Yellowknife (Aug 22/03) - The Northwest Territories' six urban, tax-based municipalities want the territorial government to recognize their concerns.

"It's important for the government to know we are here," Mayor Gord Van Tighem said. The one-day meeting in Yellowknife drew officials from Hay River, Norman Wells, Inuvik and Fort Simpson. Fort Smith officials were also present.

"This is the first time we've really gotten together to look at how we might influence the process."

Yellowknife works very well with the territorial government, but "there is not a lot of understanding in general" about urban issues, he said.

"We're the anomaly to some extent because we're the capital; we're represented but what we need is better communication," Van Tighem said.

Van Tighem said devolution, alternative and community government and resource royalty sharing were discussed during the meeting.

The municipalities say they must be included in all relevant discussions and negotiations that have an impact on them.

They said downloading or expansion of municipal responsibilities must be combined with adequate funding.

Municipalities also want to protect their authority within their boundaries and maintain traditional use of land outside their borders.

A position paper will be prepared to identify the financial benefits of resource projects to the territorial government and municipalities.

The municipalities plan to investigate the feasibility of resource revenue sharing with other levels of government.