N.W.T. MLAs vow to stick together and vote against budget

Regular MLAs are standing their ground and pledgingto vote against cabinet's proposed budget despite new funding for junior kindergarten, community employment support, and seniors' living all key items for which regular MLAs were fighting.

Kieron Testart, MLA for Kam Lake and deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning which consists of all 11 regular MLAs said the new funding doesn't go far enough.

"These are partial commitments towards what we are looking for," Testart said.

"Nothing has changed since yesterday. This is not new information to us."

On Tuesday, the committee held a newsconference to outline their concerns with the upcoming budget.

"We remain united and we remain opposed to a budget that is more focused on debt management than growth,"Testartsaid.

Testartsaid the committee wanted $5 million of additional funding for programs like community employment support, not just the $3 million earmarked in the budget.

There is also concern among the coalition of regularMLAsthatcabinet's pledge to fund junior kindergarten will not cover the full bill.

Regular MLAs outnumber cabinet, and would need at least 10 votes to successfully vote down the budget. MLAs can either vote on the budget as a whole, or by department.

But if cabinet can get support from threeof the 11 regularMLAs, the budget could passas is.

"I am going to vote with [the committee]," said JulieGreen, MLA for Yellowknife Centre.

"We committed to support one another to get the things we need in the budget, not only for Yellowknife, but for the smaller community members as well."

The same goes for Shane Thompson, MLA for Nahendeh.

"I still cannot support the budget in the direction that we are going," Thompson said.

"We are trying to work with the government to make amendments so we can make good choices at the end of the day for our residents."

Michael Nadli, MLA for Dehcho,also confirmed he would voteagainst the budget as proposed.

Herbert Nakimayak, MLA for Nunakput, and Frederick BlakeJr., MLA for Mackenzie Delta, were both absent from the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning newsconference on Tuesday. Atthe time, Testart said the committee was confident it had unanimous support from all regular MLAs.

CBC News requested comment from both Nakimayak and Blake Jr. directly after the finance minister's budget speech on Wednesday, butno interviews were granted.

Daniel McNeely, MLA for Sahtu, said he needs to closely review the proposed budget documents before stating publicly if he is still against it.

MLAswill have six weeks to debate the numbers and make amendments.