Yellowknife (Mar 31/06) - A Yellowknife MLA has asked for taxpayers money to cover door prizes he bought for a Valentine’s Day party and a gift he gave a recently-promoted constituent among other purchases.

Robert Hawkins, who represents Yellowknife Centre, asked Monday to be re-imbursed for the purchases, totalling more than $1,000.

The four purchases included:

1. door prizes he bought for a Valentine’s Day party last February;
2. a gift for a constituent who was promoted;
3. another gift to encourage an out-of-towner to move to Yellowknife; and,
4. a television he bought for $800 at a charity auction.

Government bureaucrats first denied the claims, so Hawkins turned this week to the Board of Management, a group of fellow MLAs that oversees member spending.

“I sort of see that as constituency work to some degree,” Hawkins told them, speaking about the Valentine’s Day event and the door prizes. Hawkins said he spent the night discussing

issues with constituents and “enjoying the time of the evening.”

Other MLAs were skeptical, however.

“If you’re seen as enticing people to meetings with prizes, that’s not a good thing,” said Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay.

Government rules allow MLAs to spend a maximum of $75 on gifts for constituents. Those, however, usually mark milestones like 100th birthdays or 50th wedding anniversaries, said Legislative Assembly clerk Tim Mercer. They are also allowed to donate money for events like community feasts.

Hawkins’ gifts - which were all under the $75 limit - fall into a legislative “gray area,” Mercer said.

“We’ve never had a request for (a gift) for a job promotion. In our view, they did not fall within the spirit and intent of the regulations.”

The Board of Management decided late Monday to reject the claim for the television, but would revisit the other items down the road.

Hawkins said Wednesday he was simply trying to support his constituents and questioned legislative spending rules which he described as ill-defined.

“I think it’s appropriate to acknowledge significant (events). We’re not talking about lots of money. We get numerous requests to support community functions. It’s one of those things - you try to do a good thing and it doesn’t work out.”

Despite the ruling, Hawkins said he would continue to support charities and community events.

“I tried to go a good thing. I guess this means I will just have to support them out of my own pocket. And I will.”