Several MLAs mum on term extension
Community representatives want public feedback before vote to delay election by one year
Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Monday, March 10, 2014
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
MLAs are playing their cards close to their chest ahead of a vote that could extend their current term by one year.
At least four MLAs have said they are reserving judgment on a motion by Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen, which is seeking the federal government's permission to push the territorial elections back to October 2016, until it is debated in the assembly March 10.
After Friday's sitting of the assembly - the last one before the vote takes place - Michael Nadli, Robert Bouchard, Frederik Blake Jr., and Alfred Moses each said that they were going to seek input from their constituents before deciding how to vote.
"The constituents voted me in for four years and I want to respect that. But if they say they want an election in (2016), then I'm going to have to vote in favour of the people," said Moses.
"I'm going home this weekend and I'm going to listen to what my constituents say," added Bouchard.
"I had an opinion when I started ... but really I need to hear what the people of Hay River want to see."
Since the announcement was made yesterday, residents across the NWT have taken to Facebook and Twitter to speak out against the motion, with at least one individual saying they would refuse to vote for their MLA ever again if they voted to extend their current term.
All four regular Yellowknife MLAs have taken a principled stand against extending their term an additional year.
"I feel that this is really a cabinet agenda," said Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley, who called the motion "very undemocratic."
When Groenewegen presented the motion, Groenewegen argued that the main reason for pushing back the election date was to avoid having federal, territorial and municipal elections, all of which are scheduled to take place next October, held at the same time.
She said there is concern that having that many elections coincide would negatively impact voter turnout.
Blake pointed out that it is already hard enough to find volunteers to help run elections in small communities without having to worry about organizing multiple elections.
"Even with our one election we had a tough time," said Blake referring to the last territorial election.
Although he has not yet decided how he will vote, Blake hinted extending the current assembly by a year would allow cabinet and MLAs the opportunity to ensure that unsettled land claims were resolved before they leave office.
"We're in a very delicate situation with devolution; it will take a little time to implement," said Blake.
Hawkins said Blake's line of reasoning is "not valid."
"With that argument we would never change ministers because they would say this initiative is so important we can't have an election," said Hawkins. "By that methodology they could justify being in office for life."
Bromley said if the real concern was voter turn-out then the assembly could actually look at holding the election earlier rather than later.
