SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Two contracts that Premier Floyd Roland awarded to two former cabinet ministers - one 59 days after the minister left office - has Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley questioning how the government issues them.

Brendan Bell: Will not speak about the specifics of the contract work -

Brendan Bell, former minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and the Conservative candidate in last year's federal election, was awarded a $230,000 sole-sourced contract with the Department of the Executive less than three months after leaving office.

Former finance minister John Todd, who held a seat in the NWT legislative assembly from 1991 to 1999, was paid $48,000 for a similar contract.

Bromley said he is concerned the contracts undermine the democratic process.

"While we begin a new legislative assembly after an election, there are new ministers put in place through a leadership selection process," Bromley said in the legislature on Monday afternoon. "Yet when we quickly hire back departing ministers to guide our political directions and policy development, we are usurping the decisions of our voting public."

Premier Floyd Roland said the contracting was for help in creating policies, and said there is no problem hiring someone with expertise and experience on Northern issues to advance the agenda of the legislative assembly.

"Once we decide as an assembly what direction we want to go in ... they can help us open doors and help us build a message on what we've decided as an assembly," Roland said.

Bell's contract states that, as president of Northern Strategy Group, he would provide "strategic advice and assistance to the premier and his office" regarding inter-provincial and federal relationships, as well as issues related to the premier's portfolios.

In an e-mail to Yellowknifer, Bell, MLA for Yellowknife South from 1999 to 2007, wrote that he would not speak about the specifics of the contract work, but said he followed due diligence in accepting the work.

"Prior to accepting any work, I sought advice from the conflict of interest commissioner to ensure I abided by our laws and regulations," Bell wrote. "I have followed his advice since leaving office."

Todd and Bell served with Roland in the legislative assembly for four and eight years, respectively.

In the legislature Thursday, Bromley said Bell was a registered as a lobbyist for four companies during the time he was working on contract for the GNWT. Those companies were Harry Winston Diamonds, Norterra, Mackenzie Aboriginal Organization - all confirmed with the Canada lobbyist registry - and Discovery Air, which received a $34-million loan from the GNWT last year.

Bell said Thursday he had done work for Discovery Air in the past but his company had nothing to do with the Discovery Air bailout.

Roland said if members want to tighten up policy on the period whereby former MLAs are not eligible for government work, then they can have that debate, but he cautioned more restrictions could potentially hinder the government's work.

"We're a small jurisdiction in the NWT," Roland said. "A lot of people spend their time building up their relationships. How far do we go, and do we lose that opportunity to use that experience and expertise at another table?"

Currently, MLAs cannot take government contracts for one year after leaving office - but only if the contract is with a department of which they were the minister.