Hay River (Mar 24/03) - Yellowknife politicians are not happy at the prospect of a joint development corporation office moving from the capital to Hay River.

Premier Stephen Kakfwi told media while in Hay River last week that cabinet was contemplating sending a newly combined trio of government agencies -- the NWT Development Corporation, Business Credit Corporation, and Community Futures -- to the Hub, if the legislative assembly approves amalgamation later this summer.

While Yellowknife South MLA Brendan Bell said he supports de-centralization of government services, he can't understand why cabinet is looking at creating the new agency in Hay River. He thinks the move would be less pragmatic than political. "It just doesn't seem to me to be logically thought through," he said. "You start looking for reasons (for a move). If we determine there is no business case then what's left, politics, right?"

Bell, Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem, Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent and Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee are all insisting that Hay River doesn't have nearly enough accessibility, bankers, accountants, lawyers, and general infrastructure to support moving the so called "Super Corp." there.

"The practical perspective is the one I'd choose to run up the flag pole," said Van Tighem.

"There is a critical mass here (Yellowknife), there is accessibility, and there are the contacts that are required.

"I need to hope that there was some practical business sense, but if it's being done for pure political reasons it makes even less sense."

But Hay River North MLA Paul Delorey said it's time for the Hub to get its share of government projects to the community.

"I certainly don't see that Hay River doesn't have the capacity to handle that, it's just absurd," said Delorey.

"The banks are here, there's a chartered accountant outfit here, there lot's of business here."

Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen wrote a letter to the premier last January, asking him to consider moving a new Super Corp. to Hay River. She scoffed at any suggestion that politics were behind any possible decision to move the agency south.

"I think the fight to keep it in Yellowknife is politically motivated," said Groenewegen.

"They just got a $50 million dollar jail, they got the young offenders facility and all the associated jobs with that. Are they so greedy there's nothing left for other communities here?"

Kakfwi, meanwhile, said he doesn't understand what the fuss is all about, noting that Hay River scored high on internal assessment conducted earlier to see what community would best suit Super Corp.

Kakfwi said he is also annoyed with the reception he has received from some Yellowknife MLAs.

"People should look at it and think about in the best interests of everybody," said Kakfwi. "There's no decision made.

"I'm kind of disappointed with some of the Yellowknife MLAs and their initial response to (this). I actually got threatened by a Yellowknife MLA ... that whatever support I have from Yellowknife will disappear because I'm looking at this."