Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 02/01) - The minister responsible for the liquor commission, Joe Handley, is looking into the feasibility of extending the time between last call and bar closing.

Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee suggested that may be a way of reducing the "unruliness that happens on some of our Yellowknife streets on weekends, especially after the bars close."

Next great fashion trend?

It was a flash of fashion only Don Cherry could envy.

Answering a challenge from Krutko, Handley, as minister of economic development, wore a muskox tie to demonstrate his support for the fur industry.

"I look forward to seeing the matching head piece," said Handley of the bushy neckpiece. "In fact, I'm considering buying them for cabinet, except I think we'd look a roving band of Talibanic terrorists."

Talk first

The government's consultation process is bass ackwards, said Great Slave MLA Bill Braden.

Braden said the public should be involved as soon as a problem or issue is identified. He cited the rough ride the public gave the proposed hotel tax and highway toll as evidence of what happens when the public is engaged later in the process.

Braden asked Premier Stephen Kakfwi if the government has a consultation policy. The premier said he needed time to check on it.

Underestimated involvement

The government provided $292,000 for aboriginal participation in the revision of the Wildlife Act.

Joe Handley reported the figure Wednesday after being questioned by Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent.

At a public meeting Monday, a senior government official said between $100,000 and $150,000 in funding was provided.

Celebrate!

MLAs provided one more reason to enjoy spring, giving us June 21 to celebrate the contribution aboriginal people have made to Canada.

The assembly was unanimous in its support of making National Aboriginal Day a statutory holiday.

"You have to recognize that aboriginals opened their arms to Europeans when they landed, and were willing to share the land with them," said North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty. "If they didn't do this, we wouldn't be celebrating Canada Day."

The only point of debate was whether another day off should be traded in to save government and private NWT employers the estimated $8 million cost of a day off.

Yellowknife South MLA Brendan Bell said he had considered cancelling the statutory holiday of the first weekend in August to offset the cost.

"I did make this proposal at the committee stage," said Bell. "I don't imagine, after polling my colleagues here today, there is the willingness to move on this amendment."

Bell and other members thanked Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko for initiating the move to make the day a holiday.