SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Representatives from two GNWT departments will continue to sit on the city's Social Issues Committee, despite the territorial government's earlier decision to remove itself from the committee.

The Social Issues Committee started in April 2010. Its purpose is to act as an adviser to the city, GNWT and federal government, providing information and suggestions as to how to deal with social issues in Yellowknife.

In a letter sent to Mayor Gord Van Tighem on March 21, deputy ministers from the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Justice said they would no longer be taking part as regular members of the committee because of "potential conflicts of interest."

It also suggested that the role of the representatives on the committee change to a lesser one, by providing information and making presentations when necessary, but not attending every meeting.

As discussions in the committee involved GNWT policies, the bureaucrats sitting on the committee were in an uncomfortable position, according to Justice Minister Jackson Lafferty.

"One of the key messages that came back was the potential conflict of interest that may have been perceived where departmental staff were sitting at the meeting with all the discussions and decisions that were being made. It was very uncomfortable for them," Lafferty said in the legislative assembly on May 13.

Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy and Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro told the ministers of Health and Social Services and of Justice that while they understand the potential for conflict of interest, the GNWT needs to attend the meetings regularly to stay on top of social issues in the territory's capital city.

"I suggest to avoid a potential conflict of interest, that the GNWT commit to having representatives from both of these departments attend these committee meeting as non-voting advisers," said Abernethy.

During question period, Jackson Lafferty said his department would be more than willing to act in an advisory rather than decision-making role.

Health Minister Michael Miltenberger shared that view.

"We're receptive to the types of suggestions made by (Abernethy)," he said.

City councillor Amanda Mallon, who chairs the committee, said she was happy to hear the GNWT would continue to have a presence on the committee.

"With the commitment that we got from both ministers, that was really beneficial, so we know we can carry on with the work without two empty chairs," she said.

Changing the role of representatives from the GNWT won't have much of an effect on the committee, said Mallon, who compared their place at the table to that of many members of the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition.

"The Homelessness Coalition has a whole pile of people on the table and not everybody there can vote, but everybody has something to offer the group."

The Social Issues Committee meets every three months. The next meeting is at city hall at noon, June 23. Mallon said the public is welcome to attend. The committee is working to put together a website where residents can go to find different community organizations that need volunteer workers.

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