Yellowknife (Nov 03/04) - The Legislative Assembly adjourned for the holidays on Friday, but not before a few new motions were carried to spice things up when the assembly resumes on Feb. 9.

On Friday, Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay introduced a successful motion asking the government to place a cap on special warrants -- the function by which cabinet spends money when the assembly is not sitting.

Regular MLAs are not consulted on special warrants and the money spent cannot be rescinded later.

The kicker, said Ramsay, was the $3.4 million allocated to airport spending -- a move made under special warrant.

"Just by spending that $3.4 million, they're forced to come back for more," he said. "The public had no chance on this."

Ramsay's motion calls for an amendment to the Financial Administration Act, and that all MLAs be given "reasonable advance notice of special warrants prior to their issuance."

Ramsay said he would like to see a requirement similar to the stipulation that MLAs be given 14 days notice on guarantees or indemnities exceeding $500,000.

Ramsay's motion also notes that to date, the government has approved nearly $25 million in special warrants for fiscal 2004-2005.

"I think we got their attention," the MLA said, "and that's the important thing."

Power rates redux

On Thursday, a motion from Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen was carried asking the government to "review the Territorial Power Subsidy Program (TPSP) immediately to ensure that consumers in communities which rely on diesel power do not suffer any further hardship as a result of increasing oil prices."

The motion was seconded by Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche, which Groenewegen said was significant because he had previously suggested revisiting the single-rate zone plan.

Groenewegen said she preferred a review of the power subsidy program.

"I think there are more expedient and cost-effective ways to deal with the issue than a single-rate zone," she said.

A motivating factor is the rising cost of crude oil, which recently exceeded $55 U.S. per barrel. Currently, said Groenewegen, the TPSP equalizes residential rates for the first 700 kilowatt-hours each month and qualifying business rates for 1,000 kilowatt-hours. After that threshold, market rates are paid.

In the communities, said Groenewegen, "we're already to that point where (power rates) can be prohibitive to economic development."

In the Legislature on Thursday, Finance Minister Floyd Roland pointed out that prices won't change until the present supply is exhausted, but Groenewegen said she wants action before it's too late. "We need to be proactive, and not wait until the crisis hits," she said.