Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 06/02) - A record number of people from Yellowknife's business community packed the Explorer Hotel's conference room to hear the territorial Minister of Finance Joe Handley talk about economic good times.

"I'd like to have these a couple of times a month," said Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce president David McPherson referring to the business club meetings.

The chamber wants to touch on topics like the proposed bridge over the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence and hosts guests like the president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

Handley called this the "most exciting time in the Northwest Territories." The territory is enjoying the highest employment in the country. The government is trying to benefit from oil and gas development as well as mining opportunities. It's looking for a "fly-in, fly-out solution," and trying to raise the stay-in population of the NWT.

The topic fit in well with a planned trip the NWT Chamber of Commerce is taking next week to Ottawa. It's trying to get some cash for infrastructure during times of a booming economy.

"Small business will continue to be the core of our economy," said Handley.

McPherson said the chamber business luncheon was the best ever as far as attendance. The chamber has been pushing hard during its membership drive.

"We want to get our membership up around 600," said McPherson. There are just fewer than 500 members now.

"We will take memberships any time and we will pro-rate them," he said.

The chamber is trying to encourage membership from some of the nearly 900 home-based businesses in the city. A membership package includes group insurance, car rental deals, hotel discounts and fuel bargains.

Last Monday's lunch meeting was the first of the year. The chamber wanted to hold off on the event until Handley was available.

The chamber's regular board meetings have had nearly complete turnouts so far in 2002.

"They are all working very hard. They have full agendas. As a matter of fact we are trying to get more people, not just from the board, but from the membership as a whole to come out and give us a hand," said McPherson.