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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - City councillor David Wind says residents of Forrest Drive Manor, which has suffered two fires on the building's grounds since last summer, are afraid that a resident of the building is being targeted.

"Residents have indicated to me they're concerned someone residing in the manor is the target of these fires and they're concerned for their own safety," said Wind at a committee meeting Monday. He raised the question if there was any possibility for city council to help the condominium association in this situation.

"This could very well be an RCMP matter," said city administrator Max Hall.

"It certainly is cause for concern and anxiety amongst those people who are residing there," said Wind.

Coun. Lydia Bardak said she understood the condominium association president was communicating with the tenant "who is having this trouble."

According to RCMP, the investigation into the most recent fire at Forrest Drive Manor, which occurred at a parking stall next to the building on Jan. 30, is ongoing. The first fire at the same location on July 26 was called suspicious by the NWT fire marshal.

Multiplex ice cover to boost tourism

A new ice cover for the Multiplex was discussed at Monday's meeting and city council was told it could bring in more events to the city and subsequently boost tourism.

The floor surface covering for the Olympic ice rink surface will cost $25,000, with half the money coming from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada's Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development under the Tourism Infrastructure and Product Development. The other half will be provided by the city's Major Community Facilities Reserve.

Grant White, director of community services, said some of the events that could use the facility with the new ice cover would be the Festival of Trees, the Geoscience forum, and Prospects North every three years.

"It also saves the expense of taking the ice out and putting it in again," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem.

Disagreementon Elections Act changes

City councillors discussed proposed changes to the Local Authorities Election Act on Monday afternoon.

The changes are part of a discussion paper developed by Municipal and Community Affairs with participation from NWT Association of Communities and the local government Administrators of the NWT. Councillors either didn't agree or were confused by questions in the discussion paper.

On a question concerning the elimination of proxy votes, Couns Mark Heyck and Shelegh Montgomery said they felt the proxy votes should be eliminated. Coun. Bob Brooks said they should remain. Currently a person is allowed to cast three proxy votes in addition to their own during community elections. When it came to an issue of banning campaigning on election day, Coun. Lydia Bardak asked "Does this mean I can't e-mail all of my friends and remind them to vote? Isn't that campaigning?"

"That's not campaigning, that's increasing voter turnout," Mayor Gord Van Tighem responded.