Yellowknife (Feb 15/06) - The Yellowknife International Air Show is still set to fly, despite the fact that additional funding from the city has been denied.

On Monday night, city council defeated a motion to approve an additional $15,000 in funding for the annual event.

The show will go on, but it's a disappointment the city could not give more. - Mayor Gordon Van Tighem

"Maybe the air show could find alternate sources of funding," said Coun. Bob Brooks.

The air show committee had requested an extra $15,000 in city core funding.

Their initial request for $25,000 was denied and only $10,000 was approved.

Coun. Wendy Bisaro said if council had approved the air show's request, it would affect city council in the future.

"This could haunt this council and all future councils," said Bisaro.

The motion was defeated with a vote of four to three. One councillor was absent from the meeting.

Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem sits on the air show committee and said council's decision was a "disappointment."

"The show will go on, but it's a disappointment the city could not give more,"said Van Tighem.

Now the air show committee will need to increase its fundraising efforts, said Van Tighem.

"We already planned on fundraising. The only difference is now we have to do more."

Van Tighem said the air show is looking good for this year and entertainment acts have already been booked for the July event.

Some councillors said this whole matter stems from improper reviews of core grant funding.

"It's time to look at what events are needed and how much money they really need," said Bisaro.

She said the funding applicants should also be reviewed by residents of the city to determine which events are most important to the people of Yellowknife.

Coun. Alan Woytuik agreed with Bisaro, and said not enough time is allocated to properly review the core grant funds.

"We skim through it too quickly and don't deliberate like we should," said Woytuik.

"We should review core grant funding prior to working on the annual budget."

The decision to review the criteria for core grant funding was approved unanimously by everyone on council.

But Coun. Kevin O'Reilly was not so anxious to re-evaluate them because the concern is with the funds being given, not with the criteria involved.

"These are negotiated funding agreements with the city," said O'Reilly.

"I don't think it's a productive use of time to pick apart the criteria."