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NNSL Photo/graphic

Although he agreed to a motion on post office heritage, Coun. Alan Woytuik, centre, was the only dissenter when Coun. Kevin O'Reilly, foreground, made a recommendation on Oct. 23 for council to write a letter to the federal government expressing displeasure with the recent $1 billion in budget cuts to social programs. - Peter Crnogorac/NNSL photo

City council fumes over federal cuts

Peter Crnogorac
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 27/06) - Yellowknife city councillors will be letting the federal government know how they feel about recent cuts to social programs in the capital.

Council passed a motion Oct. 23 to send a letter to Ottawa voicing its displeasure with $1 billion in cuts to what the Tories called wasteful programs.

Coun. Kevin O'Reilly told his counterparts the move will affect important programs throughout the Northwest Territories.

"The program cuts will impact smoking cessation programs, adult literacy, youth employment, women's, environmental and voluntarism programs," O'Reilly told council. Councillors Wendy Bisaro, Mark Heyck, Dave McCann, Blake Lyons and Bob Brooks voted to pass the motion. "I'm definitely in support of this motion," said Brooks.

Supporters agreed the federal government made the decision hastily and without input from regional program directors.

The cuts are to take place this year and in 2007. The only no vote came from Coun. Alan Woytuik, whose voice rose in anger when explaining his decision.

"This is a federal issue," he said. "The last time I checked we were a municipal council, not a federal council. We just don't have enough information on the issue."