Yellowknife (Mar 31/04) - While it's unlikely Premier Joe Handley will ever learn to spin himself a loincloth, one regular MLA thinks he should at least find himself a pair of sandals next time he heads to Ottawa.

In a session filled with numerous colloquialisms, Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay compared the premier to the deceased Indian nationalist Mahatma Gandhi, Thursday.

Ramsay was launching into an attack of the federal Liberal government in the legislative assembly when he made his comparison. He told the premier that his diplomatic approach with the federal government wasn't tough enough.

"Mr. Handley does bear some resemblance to Mahatma Gandhi," said Ramsay.

"Maybe he could put on some good sandals and lead us on a march to Ottawa."

Later, during question period, Ramsay questioned Handley on the government's decision to increase the corporate tax rate after it discovered Ottawa was penalizing the NWT for having a lower rate than some other jurisdictions.

Ramsay argued that it sent the wrong message to both Ottawa and the business community.

The premier countered by saying a peaceful approach -- like Gandhi's adherence to pacifism -- can produce good results.

Gandhi stood for non-violence

He pointed to Finance Minister Floyd Roland's success in getting Ottawa to forego rebasing the GNWT's tax effort for a year.

"One thing Gandhi stood for is non-violence," said Handley.

"I'm one that believes, as Gandhi did, that good logical argument will work."