.

Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - In recent weeks, Michael Miltenberger has seen pictures of young girls smiling while they hold up a sign declaring "Fire Miltenberger."

The finance minister has opened Yellowknifer to read a scathing editorial that portrays him as an unbending member of cabinet who is biased against the NWT capital, and shudders at the thought of him ever becoming premier.

Is Michael Miltenberger really the devil people are making him out to be? "The great Satan?" he asked. "I'm sure that's probably one of the kinder names I've been called in some quarters." Miltenberger has taken his share of shots as the government rolls ahead with it's board reform initiative. The 57-year-old MLA for Thebacha said he tries to keep things in perspective and not take things personally. - Herb Mathisen/NNSL photo

Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen even called him "annoying" and said he lacked people skills earlier in this session of the legislative assembly.

As lead minister of the refocusing government committee, he has received the brunt of government criticism over the board reform policy and has been fingered as one of the architects of the unpopular supplementary health benefit program.

So just who is this man who has generated so much vitriol in the community?

"I'm just a carpenter from a small town. I like to build things," said Miltenberger, 57, the fourth-term Thebacha MLA from Fort Smith.

Miltenberger has developed some thick skin over his 13-year stint in the legislative assembly - eight of which have been spent in cabinet - including his present gig as the finance minister and deputy premier.

"I don't bother checking the blogs," he said, but added he keeps up with the newspapers, as well as e-mails from constituents. He said he's seen the signs that have gone up around town calling him a communist.

"Am I all those things they say I am?" he asked. "No."

Miltenberger, who is just as likely to deflect a difficult question with a quick quip as he is to be seen walking the halls of the legislative assembly in one of his many brightly coloured ties, acknowledged that emotions run high when people's livelihoods are affected by decisions like the board reform initiative - but said such criticism comes with the job.

"I do make a point not to take it personally," he said.

To deal with the stress, Miltenberger said he wakes up every morning at 4 a.m. and does cardio exercises.

Also, he said putting things into perspective helps him deal with the pressure of public office.

"I know my grandson and granddaughter love me no matter what. They don't care what the papers say."

Miltenberger denied allegations that he is biased against the capital city.

"I have no particular axe to grind with Yellowknife," he said.

He added he has spent a great deal of time working in the city at the legislative assembly over the past 13 years. He said he has been coming to the city since he was a "wee lad for all sorts of events."

He said Yellowknife does enjoy some benefit as the capital and largest community in the territory - and said this has been evident lately, with the amount of feedback and protests by citizens at the legislative assembly.

Yellowknifers "have the benefit of the legislature being here," he said, adding if they want to come down to make their point known, they can easily do so.

"No other community has that benefit," he said, adding that he rarely sees even a handful of his Thebacha constituents make it to the legislative assembly to make their voices heard.

Miltenberger, who threw his hat into the ring for the position of premier at the start of this government in 2007, said it's far too early to discuss whether he would run for premier in the 17th assembly.

"As I told my wife (Jeri), I'll be happy just to get my first budget through the house," he said.