by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Oct 17/97) - The city is beefing up its economic development department, with help from the territorial government.

Until now the division has been a one-man operation. It will soon be a three-person team.

Two new positions, economic development clerk and officer, will cost taxpayers about $80,000.

"It's partly out of the current funding that's in there for economic development and partly from a grant we've been able to obtain (from the GNWT)," said city administrator Doug Lagore.

Mayor Dave Lovell said the territorial government has contributed $400,000 to help attract new business, particularly in the mining sector, to the NWT.

The city, a staging point for most Northern mining operations, would benefit from most territorial mining projects.

City employees are working on contract with the territorial government on the project.

Lovell said the money came with a hitch -- direction on exactly how the city was to use it to attract business.

"There's not an awful lot of room to move on it," said Lovell. "The whole program is laid out, like a road map."

The two new economic development positions have been advertised in recent weeks. With the resignation of Archie Gillies, the division's director, the city is also advertising for a new director.

Neither of the two new positions have been discussed or approved by council in public.

Lagore said the additions were "strictly an administrative matter," and not discussed with council.

Over the last two months the city has come under fire for what critics say is a sluggish approach to new economic opportunities.

Ald. Bob Brooks, former alderman John Dalton and members of the public at last week's all-candidates forums were critical of the city's response to economic opportunities created by new mining development.