Yellowknife (June 06/03) - Safety issues in the Back Bay and Yellowknife Bay were raised during a Transport Canada meeting Wednesday night.

Transport Canada's Tom Umscheild, regional aviation safety officer, and Wayne Woloshyn, regional manager for the Prairie and Northern region, were on hand to field concerns from a crowd of about 50 people.

"We're here tonight to identify issues. We're not here to resolve anything," said Woloshyn.

"Do we have a problem in Back Bay and East (Yellowknife) Bay?"

Several canoeists, boaters and float plane operators agreed there was a concern with safety and communication in the area.

But Gary McLellan, a board member of the Yellowknife Yacht Club, said he's already contacted Transport Canada about concerns over a float plane operator he didn't identify publicly, but has not received any response.

"One or two issues have been raised and brought to your attention, and we haven't heard anything about them. So I find it ironic that you're here to 'find issues,' " said McLellan.

Woloshyn said he had not personally heard of any concerns, but was interested in the situation.

One canoeist, who refused to give her name, questioned the use of the blinking light on Pilots Monument. The light was installed after a person was killed during a float plane and boat accident in 1982. The canoeist wondered if she should depend on the light to blink when a float plane is on the water.

The Pilots Monument light will blink to warn boaters a plane is landing or taking off if pilots switch to a particular frequency and key their mike three times.

But Woloshyn said pilots are not required to do this.

The creation of a more dependable system was suggested, but no one at the meeting, including the Transport Canada officials, could say who is currently responsible for the beacon.

Several people thought it was operated by the city, which sparked pilot and boater Jim Phillip to point out there was no representative from the city at the meeting.

"I rest my case in the problems we are having with communication," Phillip said.

Dave Nicklen, director of public safety and development, told Yellowknifer the city is not responsible for the beacon. He added he did not know who was responsible.

When trying to figure out who really has the right of way in the Back and Yellowknife bays, Clem Waltry from Raven Tours pointed out the area is licensed as an air zone.

Cathy Alloolo of Narwal Paddling Adventures said it was news to her that the area was a licensed aerodrome.

"Maybe we just need a better education system for the public," said Allooloo.

Currently in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut there are no age restrictions or required courses that must be completed before operating a boat.

Stephen Sherburne, a boating safety officer for the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said there will not be regulation in the North until consultations take place. But he expects those consultations to take place within the next 12 months.

After the meeting was over, several pilots expressed concern over Transport Canada simply loading the bays up with regulations for pilots.

The pilots said they believe the whole meeting was created because of a particular pilot who they say is not flying carefully, or with regard to others.

The Transport Canada officials took down names and numbers of those attending the meeting and promised to stay in contact and resolve issues.

"You will see some action," said Woloshyn.