Yellowknife (Oct 27/04) - Passengers will have to cough up $6.6 million to pay for renovations needed to improve security at the Yellowknife Airport.

The problem is, no one, including three Yellowknife MLAs pushing the territorial government for answers, know how the fee will be applied, or even if the improved airport will still be there in the not too distant future.

"There's just a suggestion that we'll collect it through user fees over the next 10 years," said Great Slave MLA Bill Braden.

"They've authorized a very large project with a very large assumption that the travelling public is going to pay, but I don't see a plan for that. I just see a big number."

The territorial government was told by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) last December that security overhauls were needed if they were going to continue to allow flights out of Yellowknife to major centres down south.

In order to comply, the territorial government will have to install an explosives detection system by January 2006, which will require the terminal building to be greatly expanded. The project also includes re-paving the airplane docking area. It has to be moved back to make room for expansions.

The tougher measures -- to be carried out in all major airports across the country -- are in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The territorial government figures the total cost of the project over three years will ring in at $11.2 million. CATSA has agreed to pay for $4.6 million and the GNWT $6.6 million.

The subject of how to recoup the $6.6 million was the subject of intense debate in the legislative assembly.

"Yellowknifers are having a hard time travelling to Edmonton already," said Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee.

"We've got a minuscule population and oil prices are going through the roof."

Government house leader Charles Dent, speaking on behalf of Finance Minister Floyd Roland who is out of town, said the government may either try to levy it through landing or airport improvement fees.

Worried about cost overruns

Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay said he's concerned -- considering the government's track record on paying for capital projects -- that the $11.2 million amount given by cabinet will only increase before construction is complete.

"The North Slave Correctional Centre was 40 per cent over budget," said Ramsay.

"I know their backs are against the wall, but they issued a special warrant for $3.4 million. That's just the start of it. Once you're doing renovations at an airport, how do you stop?"

The special warrant -- for the first-year renovations -- was issued without legislative assembly debate last June. Ramsay said it bothers him that cabinet can sink that much money without consulting MLAs.

To make matters worse, said Ramsay, the government is only counting on the airport and its $11 million retrofit to last 10 years. He said there is already talk of rebuilding a larger airport on the west side of the runway after that.

"The way Transportation's talking, it might not be there 10 years from now," said Ramsay.

"If you're spending all this money, why the heck would you even want to think about moving it."

Dent told MLAs that he is not sure how long the present airport will last.

"We don't know if the terminal building is going to be moved in 10 years," said Dent.

"It may be in place for 20 years."

Phone calls to CATSA were not returned.

Yet to be decided

Transportation Minister Michael McLeod said the user fees -- with an amount yet to be decided -- will be applied once the renovations are complete in 2006.

He said the government's preference would be to build a whole new airport, but they don't have the money right now.

"We would've loved to follow through with that and roll these dollars into that, but our fiscal situation just doesn't allow us to do it," said McLeod.

Restaurant will

have to move

The renovations are already having an effect on Dennis and Vivian Squires, owners of the airport's Navigator restaurant. They signed a five-year contract with the Department of Transportation last March only to find out three months later that they will likely have to move to make room for a larger luggage bay.

They might not even be allowed to stay if the department opts to go with a fast-food court instead.

The couple were told they will have an answer some time in November. In the meantime, they've hired a lawyer.

"They're doing everything in secret, and that's what bugs me," said Vivian.