N.W.T. ex-MLA Bell named power corp. chair
Brendan Bell, a former Northwest Territories MLA and cabinet minister, has been appointed as the new chairman of the territory's power corporation.
Bell was appointed to a three-year term as chair of the N.W.T. Power Corp.'s board on Friday by Premier Floyd Roland, who is also the minister responsible for the public utility.
As chairman, Bell will oversee the generation and distribution of most of the territory's electricity. He said he wants to push through major initiatives such as the proposed Taltson hydroelectric dam expansion.
"It's brass tacks time now. It's time for us to drive this home," he told CBC News on Friday.
"If we're going to incent development and industry, and encourage people to live here, and be able to lower the cost of living, then we're going to need some game-changers in the infrastructure field, and this is one of them."
If approved, the Taltson dam expansion project would also involve nearly 700 kilometres of transmission lines being set up from the dam in the N.W.T.'s South Slave region north to the territory's diamond mines.
Bell replaces Lew Voytilla, whose four-year appointment as board chairman was revoked by Roland in August.
Voytilla told CBC News shortly after his dismissal that the minister's office was meddling too much in the business of his board.
Bell said he has a close working relationship with the premier, adding that he does not see their roles as being adversarial.
As power corporation chairman, Bell said his role is to provide advice and recommendations to the elected officials, who will have the final say on corporation matters.
Taking break from politics
Bell was the MLA for Yellowknife South from 1999 until 2007. He served as justice and industry minister during that time.
In 2008, Bell ran for the Conservatives in the federal election, losing a close race to New Democrat Dennis Bevington in the Western Arctic riding.
Since then, Bell had been the Tories' official candidate in the Northwest Territories. But after waiting out several speculated election calls, he said it's time to do something for the territory.
"What I'm going to do is take a step back now from active politics for a while. I'm not closing the door forever," he said.
"Right now the public service for me will be about chairing the power corporation and providing our best advice to the premier."
Roland said Bell's decision not to run for the federal Tories came after he was offered the position as power corporation chair.
"We did talk about his future political possibilities, if there were to be a call for an election," Roland said.
"I believe Mr. Bell has made it clear recently he is no longer the official candidate."
Doug Witty, president of the Conservative riding association in Western Arctic, said the party will have to find a replacement candidate quickly if a snap federal election is called.