Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 09/05) - A group of MLAs descended on the Dehcho last week and asked: How would you spend $1 billion dollars?

With the 2006-2007 territorial budget about to enter the planning phase, the politicians are criss-crossing the territory and - for the first time - fielding suggestions on how to spend the cash.

"We saw a void in the budget planning process," said Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche, who chaired a meeting Aug. 29 in Fort Simpson meeting that featured four of his legislative counterparts.The committee met the following day in Trout Lake.

Fort Simpson residents trotted out their laundry lists of projects that they believe need more funding, ranging from street paving to student financial assistance.

Among the speakers was Fort Simpson mayor Raymond Michaud, who said the MLAs should re-visit the idea of apprentice programs for government departments.

"The situation is bad now and going to get worse," Michaud said of the shortage of skilled workers in the public service. "It is important to train locally, because local will stay home."

Money talks

Several speakers asked the MLAs to spend more on youth programs, especially in smaller communities like Fort Simpson.

"Everybody says: 'Youth, youth, youth', but you need to put some money behind those words," said Lorayne Menicoche Moses, who works with teens in Fort Simpson.

Others, like resident Rita Cazon, said the government should cut spending on the myriad of regional boards that oversee social services like education.

"You guys are wasting a lot of money in those areas," she said. The five-member committee was scheduled to stop in Trout Lake Tuesday before heading onto Lutsel K'e.

The information they compile will be used during pre-budget planning, which begins this fall. The final budget will be released in February, after debate between the government and regular MLAs.

"This is a new process and I hope it proves to be a valuable exercise," said Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen.