Herb Mathisen
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 9, 2008

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Last Monday, Jane Groenewegen, MLA for Hay River South, accused Housing Corp. Minister Michael Miltenberger of intimidation and raised a point of privilege against him.

Groenewegen saw a statement made by Miltenberger as a threat to a capital project in her riding, adding it is unusual for ministers to speak about projects in their own constituencies.

The accusation stems from a Friday afternoon discussion about a committee motion. In the motion, $320,000 was deleted from the budget to hold off on replacements at the Territorial Women's Correctional Centre in Fort Smith.

Some MLAs said they wanted to wait on work until a thorough investigation of all territorial correctional centres was done, specifically the Arctic Tern facility in Inuvik, which is proposed for closure.

Miltenberger said, in response to MLAs wanting out-of-the-box thinking, that perhaps instead of moving people to a supportive living facility - slated for construction in Hay River - "that has yet to be built. Has that been considered as a possibility for Arctic Tern?"

"I do not agree that there's a point of privilege," said Miltenberger Monday. "It's part of the debate, and I believe it was entirely within keeping within the context of the debate."

Speaker of the House Paul Delorey ruled Thursday that while Groenewegen was justified in raising the matter, he did not find a breach of privilege, with the evidence before him.

"Intimidation and obstruction of a member is one of the most serious breaches of parliamentary privilege," said Delorey, who did urge MLAs to exercise restraint and control in debate.

"In reviewing the transcripts in the context of the point of privilege, I was surprised and concerned by the tone and context of the debate that day. Debate was frequently unrelated to the matter at hand," said Delorey, in his ruling.

"False or hidden motives were attributed to some members, and comments were made which were likely to, and in my view intended to create disorder in this chamber," said Delorey.

"The people we serve expect better from us, as elected leaders."

Groenewegen said it "has been extremely rare" for ministers to speak of their constituencies during session.

Premier Floyd Roland agreed.

"We know for a fact that (MLAs) that become ministers are somewhat tied down to a process - what they can do - in trying to work on behalf of their constituency," he said, although he added that there are times where ministers have spoken about issues affecting their ridings.

Had Speaker Paul Delorey ruled in favour of Groenewegen and found a breach of privilege, Miltenberger would really only receive a "slap on the wrist," Delorey said.

That would go on Miltenberger's record, though, and Delorey said they are not a good thing to have build up.

"You probably wouldn't survive too many of them," said Delorey.

This is not the first time Groenewegen has called out Miltenberger for speaking about his constituency. On Feb. 18, 2008, Groenewegen had a point of order when Miltenberger addressed a motion by speaking about what was happening in his riding.

"Is Mr. Miltenberger speaking to this as a minister of cabinet, or is he speaking to this as the MLA for Thebacha?" asked Groenewegen.

"Not that I'm trying to deny him, but it's a process question I have. I've never seen it before."