Fort Simpson (Mar 03/06) - Keep the status quo was the predominant message heard by the electoral boundaries commission as they travelled across the Deh Cho.

The three-person commission is considering how many MLAs the Northwest Territories should have and if any changes are needed to the boundaries of electoral districts.

Given the opportunity, every community would ask for its own MLA to gain a stronger voice in the legislative assembly, but a line has to be drawn somewhere, said Justice John Vertes, the chairperson of the commission.

Ideally, each riding would also have the same number of people and voters, but it's an impossible goal to achieve, Vertes said.

With a population of approximately 2,305 people in the riding, the Nahendeh, whose MLA is Kevin Menicoche, is in the middle of the scale in terms of representation compared to population.

The Deh Cho riding, whose MLA is Michael McLeod, is on the far end of the scale with a population of approximately 1,258, making it the second smallest riding by population and, therefore, over represented.

Judging from the comments at the commission meeting held in Fort Providence on Feb. 15, Vertes said the community is happy with the current system. But it is also the big community in the Deh Cho riding, said Vertes.

In Fort Simpson, participants at the commission meeting on Feb. 22 suggested the Nahendeh boundaries remain the same.

"For Fort Simpson and Nahendeh, I can see no reason to change," said Peter Shaw.

Having one MLA for Nahendeh allows them to gain a better understanding of how events are effecting the communities and how that changes their relationship with Fort Simpson, said Chris Hewitt.

John Hazenberg echoed this sentiment.

Fort Simpson serves as both a service and business centre for many other communities. If the village had its own MLA it might hurt the relationships with the communities, he said. Hazenberg added that Fort Simpson doesn't seem to have a big enough population to support its own MLA.

Menicoche also thinks the present boundaries are working.

"If anything I would support a status quo," said Menicoche, who was in Yellowknife.

Menicoche said he considered arguing for a second MLA, but decided against it after taking into consideration the population base in the region and the additional cost for another position.

Menicoche noted that one of the concerns raised in the 2003 elections was that Fort Liard often feels left out by the government in decision making. Menicoche said he's been trying to travel to Fort Liard often and give a voice to their concerns.

No one attended the commission meeting held in Fort Liard on Feb. 23.