SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Despite a defeat in last week's municipal election, Dave McCann says he still cares about how the city is run and hopes council remembers his push for more efficiency.

Dave McCann spent 10 years on city council and said he hopes his push for efficiency continues with the new council. - Elizabeth McMillan/NNSL photo

"I was trying to bring a more responsive, more efficient operation and thereby reduce the pressure on citizens," he said.

"That connects to productivity ... you find yourself being more attractive and competitive that brings prosperity."

McCann served on city council for ten years. He was first elected in a by-election in 1999, he returned to council in 2000, 2003 and 2006. In last week's city election, McCann was the only incumbent attempting a return to lose his seat. He came in ninth out of 16 candidates with 1,394 votes. Only the top eight candidates are elected to council.

In four elections worth of campaign material, McCann's message was consistent. He wanted more efficiency, accountability, lower taxes and for the city to live within its means.

"I hope I brought a sensitivity to these issues. Maybe, looking back, I'm disappointed I wasn't able to convince people. My views have not changed," he said. "My belief is in continual improvement."

Even as his term came to an end, the 66-year-old was anxious to discuss issues he still considers pressing for council.

McCann was quick to suggest an electronic system to monitor bus arrival times and a public market to encourage local entrepreneurs. He hopes the city invests in more technology to give faster turnaround for data and implement a system that allows data to be posted online, instead of waiting for expensive reports to be completed to analyze information.

"If you want to manage better, you have to measure more and track operations so you can compare performance," he said.

McCann, who was born in Vancouver but grew up in Quebec City, has an undergraduate degree in geography and a master's in planning. He arrived in Yellowknife in 1974, working for the territorial government. He became frustrated with the civil service and decided he could play a more active role in the private sector.

He started his own consulting firm, Tree Line Planning Services Ltd., and was drawn to politics out of a concern for how the city's money is spent.

"It was the excessive revenue demand by the city on citizens that drew me into the fray," he said, recounting a 1999 protest that filled the city hall parking lot with people who opposed a municipal tax increase.

"(That concern has) been with me ever since," he said.

After 35 years in Yellowknife, McCann said he isn't going anywhere. He has a one-year-old grandson and is still reluctant to say he's retired.

"I've many competing priorities for my time, my grandson is one," he said. "I'm just slipping into a new phase ... I'm never bored."

McCann's last council meeting was Oct. 27. He and Kevin Kennedy are the only two councillors who will not be part of the new council.

McCann's colleagues took turns praising his contributions over the past decade.

Coun. Paul Falvo said McCann may continue to get held up while buying groceries and joked that it wasn't because he was inefficient or indecisive, but because he always took the time to listen to what people had to say.

"You care so much about people in the community and their concerns. You've got great respect in the community," Falvo said.

Even in McCann's last opening remarks to council, he was all business.

"Keeping Yellowknife competitive will be an ongoing challenge," he told his fellow councillors.