SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Transport Canada official said there is no chance the city will be approved for an extension of the dump, yet mayor Gord Van Tighem said the city still feels the extension will be granted.

Andrea Rudniski, senior communications officer with Transport Canada, Prairie and Northern Region, said the city landfill cannot be expanded because of the zoning regulations in place. The regulations prevent further landfill development within an eight-km radius of an airport.

"The landfill there now was grandfathered in, and when that was done they got a parcel of land and once it lived out its life you can't expand it beyond that point," Rudniski said. "They can't expand past the parcel of land."

Transport Canada officials were in town June 17 to meet with city and airport officials about the proposed expansion of the city dump into one of the adjacent rock quarries.

"It centered around options for extending the life of the city's landfill near the airport," she said, later adding they discussed a variety of options for the landfill without expanding it. "We attended to provide advice and guidance in regards to aviation safety."

When asked about the extension and Transport Canada's response to Yellowknifer questions, Van Tighem was surprised on the federal department's response.

"They're saying that?" he said. "That's interesting, they haven't told us that yet. They went away to make some recommendations to their people in Ottawa they said they would get back to us."

Van Tighem said city officials had a conference call with Transport Canada on Monday and alluded to a positive outcome for the city.

Dennis Kefalas, director of public works for the city, said he wouldn't comment on the issue until a final response was given.

"I don't want to say anything that might jeopardize their decision one way or another," he said. "Unless you have a direct quote from that person who was up here, it's all hearsay."

Kefalas confirmed the call from Transport Canada on Monday was to let them know the department were still working on its response.

The city expects a full response from Transport Canada by the middle of July.