Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 26/01) - Stephen Kakfwi will announce Monday whether or not he will continue as premier.

Facing reporters in the legislative assembly yesterday, Premier Stephen Kakfwi said, "I need to know from my cabinet ministers support me and are committed to me, and I need them to say that publicly." - Merle Robillard/NNSL photo Reporting

Kakfwi said Thursday he is considering his options in the face of an ultimatum he said he received from a number of MLAs: fire chief of staff Lynda Sorensen and principle secretary John Bayly or face a vote of non-confidence.

"I need a few days to decide," said the premier in a hastily called appearance in the Great Hall. "If they're going to move motions of non-confidence, am I prepared to go through that?"

Kakfwi would not name the MLAs who issued the ultimatum.

On Wednesday some MLAs said action needs to be taken against the chief of staff and principal secretary for their role in the secret recording of a March 26 phone call to conflict of interest commissioner Carol Roberts.

Bayly made the call to draw out incriminating evidence from Roberts. He did not tell her that Sorensen and others, including cabinet minister Jane Groenewegen, were in the room listening in on speakerphone.

A special committee of MLAs looking into an allegation of bias made by Groenwegen against Roberts recommended this week that Groenwegen and Roberts resign, and urged Kakfwi to fire Sorensen and Bayly.

So far, the only one to leave is Groenwegen, who gave up her cabinet seat Wednesday.

The premier's emergency statement came an hour after a caucus meeting of all MLAs called to determine a process and a time for selecting a replacement for resigned cabinet minister Jane Groenewegen.

They never got to that issue.

Calling it a "palace coup," Yellowknife MLA Sandy Lee said that during the meeting there was a suggestion that the ballot for selecting a new minister include a confidence vote for both Kakfwi and Transportation Minister Vince Steen.

"This is about overthrowing government," said Lee, condemning the action.

Typically cabinet ministers are selected by the territorial leadership committee. Composed of all MLAs, the committee debates the merits of candidates publicly and selects ministers by a vote of secret ballot.

Inuvik MLA Floyd Roland said the committee is one way of addressing concerns about confidence in the premier.

"He's going to have to go a long way (to restore my confidence)," said Roland, who was a rival of Kakfwi's when the premier was chosen.

Lack of confidence

Yellowknife MLA Charles Dent said the premier's absolute refusal to consider any further discipline against Bayly and Sorensen undermines confidence in the premier.

"To me, he has not responded adequately," Dent said. "I'm not going to say specifically what I think he should do. It is his office and he has the opportunity to deal with it.

Michael Miltenberger agreed. "There is a concern that it's not appropriate for (Bayly and Sorensen) to be in those positions any longer," he said. The Thebacha MLA said he is willing to consider options other than resignations.

After a harsh attack on the committee on Wednesday, Kakfwi's stance softened somewhat yesterday. He said he may reassign staff.

Support for the premier was not long in coming. Three hours after the emergency statement was made, Dogrib Grand Chief Joe Rabesca showed up at the assembly with a letter of support in hand. "We all need Premier Kakfwi to remain at the helm of the government of the Northwest Territories," Rabesca wrote.