Yellowknife (May 23/05) - Premier Joe Handley is calling on Ottawa to get the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board working again.

"They've got to get on with doing business," Handley said after board business stalled again last week in a conflict between chair Todd Burlingame and members of a panel representing unsettled land claim areas.

Premier Handley: - "It's silly, a bunch of spoiled people are trying to do each other in."

"I don't care how they do it, but they've got to resolve it. It's silly, a bunch of spoiled people are trying to do each other in. It's not working."

Established five years ago, the Mackenzie board issues land access and water use permits for all major developments in the Northwest Territories.

The panel representing unsettled claim areas - the Deh Cho, Akaitcho and Dogrib regions - has been in turmoil since Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott named Burlingame as chair over three candidates nominated by the board.

Burlingame suspended board business a month ago and again last Wednesday when the unsettled area panel challenged his move to limit their comments to the business agenda.

Several land and water permits - including the Deh Cho Bridge - were put on hold until Friday when Burlingame assembled an emergency tribunal to deal with them.

The Friday tribunal included Eric Menicoche, a member of the rebellious panel, Margaret Nazon and George John from the Gwich'in board. According to some readings of the Mackenzie Valley Resources Management Act, that amounts to a suspension of appointed directors, which is beyond Burlingame's authority.

According to one account obtained by News/North, Burlingame started the Wednesday meeting by telling unsettled area panel members that he could select who would deal with permits and they must limit their discussions to the applications.

"He was attempting to prevent us from speaking about matters of concern at an open meeting of what is supposed to be an independent, transparent process," said Jack Van Camp, a territorial government appointee to the board, in a memo to his MLA Michael Miltenberger.

Panel members objected and passed a resolution that they be allowed to speak freely about matters of concern. Burlingame shut down the meeting.

Handley has protested Burlingam's appointment, but won't take sides in the board dispute and said it's time for Scott to step in.

"He's put Burlingame there, now make it work. If the other members are just being mischievous, remove them. But we've got to get on with business," Handley said.

An angry Willard Hagen, chair of the Gwich'in Land and Water Board, is also calling for an end to the internal bickering.

"I'm pissed off with people pursuing personal agendas. It's unprofessional - maybe they should all resign," said Hagen, who may ask Scott to intervene.

The Mackenzie Valley Resources Management Act "gives him the powers to remove directors for not carrying out their duties," Hagen said.

The internal bickering has "tarnished the reputation of the board. We want to put the shine back on," Hagen said.