Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 19, 2007
LAC LA MARTE - Tlicho Grand Chief George Mackenzie has suspended the Chief Executive Council (CEC) until further notice, requiring all assembly members to be present at government meetings.
Other agreements of the 12th Tlicho Assembly
• The Tlicho government transferred $2 million to the Tlicho Community Services Agency.
• The money will go towards the delivery and administration of social programs, early childhood education and Tlicho scholarships. John B. Zoe, executive officer for the Tlicho government, says the government has loosely been contracting out these services for the past few years. The transfer and contract formalizes the relationship, and allows the agency to budget for the services
• The Tlicho government will contribute $865,000 to the Gameti school expansion project, in addition to a loan amount of $2 million.
• The government originally agreed to give $500,000 to the school last August, when the GNWT approved an extra $3.05 million. Zoe says that with the ongoing negotiations, the price of the project has increased, reflected in the additional $365,000. The interest-free loan of $2 million will go to the contractor Behchoko Development Corp. to get the project under way.
|
The suspension was passed by the Tlicho Assembly that met in Whati Nov. 6 to 8, disbanding a main forum for chiefs and sub chiefs to discuss policy. The decision comes after three of the four Tlicho chiefs on the council demanded Mackenzie's resignation. They withdrew their request after Mackenzie received unanimous support from the assembly and community members at an emergency session in Behchoko at the end of October.
"Assembly members have to understand what the vision is," said Mackenzie, who leads one of Canada's first Aboriginal self-governments. "Not just participate, but support it."
Gameti Chief Henry Gon said he's ready to move on with the government, and considers the incident part of the political process.
"We have to keep a tab on each other," said Gon. "If leaders are not doing well, as chiefs we have to give them a little push."
He does hope the CEC won't be suspended for too long.
"The CEC has a lot of work to do and people have to understand," said Gon. "We can't delay what our government has to do."
To get the government going, Gon and Chief Charlie Jim Nitsiza both emphasized the importance of holding workshops so government and community members better understand the self-government agreement and the constitution.
To accomplish this, the assembly delegated the Chief Operating Officer to organize a series of workshops on leadership, healing, and understanding the constitution.
"The government needs to understand the agreement. I asked for the workshop so we can know where we're going," said Nitsiza.
Mackenzie takes his right to suspend the executive council from section 8.1 of the Tlicho constitution which gives the Assembly "the responsibility and authority to implement the Tlicho Agreement and to protect and ensure good government of the Tlicho Government and its rights, titles and interests."
With the chiefs not consulting with their assembly members who supported Mackenzie, he said that was an example of not adhering to good governance.
"By putting the meetings back to the assembly, we all have equal calling and no one has more power than the other," said Mackenzie.
John B. Zoe, the Tlicho executive officer, says that under the constitution the assembly has the authority to implement the agreement and make laws in relation to the implementation. The CEC looks at the laws and implements the assembly's direction. In light of recent events, Zoe said the CEC was no longer able to carry out this function.
"They're saying 'it's our laws, we'll implement them ourselves,'" said Zoe. Once the assembly is comfortable with the CEC, they'll be re-instated.
Behchoko Chief Leon Lafferty, the most outspoken of the three chiefs who sought Mackenzie's resignation, was not present at the meeting due to medical reasons, according to Zoe. He could not be reached for comment prior to deadline.
During the Whati meeting, the assembly also passed a motion to hold regular monthly meetings. While the constitution outlines that at least five meetings be held annually, Mackenzie said they will obviously have more now with monthly meetings. The meetings will be at a set time every month so that assembly members can plan their schedules ahead of time.
The assembly also decided to appoint an elder advisory council. Although they won't have any power over the assembly, they will provide advice on issues. This comes after the elders expressed strong dissatisfaction with the conflict between Mackenzie and the three dissenting chiefs.
Mackenzie says he's leading these actions in hopes of ensuring the success of the Tlicho government.
"I want to hear there's going to be healing among us, forgiveness among us," said Mackenzie. "You have to be positive for the people, whether you agree with it or not, to me it's important."
