Yellowknife (Apr 05/06) - City councillors have given preliminary approval to a plan that would see over $7.2 million in federal funds head to seniors, the homeless and a 9-1-1 call centre for Yellowknife, among other goodies.

Greg Debogorski, who works with older people, is happy that $1.2 million in federal funds will go towards affordable housing for the seniors. He's seen with an architect's model of the proposed duplex development. - Andrew Raven/NNSL photo Dividing the pie City Hall and two Metis groups have reached an agreement on how to spend $7.25 million in federal funds. The deal still needs the official go-ahead from councillors though, which should happen Monday night. The projects include: $1.5 million for a 30-unit transition house for homeless men. The units will cost a total of $3.9 million with the rest of the money coming from fundraising and other government agencies; $1.2 million for seniors housing. A seniors group wants to spend over $3.5 million to build four duplexes and an apartment building; $400,000 to start a 9-1-1 call centre; $260,000 to convert the Mildred Hall schoolyard into a downtown park; $150,000 for the Yk Metis local 66; $20,000 for the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre. The grant will help pay for a nearly $300,000 renovation; and, $3.2 million will go into a reserve that could be used to build a fieldhouse, public library or convention centre.

Nearly half that total - $3.2 million - will likely be placed in a reserve, which City Hall could use to build an athletics fieldhouse, a library or a convention centre.

The money comes from a $120-million Northern Strategy fund spread evenly across the three Northern territories. Last August, Premier Joe Handley announced the NWT portion of the windfall would be divided between all 33 communities and municipal leaders - including First Nations and Metis - were tasked with deciding how it should be spent.

The process took almost eight months, but councillors said they were happy to have the final tally in place, Monday.

"I'm very pleased we can finally get this going," said Coun. Bob Brooks, during a committee meeting.

The list still needs to be approved at a council meeting, which will likely happen next Monday.

The city has earmarked $400,000 for a 9-1-1 call centre which would replace the current system that sees fire calls directed through the city's water treatment plant. City estimates put the start-up cost at $400,000 and the annual price tag somewhere in the neighbourhood of $650,000.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said RCMP and municipal officials will meet later this month and the system could be in place by late 2006.

"It's onward and upward," he told councillors.

Meanwhile, seniors' groups are happy to see $1.2 million earmarked for affordable housing.

The money will go towards four duplexes and a 14-unit apartment for a complex near downtown Yellowknife.

"People are deciding to retire here as opposed to going south," said Greg Debogorski, executive director of the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors.

"We have a waiting list of people... who are looking for affordable housing."

The largest single chunk of money, $1.5 million, is tabbed for transitional housing for homeless men. The 30-unit house will cost about $3.9 million, and include a coffee shop where the men can hang-out during the daytime.

Councillors also decided to put $3.2 million into a reserve fund. Some of that money could go towards a fieldhouse, which Van Tighem hoped would be finished when the Arctic Winter Games come to Yellowknife in March, 2008. Councillors are also considering devoting some of those funds to a new library and convention centre on Twin Pine Hill.

The list of grants was hashed out between City Hall and two Metis groups - Yellowknife Metis local 66 and the Yellowknife Metis Council. It includes $150,000 for the Metis local and $500,000 to support affordable housing for aboriginals.

The territorial government has seen the list and Van Tighem was hopeful the $7.2 million would be in local hands relatively soon.

"It would be nice if it was in within a week or two," he said.