Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 15/02) - A $34,000 charter flight to the Arctic Winter Games will save taxpayers money, said Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Vince Steen.

Steen said it would have cost $3,000 per passenger to fly a scheduled flight from Yellowknife to Iqaluit and $14,000 for a round-trip charter from there to Nuuk, Greenland.

When they inquired on Jan. 22, officials found flights to Iqaluit for the opening of the Games were all booked. The NWT delegation would have to arrive three days earlier if they wanted to be there for the opening. It was decided a charter would bring savings in terms of money and time.

Steen, Education, Culture and Employment Minister Jake Ootes, their spouses and executive assistants, Commissioner Glenna Hansen and Tu Nedhe MLA Steven Nitah take off for Iqaluit Sunday.