Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
With voters headed to the polls across the NWT today, candidates throughout the territory are waiting to see if they will win the chance to represent their communities in the 17th legislative assembly.

Many incumbent candidates are running in this election, asking their ridings for re-election based on their records over the past four years.

As such, now would be a fitting time to take a few minutes to look over the report cards of these former (and potentially future) members.

Over the past four years, many have run up an impressive attendance record - such as Sandy Lee who missed just two session days and only because her husband was having surgery in Edmonton - while others have run up a truancy record worthy of at least after-school detention.

The most absences were tallied by Jackie Jacobson, who represents Nunakput. In the last four years, Jacobson has been absent from a total of 129 days and 170 meetings.

In an interview with News/North, Jacobson was unapologetic about this attendance record.

"At the end of the day, I have no problems standing up and for anyone who has concerns about my attendance, I always put my constituents first," he said.

Jacobson alleged that the list of missed meetings makes it seem like he has missed more days than he has," That sometimes missing one day means being marked absent for four or five meetings.

Also, Jacobson said the majority of his absences were due to health reasons. He missed three and a half weeks during the Wildlife Act tour because he was in the hospital in Edmonton with double pneumonia and ended up having water in his heart sack.

"That was a scary time, but now I'm healthy, you know, I started working out and doing a lot more stuff around my house getting ready for winter."

One of Jacobson's constituents, Ernest Pokiak Sr., who has sat on the council for Tuktoyaktuk since January of this year, complained that he has barely seen Jacobson at council meetings, or around the community.

"The community didn't even know that he ended up in the hospital three months ago," he said. "The only way we found out is when we saw a column wishing him well at the Edmonton hospital. I don't know why he was so secretive about it."

Pokiak Sr. is alleging that in Tuktoyaktuk, neither candidate - Jacobson nor Eddie Dillon - seem to be present in the race for MLA.

"They could at least be asking people what their interests are and I haven't seen that coming up to the election this year," said Pokiak. "Even a pamphlet would be nice but I haven't seen one.

"I'm concerned because I kind of don't like to see somebody put their name forward and not tell us what they would like to do," he said.

"Because if we don't hear what they would like to do for the region and the people, when they get elected, they could be there for four years and they don't really have to do anything."

However, Jacobson claims that he has been going door to door in communities in his riding, including his hometown of Tuk.

"I mean, I go door to door and I visit with my elders and I visit with people and families," he said.

"So whoever is complaining, I mean, just give me a call and I'll come see you. So it's not like I'm not visible. It's all good. I look forward to Monday."

You can follow News/North's election coverage on Oct. 3 at nnslnewsroom.com.

Total days missed by an MLA

Glen Abernethy, Great Slave: Total missed: 28.

Reasons: 27 for illness, injury or bereavement and one for personal reasons.

Tom Beaulieu, Tu Nedhe: Total missed: 38. Reasons: 19 for duty as a member, minister, premier or speaker, 10 for personal reasons, eight for illness, injury or bereavement and one for no given reason.

Wendy Bisaro, Frame Lake: Total missed: 17. Reasons: Eight for personal reasons, six for duty as a member, minister, premier or speaker, and three for illness, injury or bereavement.

Bob Bromley, Weledeh: Total missed: 14. Reasons: Eight for personal reasons, five for duty as a member, minister, premier or speaker, and one for illness, injury or bereavement.

Paul Delorey, Hay River North: Total missed: 6. Reasons: Four for duty as a minister, premier or speaker, and two for personal reasons.

Jane Groenewegen, Hay River South: Total missed: 29. Reasons: 13 for personal reasons, eight for illness, four for duty as a minister, premier or speaker, three for no given reason, and one for factors outside the member's control.

Robert Hawkins, Yellowknife Centre: Total missed: 25. Reasons: 17 for duty as a minister, premier or speaker, five for personal reasons, two for no given reason, and one for illness, injury or bereavement.

Jackie Jacobson, Nunakput: Total missed: 129.

Reasons: 24 for duty as a minister, premier or speaker, 31 for illness, injury or bereavement, 59 for personal reasons, 10 for factors outside of the member's control, and five for no given reason.

David Krutko, Mackenzie South: Total missed: 35. Reasons: 28 for duty as a minister, premier or speaker, three for personal reasons, three for no given reason, and one for illness, injury or bereavement.

Jackson Lafferty, Monfwi: Total missed: 20. Reasons: 19 for duty as a minister, premier or speaker, and one for personal reasons.

Sandy Lee, Range Lake: Total missed: 2. Reasons: Both for personal reasons (her husband had surgery in Edmonton).

Michael McLeod, Deh Cho: Total missed: 7. Reasons: All seven for duty as a minister, premier or speaker.

Robert C. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes: Total missed: 9. Reasons: All nine for duty as a minister, premier or speaker.

Robert (Bob) R. McLeod, Yellowknife South: Total missed: 13. Reasons: All 13 for duty as a minister, premier or speaker.

Kevin Menicoche, Nahendeh: Total missed: 30. Reasons: 16 for duty as a minister, premier or speaker, 11 for personal reasons, and three for illness, injury or bereavement.

J. Michael Miltenberger, Thebacha: Total missed: 9. Reasons: Five for duty as a minister, premier or speaker, and four for personal reasons.

Dave Ramsay, Kam Lake: Total missed: 31. Reasons: 15 for personal reasons, 14 for duty as a minister, premier or speaker, and two for illness, injury or bereavement.

Floyd Roland, Inuvik Boot Lake: Total missed: 12. Reasons: All 12 are for duty as a minister, premier or speaker.

Norman Yakeleya, Sahtu: Total missed: 48. Reasons: 19 for personal reasons, 14 for duty as a minister, premier or speaker, 11 for illness, injury or bereavement, and four for factors outside of the member's control.

- Source: GNWT

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.