Yellowknife (Feb 26/03) - The Yellowknife detachment of the RCMP's "G" Division, hasn't had an increase of resources since the 1980s, Yellowknife South MLA Brendan Bell said Friday, yet the population of the city has almost doubled.

Bell believes the detachment needs more funding.

Justice Minister Roger Allen agreed there has been a "status quo" on the level of funding for the RCMP, adding "we are continuing to work within other existing funding programs in terms of securing additional funds to meet the growing demand."

Questions arise about airport authority

The creation of a Yellowknife airport authority was on Great Slave MLA Bill Braden's mind on Friday, and he asked the Transportation Minister Joe Handley for an update.

"For it's size," said Braden, "this airport is one of the busiest in Canada.

It is an essential part of our economy and our lifestyle here."

Handley said a marketing panel he has set up is looking into the effectiveness of an airport authority, and will report back to him by May 31 with their ideas.

"The main objective of the panel is to look at alternative governance models," Handley said.

The government will continue to fund the airport, as it does now, Handley said.

He did not say what would occur if the panel requests more funding than the GNWT currently gives to the airport.

Let's move family violence legislation forward, MLAs say

Members want to move quicker on changes to family violence legislation.

"Let's get serious," said Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent on Monday.

The legislation being drafted by the Department of Justice, is supposed to be ready by June, Justice Minister Roger Allen said.

"We must move ahead with this legislation," added Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen.