Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 31/05) - City Hall officials say they will meet the territorial government's Sept. 1 deadline to select lands for future expansion.

City council reviewed a draft letter Monday, indicating how much land the city will need over the next five years.

After Sept. 1, Michael McLeod, minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, will decide which Commissioner's lands within municipal boundaries will go to the city and what will go to the Yellowknives Dene.

The city is requesting 266 hectares of land for residential and commercial growth, plus an additional 600 hectare block west of the airport to build a secondary access road to the highway and an industrial corridor.

Not all councillors were pleased with the letter, which was debated in public but not made available to media.

Councillors Doug Witty, Alan Woytuik and Bob Brooks worried over a promise that the city would meet with the Yellowknives Dene to explain their needs. All three felt that would slow the process, and drag the city into land claim negotiations - an arena outside of city jurisdiction.

Councillors Kevin O'Reilly and Mark Heyck wanted the meeting to stay in the letter.

Council also wanted to ensure the urgency for new land particularly residential was properly expressed.

Brooks said the interim measures agreement that has put a hold on land acquisitions for the last 13 years has left the city in a jam.

"It seems there's not a lot of understanding about how bad it is in Yellowknife," said Brooks.

The city hopes McLeod's decision includes ownership of 103 hectares for residential growth in the Tin Can Hill area.

Another 45 hectares are being sought next to the commercial district for expansion on the Frame Lake side of Old Airport Road. The city also wants to take over a 79-hectare area at the landfill. Another 39 hectares, which includes Lakeview Cemetery is also part of the city's request.

O'Reilly criticized the letter for tacking on too big of a wish list, which includes potential land applications up to 15 years down the road along the east shore of Kam Lake and south of Con Mine.

"We're actually applying for five to 10 times the amount of land we need over five years," said O'Reilly. "I don't think we should be asking for it, otherwise it's going to be a real tough sell with MACA."

Dave Devana, director of corporate services, promised to have the kinks ironed out before the deadline. He said the promise to meet with the Yellowknives will stay.

As for what land the Yellowknives want, nothing has been heard. Neither Ndilo chief Fred Sangris or Dettah Chief Peter Liske could be reached for comment.