Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Jun 16/00) - Andrew Gaule has been appointed to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation's board of directors.

The Fort Simpson resident's appointment is effective until June 14, 2003, it was announced last week by Jake Ootes, minister responsible for the Power Corporation.

Gaule runs his own training and consulting business and has served on several boards and agencies including the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce and Nogha Enterprises.

Asked why he was interested in being a board member considering the Power Corp.'s uncertain future in Fort Simpson, Gaule said, "I think the appointment to the Power Corporation goes beyond what's happening strictly in Fort Simpson right now. What I'm going to try to bring to the Power Corp. is some kind of regional perspective on issues surrounding public utilities.

"I think the Deh Cho region ... is different from other areas of the North, and I think that's something that needs to be represented."

As president of the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce last year, Gaule had urged village council to evaluate all their options before signing a 15-year franchise agreement with the Power Corp. that would have meant a power rate increase.

Last week, Gaule said the Power Corp. still has to improve the way it's dealing with challenges in this region.

"In the past, I've pointed out myself that the Power Corporation doesn't seem to be doing things, perhaps, in the best possible way," he said.

"I still think that if a community is looking at any kind of long-term relationship, it needs to address all of the options available ... I think the situation in Fort Simpson is at a stage where the public will decide what happens here. "There's a process in place here that's going to unfold, and that goes beyond the appointment of any particular board member."