Jess McDiarmid
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, January 30, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - The newly-elected government of the Northwest Territories needs to show more leadership, said the mayor at his annual state of the city address to the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce.

"What we need to see is a little bit more decisiveness... and leading by example," Gordon Van Tighem told roughly 80 people gathered at the Explorer Hotel January 25.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem called on the territorial government to look for ways to increase revenue rather than cutting the budget at the Yk Chamber of Commerce luncheon last week. - Jess McDiarmid/NNSL photo

"Rather than the announcement that devolution is on the backburner, we would like to see them get behind the individual communities."

Premier Floyd Roland returned from the First Ministers conference with Prime Minister Stephen Harper earlier this month and said devolution could be put "on the backburner."

Last week, Roland announced plans to slash $135 million from the territory's budget.

Van Tighem called on the GNWT to examine not just spending cuts but revenue growth, including seeking funding from federal programs.

Meanwhile, the city issued 434 new building permits and 313 new business licences in the last year and got a starring role in the American TV series "Ice Road Truckers."

"I assume everyone has their 'Alex ringtone' on their cellphone," said Van Tighem, referring to a local trucker Alex Debogorski, who played a prominent role in the series.

He said with land sales in the Engles Business District, a bypass road from Highway 3 to Kam Lake is "inching" closer.

High-profile visitors to the city in the past year included Stephen Harper, NDP leader Jack Layton and Liberal leader Stephane Dion, as well as the White Stripes and Randy and Mr. Lahey from the Trailer Park Boys.

Construction began on developments such as the Niven Lake reservoir, Bailey House and the new Shoppers Drug Mart.

A committee to build the field house was struck.

The city got its Smart Growth development plan underway, as well as a feasibility study looking at possibilities for using geothermal energy from Con Mine to heat the city.

The city needs to push the GNWT and federal government for a diamond strategy and keep promoting aurora tourism and caribou camps, said Van Tighem, adding it's important to establish sound numbers on how many animals are left.

Van Tighem closed his address without mentioning 911 service, something that's been discussed for years. But when the question period passed without it being raised, he brought it up.

"It's in there," he said, laughing.

The territorial government has joined the 911 committee the city initiated and a company has been contracted to complete an implementation study expected to be complete by this fall.