Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 25/99) - The hamlets of Rae-Edzo and Hay River have teamed up against the city of Yellowknife in an effort to win the battle over where the road to resources should be constructed.

Mayor Jack Rowe of Hay River and members of council toured the airstrip in Rae-Edzo last Wednesday and met with Rae-Edzo Mayor Fred Behrens to discuss the benefits of having the road to resources constructed from Rae.

The visit was made just one day before the mayor of Yellowknife, Dave Lovell, and city council members made their own visit to Rae-Edzo to discuss the road.

The Hay River mayor and council reiterated their support on Wednesday for the road to be constructed from Rae-Edzo.

"(Hay River) had made an announcement back in the fall in support of the road to resources going from Rae," said Behrens. "During our discussion (on Jan. 20) neither of us could see why Yellowknife would want the road going out of Yellowknife. With the road out of Rae, it opens up the communities to (give more business) to Yellowknife. It benefits more than just one or two companies in Yellowknife."

The dispute about the road, which would lead to mine sites north of Yellowknife and northeast of Rae-Edzo, has been ongoing since the possibility of its construction arose.

Behrens said that the development of the airstrip in Rae-Edzo makes it possible to develop an industrial area which would support the mine and airport.

"If the road was to go through here we would have the industrial area set up so businesses could come to us and apply and get some land," said Behrens.

Hay River's mayor said that although the airstrip is currently undersized to support the type of transport and movement the mine would require, it has potential to become a major asset to not only the mine but the NWT.

"To date it's too small, but if there were interest there they could extend the runway," said Rowe. "The industrial area would be another supply point adding value to the NWT."

The whole point of having the road to resources, said Behrens, should be to ensure widespread benefits.

"Our position and Hay River's position is if the road came out of Rae there would be long-term benefits for Rae-Edzo, Hay River the communities Wha Ti, Rae Lakes, Snare Lakes and definitely for Yellowknife," said Behrens. "The potential to have secondary roads (connecting the communities to the main road) is definitely possible."

Behrens said the benefit to the communities would ultimately increase the economy in Yellowknife.

"Yellowknife could expect to have 1,000 extra people (from the communities) going to Yellowknife (more frequently)," said Behrens. "It opens up access to 1,000 people to spend money in the city. Rae-Edzo alone spends in the millions every year. About 80 per cent earned in this community is spent in Yellowknife. If the road is out of Yellowknife then only one or two companies and businesses would benefit. With the road out of Rae the benefits are widespread."

Although the cost of constructing the road to resources is not the responsibility of the municipalities, the concern for keeping cost down is an issue. Behrens suggested the rocky terrain surrounding Yellowknife, in comparison to that surrounding Rae, would make a difference in the cost of development.

"It would be cheaper from here with only gravel to push than having to blast through rock (from the Ingram Trail)," said Behrens.

Having the road from Rae would be a lasting benefit, according to Behrens.

"It would create badly-needed jobs in Rae and the other communities as well as Yellowknife with construction and maintenance (of the road)," said Behrens.

Rowe agreed and said that the development of the road should reflect the needs of the NWT in the long term.

"It is incumbent upon all communities and all leadership to look at development of the NWT as a whole and on the long term," said Rowe. "Reducing the cost of resupplying the communities, and the cost of health care in the long term creates additional dollars for everyone. Every time you reduce the cost of services in remote communities those dollars can be rerouted into other areas."