Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 02/05) - A decision on who - the City of Yellowknife or the Yellowknives Dene - gets what unsettled remaining lands within Yellowknife will likely be made within a "couple weeks," says Michael McLeod, Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Land the City of Yellowknife wants from MACA: Industrial corridor (approx. 600 hectares): City wants this land for secondary highway access and quarry at "Sand Pits." Landfill site (79 hectares): site of existing dump. City wants to expand boundaries for new landfill. Lakeview cemetery (39 hectares): park and transportation hub. Old Airport Road (95 hectares): City wants to expand commercial district, plus possible new location for Aurora College campus. Tin Can Hill/Negus Point (103 hectares): New site for residential development. Lands that the city has expressed an interest in (black shading): Con/Rycon trailer courts (21 hectares): Already developed. City may take over if Yellowknives Dene don't want it. Yellowknife Bay south and Kam Lake (952 hectares): Possible residential development.

Yesterday marked the deadline set by McLeod back in April for the city and Yellowknives Dene to submit their requests for selection of Commissioner's land the two groups will need over the next five years.

McLeod said he drew up the deadline because the government wasn't having much success getting the city and Yellowknives to come up with an agreement.

The city is asking for a total of some 866 hectares. A 103 hectare portion at Tin Can Hill and Negus Point has been slated for a new residential subdivision. The city also wants more land to expand its landfill site and commercial district on Old Airport Road.

A huge 600 hectare tract west of the airport is where the city wants to build a secondary access road to Highway 3 and an industrial corridor.

A portion of that land, known as the "Sand Pits," is where the Yellowknives had previously expressed interest in building a 64-acre residential subdivision, but the First Nation recently told the city it's no longer interested.

It otherwise remains unclear what the Yellowknives want, but McLeod said he has received submissions from both sides.

"We got quite a bit of information from both parties," said McLeod.

"We've had some more recent meetings in the last little while. So we're compiling our information and getting it all together."

The minister said it will be a difficult job deciding who gets what. The parties' requests for land will likely overlap to some degree.

McLeod acknowledged he doesn't expect everyone will be happy with his decision.

"I'm assuming that may be the case," he said.