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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The rescheduling of a meeting between Yellowknife MLAs and city council, due to some individuals being unable to attend, has city councillors frustrated - especially since this was to be the last meeting before the Oct. 15 municipal election.

Outgoing city councillor David Wind said it would have been useful to have a meeting before the next legislative session started to get any input that might be available from Yellowknife city councillors to the MLAs.

"With the GNWT meeting on a session basis, I think it's important to get that perspective before the session begins," he said. "It's the perspective of Yellowknifers that is really important."

City councillor and mayoral candidate Paul Falvo said these meetings, which are scheduled quarterly, are vital, as they allow dialogue between the municipal and territorial levels of government on Yellowknife issues.

The meeting, scheduled for Oct. 9, was cancelled on Oct. 2, "by the MLAs rather abruptly," said Falvo.

With the municipal election set for Oct. 15, the current council will be no longer exist by the rescheduled meeting date of Dec. 11. Falvo said there is a sense from councillors of wanting to get closure on some of the work that the group has been working on for the past three years.

He said with the third session of the 17th legislative assembly starting in a week and a half, it would be beneficial to council and Yellowknifers to bring their issues forward.

"Some of the issues on the table are things that are very relevant to the election; for example, crime and social issues downtown, wanting to get an addictions and treatment (centre). That is something we need to keep pushing on," said Falvo.

He said Northland Trailer Park, a community energy system and direct international flights to Yellowknife are other items that need the support of the GNWT. "That's not something that the city can do on its own. We have to be working with the territory."

Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny said with some regular members as well as Mayor Gord Van Tighem, being unavailable to meet on that day due to scheduling conflicts, rescheduling was the only answer. With seven Yellowknife MLAs, and nine members of council with varying schedules, he said it would be more beneficial to set an alternate date where everyone could be present.

"You want to get a good solid critical mass ... When there's a lot of people who aren't able to attend, it makes it very difficult create an effective agenda," said Dolynny, adding a wrap-up with the outgoing council would have been important to have.

"Rescheduling for the December period allows the new council to swear in, orientation, get through some of their programs before we as members meet with them as well to do a strategy session."

Coun. Shelagh Montgomery, who is finishing up her second term as councillor and not running in the upcoming election, said although the group attempts to get together before the sitting of each assembly, it's "not the end of the world" if it doesn't happen.

"I don't think just because there's going to be a new council in place when the next meeting comes ahead, that means items that we have discussed in the past are going to be dropped. The city doesn't become a new place because a new council comes into being," she said.

"There are initiatives underway or concerns that still exist that we're hoping the territorial government can help us with and I would fully expect those to be carried forward."

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