Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jun 11/01) - A group composed mainly of Yellowknife business people who want to streamline development in the North is looking for like-minded people outside the capital to sit on its board.
The need to broaden board membership was one of the issues 22 members discussed at the Northern Organization for Responsible Development's first annual general meeting, held Wednesday in the capital.
"I think that's really critical, that this not be a Yellowknife-based thing," said NWT Chamber of Mines general manager Mike Vaydik, a member of the group.
All of the nine directors acclaimed to the 15-member board are from Yellowknife. One seat each is reserved for the chamber of mines, the NWT Manufacturing Association, NWT Chamber of Commerce and NWT Construction Association.
Yellowknife businessman Bill Aho is spearheading the drive to revitalize the organization, which officially came into being a year ago.
With no funding apart from the $10 annual membership dues and no staff, the organization languished during its first year. That changed a month ago, when the territorial government agreed to provide the group with a one-time grant of $97,000.
Sharing the construction association's office and executive director, the group is now conducting a membership drive and fund-raising campaign.
Those at the meeting made no secret of being pro-development -- specifically non-renewable resource development -- asserting it was the key to a prosperous future for the North.
But the group is careful to emphasize the "responsible" part of its name, a term it has yet to define. "That's one thing this organization is not," said Aho. "We're not pro-development at all costs. These people care about what's going on."
Aho said the group now has between 50 and 60 members.
Simplifying environmental review processes is another of the group's objectives. Member Alan Woytuik said current reviews are so rigorous only multi-nationals with deep pockets have the money to initiate development here.
"You want to turn over a rock, you have to do a year and a half of environmental assessment," said Woytuik.
Aho said the group will also be lobbying the federal government to provide adequate funding for Northern regulatory agencies.
