovation of the Deninoo School in Fort Resolution. Tunedeh MLA Steven Nitah said he was informed of the decision to delay the renovation weeks ahead of time.

"I accept the reality of the government's fiscal situation," said Nitah.

"It's hard for me to accept on a constituency level, but I have to live with it. I'm disappointed with the government, I'm disappointed for the people of Fort Resolution, but (the government) assured me it's still on the books and it's going to happen."

Finance Minister Joe Handley said the deferral of the projects began with the last government, which instructed departments to identify projects which could be delayed.

Programs that have been put on hold include the $200,000 Nahanni Butte Tower, a $450,000 office garage complex in Holman, $840,000 worth of projects in Hay River, and the $2 million reconstruction of Highway 4 near Fort Smith.