Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, May 14, 2007

ENTERPRISE - The Settlement of Enterprise is one big step closer to becoming a hamlet.

On April 25, Michael McLeod, the minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA), posted a notice that he intends to order the change of status.

"But there is a 90-day period to see if there are any objections," said David Kravitz, the manager of community governance with MACA.

Speaking to the Enterprise Settlement Council on May 9, Kravitz explained that, if there are no significant objections after 90 days, the minister would order that Enterprise become a hamlet.

If the change goes ahead, Enterprise would become a hamlet on Oct. 29 with the same boundaries it now has as a settlement.

Elections for a new hamlet council would be held Oct. 1. As a hamlet, Enterprise would elect a mayor and councillors separately. Now, a settlement council is elected, and it selects a mayor.

Hamlet status would mean more responsibilities and more GNWT funding for the community of about 90 people, including the power to pass bylaws, own property and borrow money.

Mayor Dave Richards said there is widespread support for the change to hamlet status, noting community meetings have been held on the issue.

Richards said, if there are any objections, it's up to the concerned residents to let the minister know in the 90-day period.

"But I think, in general, it's time to move ahead," he said.

Richards said Enterprise has grown as a community and is ready to become a hamlet.

The change of status, which has been discussed for over a year, was initiated by a petition to the minister from settlement residents.

Such a petition requires at least 25 signatures, but Enterprise's petition contained 34 names.

The petition was launched by a resolution of the settlement council.