GNWT policy prevents city from reselling lots
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jan 12/01) - Homeowners from Con Camp trailer park want the city to take ownership of the park's land but under a 15 year-old territorial policy the city can only lease it.
Residents of the trailer park are worried the imminent closure of Con Mine will mean they will have to move and they are asking the city to step in and resell them their land.
"We want the city to take action quickly," said Soren Thomassen a resident of the park.
Because the land is within city limits, the city of Yellowknife gets first dibs once the mine closes and the land is turned back to the Government of the Northwest Territories.
According to Brian Labadie, vice-president of operations for Miramar, Con Mine has about a four-year life span if the price of gold holds or drops.
He say the residents will have to move once the mine shuts down as part of the company's abandonment and restoration plan.
But Labadie said if the city wants the land they can have it.
"If they want to cut a deal as is where is, that will be the deal," said Labadie.
"But if it costs us we won't," he said.
But the city cannot buy the land under the GNWT's land-lease-only policy for commissioners lands which covers the trailer park.
Under the policy no commissioners lands throughout the territory can be sold until surrounding outstanding land claims are settled.
Brian Austin, director of lands administration for the GNWT, said it's too early to make predictions on what will happen.
"We're more than willing to work with the city, but it is premature to say how or what," he said.
According to Austin the city could technically lease the land the homes sit on for $600 a year.
But city councillors are hesitant to reveal the extent to which the city will go to keep the neighbourhood alive.
"It would be a waste for those people to relocate," said councillor Ben McDonald, "it's in our own best interest as a city for this to work."
"The issue is how much," he said.
And cost it will.
According to city planner, Dave Jones, the city would have to install water and sewer lines.
The total cost for the city -- including legal items and land transfer costs -- would range around $62,000 per lot.
But Thomassen said he'll do what he can to keep his home where it is.
"We'll pay whatever we can," he said.
City administration will be presenting council with a background report at a public services committed meeting next Tuesday. Until then Mayor Gord Van Tighem is preaching caution.
"I think it's important we look at it very carefully," he said.
"We have to give it serious consideration and figure out where it fits financially," said Van Tighem.
Miramar currently leases the from the Government of the Northwest Territories. The land the neighbourhood occupies is part of a bigger parcel of land that includes all the property in and around Con Mine.
Residents of the trailer park tried to get the city to take over the land back in 1998, but a mine strike pushed it onto the back-burner.
