Jennifer Obleman
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 10, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - A familiar set of hands has once again picked up the reins of the NWT Chamber of Commerce.

Don Yamkowy, who was president of the NWT Chamber for three terms in the 1990s, is back in the saddle after being acclaimed as president at last month's annual general meeting.

Don Yamkowy, owner of Key West Travel in Yellowknife, is once again at the helm of the NWT Chamber of Commerce. Yamkowy, who served three terms as president in the 1990s, was acclaimed as president at the organization's AGM. - Jennifer Obleman/NNSL photo

Yamkowy's involvement in the territorial business scene dates back to the 1970s, when he was active in the Inuvik Chamber of Commerce - and the issues haven't changed much since then, he said.

"Thirty years later we're still talking about the pipeline," he said. "Thirty years ago, the government of the day talked about roads to resources, and we're still talking about roads to infrastructure, roads to the mines, a road to a deep sea port, a road up the Mackenzie."

Infrastructure is the issue far and away topping his agenda.

"We need infrastructure to continue economic growth in the NWT - roads, a deep sea port, a bridge," he said.

"For our members, the greatest need would be a road up the Mackenzie from Wrigley to Tuk."

The Mackenzie Valley pipeline is also important. Both the building of the pipeline and the drilling that would follow would benefit the North, especially if NWT businesses can take on some of the smaller contracts, learning the skills that would allow them to profit from the resulting spin-off projects, such as smaller feeder lines, he said.

But the consultation process is taking too long, he said, adding the regulatory process must be streamlined.

Another major concern is manpower, Yamkowy said. In order for Northern businesses to attract and retain skilled staff, more training capacity, relaxed immigration regulations and apprenticeship programs for Northerners are needed.

Government largesse is also a serious concern, Yamkowy noted.

"GNWT is larger now in employees than before the separation of the territories," he said. "Many jobs and tasks ...should be privatized."

Services like road construction, ferry operations, and building maintenance could be done by private contractors, he added.

Despite these needs, however, the Northern economy is growing, and it will continue to be driven by the diamond industry for the foreseeable future, said Yamkowy.

"We're not done yet with diamonds," he said.

Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce president Kirby Groat was pleased to hear Yamkowy's wish list closely lines up with his own.

Infrastructure - specifically the Mackenzie Highway - is Groat's top priority, and the NWT Chamber will be a big help in lobbying for that, he said.

"Completing the Mackenzie Highway would be a very high priority for me," said Groat. "Transportation is the biggest thing. We need to have access to everything."

The small communities are at a disadvantage, in that it's hard for their wishes to be heard due to their size, he said.

"The NWT Chamber will help with that."

Also named to the NWT Chamber board of directors for 2007-08 were vice-president Ann Marie Tout, secretary Doreen Farrants, treasurer Steven Meister, Prospects North director Eitan Dehtain, past president Sean MacGillivray, and directors Leon Johnson, Mark Walker and Mike Scott. Representatives from the member chambers in Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, Norman Wells, Fort Smith, and Fort Simpson have yet to be appointed. Two board positions are also currently vacant.