Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 23/00) - On the opening day of the third session, Nunakput MLA Vince Steen presented a petition from his riding calling for Inuinaqtun and Inuvialuktun translation of the proceedings of the legislative assembly.

Ninety-three residents of the riding's communities of Sachs Harbour and Tuktoyaktuk signed the document.

A spokesperson for the legislative assembly said translation is provided on a rotating basis -- each day the proceedings are translated into two of the eleven official languages.

Inuinaqtun and Inuvialuktun are among the official languages not part of the rotation. The spokesperson said demand for those translation into those languages is not as high as the others.

Causing problems for the process

The government got rapped again for hindering instead of helping land claim negotiations.

Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod said confusion is the main thing territorial officials are bringing to land claim discussions in his region.

"The government should be playing a more supportive role in these negotiations or none at all," McLeod said.

Last session North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty said territorial negotiators were delaying Dogrib Treaty 11 negotiations.

Tax this

Three Yellowknife MLAs took turns taking runs at Finance Minister Joe Handley during question period Wednesday.

The issue they focused on was the five per cent accommodation tax Handley said he plans to legislate this year and start collecting next.

The estimated $1.5 million the tax will generate will be used to fund tourism.

Brendan Bell asked Handley if any tourism or business groups had been consulted before the tax was proposed.

"I've talked to a number of people about it, I'm not sure they want me to name them in here," said the minister, adding that he had made no formal presentations to chambers of commerce or tourism associations.

Handley said he is willing to listen to organizations that wish to present their views on the proposal.

Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee said she has already consulted with tourism industry representatives and they believe the tax will harm rather than help the industry.

Responding to questions from Lee, Handley said it would take no more than one position and $100,000 to administer the tax.

Great Slave MLA Bill Braden, a former chairman of the NWT Tourism Association, asked if the tax was part of a larger strategic approach to tourism. Handley said a tourism strategy is in the works.

"I'm not ruling out a tax as an option," said Braden. "I just think it should be part of a larger strategy."

The tax would apply to hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts and lodges with four or more rooms.

Taking the day off

National Aboriginal Day should be a statutory holiday, said Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko.

"This government has to stand up and show its colours when it comes to really recognizing aboriginal people," said Krutko.

He called on Premier Stephen Kakfwi to bring forward legislation to make June 21 a day off for all workers in the NWT.

Kakfwi said the government would consider such a move, but only with the support of aboriginal groups of the NWT.