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No tsunami cash

Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 12/05) - City council has watered down an earlier pledge to provide cash for tsunami relief, after learning that foreign donations by municipalities are illegal under territorial law.

Last week, Coun. Doug Witty introduced a motion that would offer up to $20,000 from city council's contingency fund for tsunami relief in Southeast Asia. The motion would have included a clause encouraging Yellowknife residents to match city efforts.

All but one of the seven councillors present appeared ready to adopt the motion the following Monday.

Cold water was thrown on Witty's motion this week, however, when it was revealed that it was illegal under the territory's Cities, Towns and Villages Act for NWT municipalities to donate money to causes outside of their jurisdiction without giving 30 days public notice first.

Some councillors had hoped to have the motion passed Monday night in order to meet the federal government's Jan. 11 deadline for matching donations, which could have doubled the city's immediate contribution. It was not to be.

The motion also lost steam after another councillor, Kevin O'Reilly - who was not present during the earlier discussion - joined Coun. Alan Woytuik in voicing his disapproval.

O'Reilly expressed "personal frustration" with budget cuts this year, saying it isn't right for city council to donate money to tsunami relief efforts after cutting jobs and services, particularly the environmental co-ordinator position.

"It was perfectly worthwhile spending and a benefit to our community," said O'Reilly, noting that he has already donated $500 to UNICEF and encouraging fellow councillors to do the same.

Coun. Blake Lyons, who had earlier been in favour of the cash donation, said residents have been sending e-mails telling him they'd rather see relief efforts left up to the federal government and private donations.

Council eventually opted to accept an amendment from Coun. Mark Heyck, which would offer in-kind donations up to $20,000 instead. Those donations could include technical expertise from City Hall.

"It could be something like a City Hall employee going to one of the affected areas for a month or two, and the city paying their salary," said Heyck, who believes what is needed now is not more money but expertise on rebuilding community infrastructure.

Coun. Bob Brooks, however, remained adamant that council stick to its earlier plan to donate cash.

"What expertise in cold climate Yellowknife can we give to tropical Southeast Asia," Brooks wondered.

"I don't recall any tsunamis coming to the NWT recently that would've given us expertise."

Witty wasn't present to vote monday night.

Woytuik, meanwhile, wasn't impressed with either the earlier motion or Heyck's amendment - voting both down. The amended motion passed 7-1. "To say foreign aid is going to benefit the citizens of Yellowknife is really a stretch in my mind," said Woytuik.