Yellowknife (Feb 01/06) - A Yellowknife city councillor says it's wrong for the city to keep land sales and development permit applications under wraps.

Coun. Kevin O'Reilly has long championed a bylaw similar to access-to-information and privacy acts passed into law by both the federal and territorial governments, but he said there doesn't seem to be much support for one from other councillors.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem suggests people should be careful what they ask for when it comes to an access-for-information bylaw.

"They think this is, quite frankly, a waste of time, and that we have more important things to do," said O'Reilly.

"It's one of the fundamental principles of democracy that people should have access to information... and we don't do that at City Hall."

O'Reilly pointed to a secret development proposal for the Yellowknife Airport zone, and a land sale agreement between the city and Yellowknife River Resorts on Twin Pine Hill. The city has so far refused to release details on either file.

On the flipside is the city's decision to release names and addresses of residents onto a city voters list, which he said is also wrong.

"There may be some cases where people don't want their private addresses listed on the Internet," said O'Reilly.

"If they're in some sort of dispute with a spouse they may not want that available to the public."

Paul Laserich, owner of Adlair Air, said he is wondering what sort of development project is being proposed at the airport, but no one will say. The airport is controlled by the territorial government but is subject to the city zoning bylaw.

Under the current system, a development permit is only made public after a development officer gives it approval. The public has two weeks to appeal it, but Laserich said by then it's usually too late.

"The sad thing about it is they get their approval, but the horse is already out of the corral," said Laserich.

The government's Airports division has confirmed that one of its tenants wants development and building permits for a project that's "non-aviation" in use but has a "connection to aviation."

The proposal launched a zoning bylaw review after city administrators told council they were having trouble deciding whether the proposal fit the city's zoning requirements.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem suggested that people should be careful what they ask for when it comes to an access-for-information bylaw.

Such a bylaw may force city officials to tighten up rules when it comes to releasing information, he said. Instead of simply phoning up City Hall and getting an immediate answer, a request may face a whole new formal set of protocols.

"I say that from watching applications made to the territorial government and federal government," said Van Tighem. "It could be a month before you get it."

Nonetheless, he said an access-to-information bylaw is coming to council for vote, although he couldn't say when.

He added that the city hasn't even received a development permit application for airport property yet, although there is interest to develop from several parties, he said.

Coun. Alan Woytuik said he is not opposed to the idea, but the city would have to walk a "tightrope" when it comes down to writing the bylaw. "It's a tight line to follow with what the public has a right to know and what individuals or corporations have a right to keep private," said Woytuik.

"As an individual, what I purchase a piece of property for is my own business."