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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The city's request for $9 million in federal funding to help repair Northland Trailer Park's crippled water and sewer infrastructure has been rejected. The cost for the repairs is estimated at $18 million.

"I regret to inform you that this proposal has been thoroughly reviewed and has been determined to be unsuitable for funding under the Green Infrastructure Fund," states a letter from Denis Lebel, federal minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada.

In the letter Lebel explains that because the fund is meant to focus on "a few large, strategic projects of regional or national significance" and includes a "significant water infrastructure component," the project does not meet the requirements of the fund.

The proposal was submitted on July 15, 2010 and some residents are upset with how long it took to receive an answer.

"It shouldn't have taken 20 months to find out we were ineligible for this money. I think that's the part that's most frustrating," said Wade Friesen, vice-president of YK Condominium Corporation No. 8, which runs the trailer park.

"It really sucks," said Northland resident Kim MacNearney. "I guess that means we have a lot of hard work to do and we can't really rely on the federal government."

The rejection letter suggests that $15,788,269 available to the city under the federal gas tax fund could be used for the repairs.

"That's a standard response from the government whenever they turn anything down, to say 'Hey, look what we're already giving you,'" said Mayor Gord Van Tighem. "That's a fund that is allocated throughout the whole city and has been invested in replacement of citywide water and infrastructure so we don't get ourselves into a bad situation."

Van Tighem couldn't say how much of that money has gone toward repairs for Northland.

"I'm particularly disappointed that it took them two years to basically tell us something they could have told us in the space of a month," said Wendy Bisaro, MLA for Frame Lake.

"My understanding was that the city was advised, albeit verbally, that the project did fit in with the parameters for the Green Infrastructure Fund," Bisaro said.

Van Tighem pointed to discussions with the federal government and a letter received Oct. 25, 2010 indicating that the funding could be available under the Green Infrastructure Program.

The letter from former minister Chuck Strahl says the fund "focuses on green energy generation and transmission infrastructure, building and upgrading waste water treatment systems and improving solid waste management."

The issue of Northland's infrastructure, which is 15 years past its expected lifespan, is expected to be discussed at a city council meeting Tuesday.

The GNWT's decision on a request for $9 million in funding through an interest-free loan is still pending. The next meeting of the members of YK Condo No. 8 is scheduled for Feb. 7.

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