SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The legislative assembly resembled a high school cafeteria Thursday afternoon when a cabinet minister called an MLA a bitch, and followed him into the bathroom.

David Krutko, Mackenzie Delta MLA, said he felt threatened when Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, made comments to him after the house was adjourned for a break. McLeod called him a bitch and Krutko said he would bring it up in the legislative assembly. McLeod followed him into the washroom and said, "If the shoe fits."

Krutko brought the issue up and said members should be able to do their job without being threatened.

"This name is demeaning. It is belittling and more importantly it is a threat," he said. Calling it an "unfortunately turn of events," Finance Minister Michael Miltenberger quickly jumped to McLeod's defence saying there was an exchange and tensions were elevated but he didn't perceive any threats.

"I saw it, too. Tempers flare. A circumstance unfortunately escalated beyond where I think anybody wanted it to," he said.

McLeod apologized but said he didn't perceive his words to be a threat. "I showed poor judgment. I should have just took it for what it was and walked away from it."

Other members reiterated heated exchanges aren't uncommon, but said they should show respect for one another.

Speaker Paul Delorey ruled the name calling didn't constitute a breach of parliamentary procedure and the house continued discussing the health budget.

International interest

A new online recruiting system is drawing people from more than 76 countries, Bob McLeod, minister of Human Resources, told the legislative assembly on Feb. 2.

He said in the two weeks after eRecruit was launched at the beginning of January, more than 800 people signed up to view the postings and 587 people applied to 112 open positions.

McLeod said the electronic system would lead to a "more streamlined, efficient process of recruiting."

Jane Groenewegen, Hay River South MLA, said the interest was positive but asked McLeod what use the international recruiting was if the territorial government couldn't control the immigration process.

McLeod acknowledged there were challenges and he said he would consult with Jackson Lafferty, the minister of Education, Culture and Employment, and the federal departments responsible.

"I've already started investigating where the bottlenecks are and we will be contacting the management in (Service Canada)," he said.

Teeth trouble

Families in Inuvik are shelling out airfare to ensure their children get proper dental care, said David Krutko, Mackenzie Delta MLA, who brought the concern to Health Minister Sandy Lee on Feb. 3. Lee said that might not be the case for long as a new contract has been signed for dental care in Inuvik.

While the territorial government is responsible for ensuring someone is in a community to provide dental services, covering the cost of the service is not part of health care, said Lee. She explained the federal government is responsible for aboriginal peoples' dental care and non-aboriginal people get dental care if they're covered by insurance.