3 MLAs pitch idea of voting bloc as way to be taken more seriously by N.W.T. cabinet

Three N.W.T. MLAs are trying to form a committee of other regular MLAs who would vote together on issues in the territory's legislature. 

Kieron Testart, the MLA for Range Lake, presented the idea in the lobby of the Legislative Assembly on Thursday, saying it was a way to get things done more quickly and hailing it as a way to "save consensus government." 

"We have taken the first steps to build a team that stands for positive change and will hold officials both elected and unelected to account," said Testart, who was joined by Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon and Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins. 

"Small wins aren't good enough anymore, we need change, systemic change, and that's not happening in the current system. If there's a group of MLAs who cabinet knows is going to be working together and ... cabinet knows well they're all voting together, well now they're going to take that more seriously." 

The committee hasn't formally launched yet. Testart said other MLAs were bringing the idea back to their constituents during the upcoming break. He didn't directly answer a question about how many MLAs would be needed for him to consider it a formalized group. 

"Let's let the break happen and see what happens." 

Hawkins said in his 14 years serving as an MLA in different iterations of the Legislative Assembly, the current one is most dismissive when it comes to members' issues. As an example, he cited his recent attempt to start a conversation about renaming the N.W.T. 

Hawkins said it was "almost shameful" how quickly the premier brushed off the idea. 

"We're just trying to add weight and a little bit of support behind initiatives and it doesn't mean, again, everything's perfect. But that said, it's the effort of trying to change business is really what we're here today about," he said on Thursday. 

Edjericon, meanwhile, said that for him, forming a voting bloc is a way to make sure issues facing small communities aren't overlooked. "To this day, we're still fighting the fights to get what we want in our small communities," he said. 

MLAs voice concerns 

A handful of other MLAs were in the small group that watched the news conference unfold. 

Denny Rodgers, the MLA for Inuvik Boot Lake, was among them. He said he had "nothing but respect" for members who want to try and do something different – but said that he wouldn't join the committee himself. 

Rodgers is also the chair of the assembly's standing committee on accountability and oversight, upon which all 11 regular members already sit. 

He said consensus government isn't perfect, but that it's worked for the last 50 years. He also said it could be "very difficult" to vote with the rest of the bloc, if it takes an opposing stance from an MLA's constituents on a particular issue. 

That same sentiment was echoed by Yellowknife North MLA Shauna Morgan, who said that for one MLA to set aside issues that their residents care about in order to vote with the bloc doesn't sit well with her. 

"My commitment has been to my constituents, that I will do what's best for them and vote and act according — also to my own conscience and principles." 

She also said it wouldn't be constructive for MLAs to agree on everything. 

"I think it's more helpful to sit in a room with a diverse group of people who can question and challenge each other to be able to actually gain more insights and perspectives than you came into the room with." 

Morgan doesn't think she'll be joining the committee, but did say she was fielding her constituents for their feedback about it. Julian Morse, the MLA for Frame Lake, said he would be doing the same. 

"Some of the concerns that were shared today, I share those concerns. I have frustrations with the direction the government is taking in some cases. I think we should be doing more to action our priorities," he said. 

He said he's been trying to address those issues, however, within the government's current structure.