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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A motion to stop new tar sands approvals in Alberta until certain measures are put in place was passed on Tuesday.

The city council meeting included an appeal from Ecology North's Doug Ritchie to pass the resolution. The motion passed with five councillors voting in favour of sending the demands to the NWT Association of Communities - whose president is Mayor Gord Van Tighem. The association will decide whether or not to accept the motion. If accepted, it will be forwarded to the premiers of the NWT and Alberta, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"We're certainly not a lone voice in the wilderness asking for things to slow down," said Coun. Mark Heyck, who was in favour of the resolution. Councillors Lydia Bardak, Kevin Kennedy, Paul Falvo and David McCann also voted for the tar sands resolution.

"Our water quality is one of, by far, the most important issues in front of us," said Kennedy.

"There is legitimate concerns for water quality in Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories."

The Athabasca River, used in the processing of the sands into oil, connects to Lake Athabasca, the Slave River and ultimately Great Slave Lake.

Coun. Bob Brooks was present for the meeting but left before the vote, having previously cited a conflict with his job with Industry, Tourism and Investment. Coun. Shelagh Montgomery was not at the meeting. Coun. David Wind opposed the motion, saying it was a "sweeping condemnation" of the federal and Alberta government. Wind said the list of demands called for in the resolution "imply mismanagement" and could provoke an angry response from Alberta.

He added it also fails to recognize the financial benefits of the oil sands and could hinder future "meaningful water use agreements."

Two awareness days proclaimed in Yk

At Tuesday night's council meeting two special days were proclaimed for the city in the month of April. April 28 will mark a day of mourning for workers killed and injured on the job, at the request of the NWT Federation of Labour. Additionally, the week of April 26 to May 2 was proclaimed National Victim of Crimes Awareness week starting this year.

Mark Bogan also made a presentation to council "on behalf of the international parental alienation awareness group." He requested council consider declaring April 25 parental alienation awareness day. Bogan said the group was "instrumental in organizing (a) symposium in Toronto" on the topic. Council did not give a decision on whether to accept a parental alienation awareness day in Yellowknife.

Bottled water no good

A resolution calling for the NWT Association of Communities to urge all municipalities to phase out the sale of bottled water was passed unanimously by council on Tuesday. All councillors, except Coun. Shelagh Montgomery who was not in attendance, passed the motion which noted the negative effects plastic water bottles have on the environment. The motion also urges municipalities to develop awareness campaigns about the benefits of municipal water supplies.

"Cheers," said Coun. Lydia Bardak as she raised her glass of freshly-poured water after the motion was passed.