Herb Mathisen
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 23, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - For nearly a month, regular MLAs complained to cabinet that they had not been consulted in drafting the budget.

On June 17, they thanked cabinet for listening during the budget debate by passing it unanimously.

Regular MLAs spent weeks asking for certain spending to be deleted and recommended reinstatement of funds in different areas.

At the second reading of the budget, six regular MLAs opposed it, one abstained from voting and the other four said they were only supporting it to debate it in committee.

MLAs had been cynical throughout session.

By June 17, however, they were openly appreciative that the amended budget now contained their input.

Jane Groenewegen, MLA for Hay River South and head of the standing committee, said the budget concessions showed the concerns of regular MLAs were listened to.

"Through our motions - and there was an unusual solidarity on the regular members side of the house - we saw movement on the things that were priorities and concerns to (us) and as a result, we decided to move on," she said.

Groenewegen said only about 40 jobs will now be lost, and added that with the reinvestment strategies outlined by the premier, as many as 124 jobs could be created.

"At the end of the day, in the public service, there is a actually net gain," she said.

"That does not do much to comfort the people whose positions will be affected by the reductions."

"This is the most amended budget in the history of the Government of the Northwest Territories," said minister Michael Miltenberger.

The Union of Northern Workers (UNW) committed $1 million to fight the proposed reductions.

"Certainly, we feel it was a successful campaign on behalf of the citizens of the Northwest Territories," said Todd Parsons, president of the UNW.

The budget was made official Tuesday night, without fanfare and no spectators in the gallery.

In an interview on June 16, Roland said he saw the budget vote of confidence for the government. He suggested he would step down as premier if it failed.

Roland will now give up finance minister's post.

He said he will shuffle cabinet at the end of June or early July.