SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Residents called for an additional two Yellowknife seats in the legislative assembly during the Electoral Boundaries Commission's final public meeting in the capital on Tuesday night.
Former Yellowknife Mayor Dave Lovell, left, addresses the Electoral Boundaries Commission Tuesday. There were many empty seats in the room at Range Lake North School. However, those who did attend had a lot to say about how unfairly represented Yellowknifers are in the legislative assembly. - Laura Busch/NNSL photo |
About 15 people attended the meeting in the Range Lake North School gym, many of them voicing support for the commission's 21-district boundary scenario, which would add two new electoral ridings in Yellowknife.
Mayor Mark Heyck opened public comments, outlining in a detailed presentation why the City of Yellowknife is supporting the 21-district scenario.
"Fundamentally, this exercise is about achieving the democratic principles of fairness, equity and effective representation in our political institutions and the City of Yellowknife feels the 21-seat scenario - with some adjustments - comes closest to achieving those principles."
Under the 21 electoral districts scenario, Yellowknife would have nine territorial ridings, up from the current seven. Dettah and Ndilo would be taken out of the Weledeh district and included with Lutsel K'e and Fort Resolution in a new riding, which Heyck said the city supports, although he acknowledged there has been no consultation with either Ndilo or Dettah on whether or not community members support that change.
The commission's model splits up many Yellowknife neighbourhoods, which Heyck said is unnecessary. The most glaring example is where Northland Trailer Park is split in half, he said.
"Wherever possible, neighbourhoods should be kept together," Heyck told the commission.
The city's model also took into account neighbourhoods that are expected to increase in population in the future as new housing developments are completed, including Niven Lake, Frame Lake, Grace Lake and Block 501.
Ingraham Trail residents were also included in a city riding in the City of Yellowknife's model, because these residents consider themselves Yellowknifers, said Heyck.
Other presenters at the meeting used stronger wording, saying Yellowknife is underrepresented in the legislative assembly and, if necessary, court action will be brought against the GNWT to make the balance of power in the legislature more fair.
"Honestly, I don't think (the interim report) goes far enough for Yellowknife," said city councillor Niels Konge. "Yellowknife represents close to 50 per cent of the population."
Konge also threw his support behind the 21-seat option, but said it would only be fair if Yellowknife had 10 of those 21 MLAs.
When the GNWT struck down the boundaries commission's recommendations in 1998, a citizen group called Citizens of Democracy took the GNWT to court and ultimately won, bringing the number of Yellowknife MLAs to seven from four.
Konge asked commission chair Justice Shannon Smallwood if similar action could be taken should the assembly choose to maintain the status quo, which Smallwood declined to answer on the grounds she was not in a position to give legal advice.
Dave Lovell, who was mayor when the Citizens for Democracy case was brought against the territorial government, also spoke at Tuesday's public meeting.
"It's not surprising that the urban ridings would have a larger population than the rural areas, but there has to be some equity in the whole thing," Lovell told the commission. "If Yellowknife had 50 per cent of the population, it is not necessary that it have 50 per cent of the seats, but it should definitely be adequately represented."
Smallwood told Yellowknifer the commission has received good feedback during its five-week public hearing tour to 14 NWT communities.
Written feedback on the commission's interim report can be submitted until March 28. The commission will then draft its final report, which it must submit to the legislative assembly by May.
