Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 18/01) - A free flight to Calgary for Yellowknife politicians should be declared as a gift, according to one city councillor.

Not every member of city council agrees, but the lone GNWT cabinet member on the flight is also refusing to let the airline pay.

Canadian North invited the politicians to Calgary to celebrate the company's new route between the city and Yellowknife. Coun. Kevin O'Reilly said any politician taking the flight -- worth about $1,800 -- should claim it as a gift.

"This is a gift, or it has the potential, and I'm not accepting it," said O'Reilly, noting that any gift over $100 must be claimed at council.

Coun. Dave Ramsay said he's not claiming it. "It's not a gift," said Ramsay. "I'm going down to represent the city."

Michael King, vice-president of Canadian North, said the trip is intended to strengthen economic ties between Yellowknife and Calgary.

Ramsay, Blake Lyons and Robert Hawkins, along with Mayor Gord Van Tighem are taking the flight and attending a reception at the 400 Club with Calgary corporate heads and city politicians.

Van Tighem said the trip is a golden opportunity to promote Yellowknife with business and political interests in Calgary, a hotbed of economic development in the oil and gas industry.

"We're meeting new people (Calgary city politicians) without spending any (taxpayer) money," said Van Tighem.

Van Tighem and Ramsay both arranged their own accommodations. Lyons is charging his hotel bill as an expense and Hawkins could not be reached for comment.

Lyons said he plans to bring up the possibility of claiming the trip as a gift with the other travellers. "We should declare this even though we are promoting the city," he said.

Van Tighem said reports will be filed on the trip and presented to council.

According to GNWT press officer Drew Williams, Transportation Minister Vince Steen will be the only territorial official on the trip -- but not as one of the company's paid guests.

"He's not accepting gratuity," said Williams. "It's policy we don't."

The mayor and three councillors left Yellowknife today. They can return tomorrow or stay until July 31.