SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Undoubtedly, the government didn't have a choice - at least for the time being.

A paper fax was recently received by Yellowknifer, along with 21 other locations in the North, about the legislative assembly's plan to switch from paper to cyberspace.

Doug Ritchie, program director with Ecology North, puts a bit more paper in the recycling bin on Monday morning. One sheet heading into recycling bins around town was a news release from the legislative assembly announcing the government's plans to reduce paper usage. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

The paper press release may have seemed ironic, but Paul Delorey, speaker of the legislative assembly and the one who pushed for the move, said the government is still phasing in the whole paperless strategy. It's not in full effect quite yet.

"We're just getting into that whole electronic system in this session, so we're just in the beginning of kicking this program off now," said Delorey.

Doug Ritchie, program director at Ecology North, said he thinks the move is a good idea, but is not surprised paper is still being used for things like press releases.

"I think the reality is that we are going to use paper for some time," said Ritchie.

"I don't think we should be excessively dogmatic and say never, never, never use paper - just try to make strategies where we use less of it.

"I think one of the big things is just the attitude towards these issues. If our leaders start to show positive attitude, I think that it in turn will start to spread more quickly throughout society."

Delorey said the legislative assembly uses about one million sheets of paper a year for it's tabled documents, minister's statements, and motions.

These documents will all be saved now in cyberspace, which is accessible by both government staff and the public.

The program saves the government only about $6,200, but Delorey said it is "not necessarily financially driven, but environmentally driven."