Inuvik (Oct 03/03) - The shape and structure of a new system of government was debated Monday night in Inuvik.

Negotiators from federal and territorial governments and the Beaufort Delta met with Inuvik town council to speak to their questions and concerns. Issues of taxation and financing, voting breakdown, ratification of the agreement and government structure were discussed during the two-hour meeting.

Town manager Jerry Veltman said there is concern over municipal taxation and wondered if taxes collected here, would flow out to other communities.

Bob Simpson, chief negotiator for the Beaufort Delta self-government office said that all property taxes collected here would stay here.

Simpson said the federal government has agreed to give back 100 per cent of GST collected here as well as much of the income tax collected.

While much of that pool will be collected in Inuvik, the funds will be distributed throughout the region based on population and need.

Simpson compared the distribution of wealth to the current system used in the territory.

"Sixty-five per cent of all NWT taxes are collected in Yellowknife and Inuvik does draw benefit from that," Simpson said.

Since much of the financing arrangement is tied to devolution and resource royalty and revenue sharing, many questions on financing could not be answered.

Inuvik Mayor Peter Clarkson brought forward the regional government structure, which allows one vote for each community. Clarkson said although Inuvik has 50 percent of the population, they have less than eight per cent of the voting power.

"In the seven other communities that aren't tax-based, we are viewed as the fat cats, regardless of the population," Clarkson said.

"You see that at the Beaufort Delta Interim Regional Council and it will also carry over to self-government."

Simpson said Inuvik still stands to benefit greatly as the regional centre for all services and the equal representation provides a level of comfort to communities.

"It's not so much who has the power, but how you share that power," he said.

Clarkson pointed out that consensus government has not worked well for Inuvik until recently.

"We can hope that everyone will work in the spirit of co-operation and consensus, but the territorial government has not been the best example of that," Clarkson said. "Inuvik has sat on the outside for 15 years without any capital funding."

Another question town council had was concerning the voting structure of elections. The new Beaufort Delta council will be composed of eight councillors: two Gwich'in, two Inuvialuit and four at-large.

Beneficiaries can vote for their candidates and the at- large candidates, but non-beneficiaries can only vote for the at-large candidates. Every voter gets four votes.

The argument was made that beneficiaries have six candidates to choose from and others only four.

Simpson said this single issue broke down talks for six months and they looked at 20 separate models, but this was the model all agreed on.

He said the inherent right to self-government and the right of Canadian citizenship guarantees aboriginal representation.

Inuvialuit negotiator Vince Teddy said that the Inuvialuit right to govern themselves is a guarantee, the right to share that governance is a decision.

"We want to share this right with everyone else within the region -- within our region," Teddy said. "This is our choice -- no one is forcing us to do it."

"The heart and soul of the right of governance for any aboriginal group is to have meaningful effect on the government," Teddy said. "Once you allow someone else to vote ... it's no longer an aboriginal right of governance."

Once the final agreement is drafted, there will be a public vote to accept or reject the agreement.