Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 15/02) - City councillors got their meeting with the Liberal Member of Parliament for the Western Arctic, and they didn't go behind closed doors to talk to her.

But they didn't hear much new.

Ethel Blondin-Andrew spoke with councillors Tuesday afternoon, touching on remediation of Giant Mine, impacts of the Kyoto Protocol and infrastructure money for the territory.

Following on comments from federal Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal, she said the pipeline is a priority for the prime minister and will be built. However, she hedged her comments when pressed about the government's contribution.

Dhaliwal said the government would not subsidize the Aboriginal Pipeline Group (APG) in its bid to secure money for its $70 million portion of the $4 billion project costs.

Blondin-Andrew fingered the APG as partly to blame, saying "it's not as strong as it used to be. ... it's a very loose coalition right now." To be successful, pipeline proponents will have to form a coalition between parts suppliers and gas extractors, she said.

But councillors were disappointed that Blondin-Andrew took a number of questions under advisement, saying she would need to be briefed before responding at greater length.

"We just had a warm body here saying, 'Unfortunately I'll have to get back to you,'" said Coun. Robert Hawkins, suggesting that council should send Blondin-Andrew a letter asking for her comment on federal downloading of services to municipalities.

That subject was hardly covered during the hour-long session, to the disappointment of several councillors.

Blondin-Andrew did say that the government's current priorities are Iraq, Kyoto and health care. She attacked Coun. Dave Ramsay, saying, "You've been very vitriolic and very unforgiving in your demeanour toward me. I don't think it's very productive."

Ramsay had told news media that it's "tough" to "get the answers you're looking for" from someone like Blondin-Andrew in a public meeting.

"She doesn't like me too much, I don't think," he said after the meeting.

Talking about infrastructure money, and the NWT's failed bid for $133 million -- Ottawa offered $20 million instead -- Blondin-Andrew said the money offered was "a good chunk" of what was requested.

And she, said, there might be an opportunity for more. Basing her statements on what she called a "positive" meeting with Industry Minister Allan Rock -- who is in charge of the infrastructure cash -- she indicated that more money might be forthcoming in the future, although she did not say from where.

"Minister Rock has an expansive mandate with industry, science and technology," she said. "His department is amply supplied with funds. .. I see an opportunity for us to work on an economic development agreement with him and (DIAND) Minister (Robert) Nault."

The only assurance to come from the meeting was that DIAND would approve the terms of reference for a Giant Mine community liaison committee this week. Blondin-Andrew also announced that federal sports secretary Paul DeVillers and Finance Minister John Manley will visit Yellowknife in the near future.

So was the meeting with council a success?

City councillors were fairly united in saying that nothing new came from the meeting.

"I don't think there were any surprises," said Coun. Kevin O'Reilly. "But I think it was helpful to have that dialogue."

Ramsay, meanwhile, attacked the MP for not having the North's best interests in mind.

Blondin-Andrew voted against the Alliance party in a divisive House of Commons vote on secret ballot votes for electing committee chairs -- which the Liberal cabinet opposed, but the majority of the House and 56 members of the Liberal caucus supported in helping the motion pass.

"There's no way she'd vote against what her boss (PM Jean Chretien) wants her to do," he said.

"If that's the case, how is she representing the constituents in the NWT?"