Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Oct 10/01) - City council officially rejected the territory's proposed highway toll at a committee meeting yesterday.
 Ben McDonald: "We need a balanced approach." |
With three councillors missing, the remaining five approved a draft letter to Doug Schauerte, clerk on the territorial government's road toll committee.
The letter outlined some of the city's concerns:
The letter is signed by Mayor Gord Van Tighem.
The territorial government is proposing a law that would require commercial trucks using territorial highways to buy permits. Fees will be based on size and travel distance. Some territorial business leaders say the toll could sink some businesses and raise consumer costs.
Councillors Robert Hawkins, Blake Lyons, Dave Ramsay, Ben McDonald and Alan Woytuik all approved the gist of the letter, but not the specific strategy.
McDonald suggested council take a balanced approached to the proposed highway toll.
"We can do a much more productive presentation if we have a more balanced view," said McDonald referring to an Oct. 17 public hearing at which the city will speak.
"I have sympathy for the (territorial government). The feds have the money but refuse to pay it," said McDonald.
McDonald said there is some merit to the toll. He said it might stimulate Northern economic development if southern companies scared away by the increased costs leave a void.
International trade laws keep the government from targeting the mining and oil industries, who do the most damage to the roads, said McDonald.
Other councillors took a more hard-line position against the toll. "This is going to have a direct impact on getting people to live here," said Woytuik, noting some mine workers fly in and out.
Ramsay said the territorial government didn't do its homework on the toll.
"I don't believe for a second they've exhausted all options," said Ramsay.
Lyons said his main concern was the lack of a "sunset clause" or target date for lifting the toll.
