Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 11/00) - Yellowknife city council is preparing to vigorously lobby the federal government to cough up funding for the Giant Mine cleanup.

"Council is just extremely upset that the federal government has put planning for the cleanup on hold," Mayor Dave Lovell said after a Priorities, Policies and Budget Committee meeting Tuesday.

The meeting was held to determine how the city should pressure the federal government to address environmental concerns at Giant Mine, where the city hopes to build a public boat launch next year.

The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development recently provided $3 million to the former Royal Oak team to clean up Giant and Colomac mines.

That team has since been dissolved and council would now like to know what percentage of the funding will be spent at Giant, knowing the Colomac cleanup is a higher priority.

"The territorial government has set aside $250,000 (for the Giant cleanup). At the very least, I would expect the federal government to provide matching funding," said Coun. Kevin O'Reilly.

Lovell has forwarded letters of concern to DIAND Minister Robert Nault and Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew, but that's not enough for city councillors.

"I don't think (the feds) get it ... I don't think they want to deal with it," said Coun. Robert Slaven, warning Yellowknifers could very well turn their backs on Blondin-Andrew and Nault if they don't take action on the issue.

Miramar, which holds title to the Giant mine lease, is currently negotiating with the city and the federal and territorial governments to transfer a portion of its lease to the city.

City officials have maintained the lease agreement states the location proposed for the boat launch will be included in the joint federal and GNWT cleanup of the site.

Councillors are now questioning what happened to that commitment.

"I really feel the federal government has gone against their agreement with us," said Coun. Cheryl Best. "I think we have to find some way to make them work on this now."

Coun. Dave McCann suggested council formulate a strategy to "embarrass the federal government."

He explained the city is requesting "only a few million dollars" to ensure the health and welfare of Yellowknifers, while the feds have a multi-billion dollar surplus.

"Minister Nault's discussions around the shortage of money don't seem to add up."

"(The feds) have a role and responsibility ... and should be spending the money, which they obviously have in their surplus, not (take it) out of the DIAND budget ... If (Nault) won't argue for it, maybe we should," said McCann.

It was agreed Lovell would request Nault and Blondin-Andrew meet with council to discuss how they plan to address the city's concerns.

"What we're saying is 'do what you said you were going to do,'" said Lovell.

City administrators have sought legal opinions about breaking the lease agreement, Lovell said, but if that happens, another property tax hike would be inevitable.

The two per cent tax reduction this year was based on additional revenue the city will collect from Miramar this year as a result of the Giant purchase.

"They aren't going to pay it until the lease is signed. If we don't accept (the lease), they're not going to pay anything," said Lovell.