Feb 28, 2022 Council Meetings

[00:00:04]

AND I'LL CALL OUR COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 TO ORDER, AND I WILL BEGIN

[1. Councillor Morse will read the Opening Statement.]

THANK YOU. THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE LOCATED IN CHIEF DRYGEESE TERRITORY.

FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATION. WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES OF ALL OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE MÉTIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS MÉTIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THERE WERE NO AWARD CEREMONIES OR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE AGENDA.

[Items 3 & 4]

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR SMITH, I'LL GO WITH.

ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.

[5. Does any Member have a pecuniary interest in any matter before Council tonight?]

COUNCILLOR KONGE? ON ITEM 33.

THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER? SEEING NONE.

THERE WAS NO CORRESPONDENCE, NOR WERE THERE ANY PETITIONS FOR THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO STATEMENTS FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY MEMBER STATEMENTS FROM THE FLOOR?

[10. Are there any Member statements from the floor?]

I JUST WANTED TO SEND OUT A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES YELLOWKNIFE SO GREAT IS WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES THE COMMUNITY BANDS TOGETHER AND THEY HELP OUT.

JANUARY 21ST IS A DAY THAT WILL FOREVER BE IN MY MIND, AS WELL AS MY CHILDREN'S, AND THE OUTPOURING OF GENEROSITY AND KINDNESS THIS COMMUNITY HAS OFFERED US HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL YELLOWKNIFERS, NWTERS THAT HAVE GIVEN US SO MUCH LOVE AND SUPPORT DURING OUR TIME OF NEED.

MAHSI. [INAUDIBLE].

SENDING YOU A LITTLE VIRTUAL HUG TOO.

SEEING NO FURTHER HANDS.

NEXT, WE HAVE INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS, AND WE HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 14, 2022 OR FEBRUARY 21, 2022.

SO NEW BUSINESS IS A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE

[Items 15 & 16]

COUNCILLOR MORSE? CAN I JUST MOVE THE MOTION AS WRITTEN, OR DO I NEED TO READ THIS WHOLE THING OUT? READ ONE, YOU WON'T HAVE TO GO DETAILED LINE ITEMS AND THEN.

OK.

YEAH, I WAS LIKE, TWO IS A LITTLE WORDY, TOO, BUT--.

GIVE IT SOME TIME. THERE WE GO.

OK.

I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD ON HOMELESSNESS TO ALLOCATE $1,033,953 DOLLARS OF THE 2022 TO 2023 REACHING HOME, CANADA'S STRATEGY TO END HOMELESSNESS FUNDING AS FOLLOWS: HOUSING FIRST FOR YOUTH, $175,000 DOLLARS; FOR FAMILIES, $350,000 DOLLARS; FOR ADULTS, $336,953 DOLLARS; FOR PREVENTION AND SHELTER DIVERSION IS $73,000; AND INDIGENOUS CASE MANAGEMENT AT $99,000.

AND TWO, THAT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE 2022-2023 FUNDING FOCUS ON MEETING THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND OTHERS WHO ARE AMONG THE MOST VULNERABLE, INCLUDING WOMEN AND CHILDREN FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SENIORS, YOUNG ADULTS, INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PEOPLE DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION ISSUES, VETERANS, LGBTQ2+, RACIALIZED GROUPS, BLACK CANADIANS, AND RECENT IMMIGRANTS OR REFUGEES.

THAT THANK YOU. SECONDER?

[00:05:02]

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

AND NEXT, WE HAVE MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO RESCIND THE PROOF OF VACCINE POLICY.

[Items 17 & 18]

I MOVE THAT COUNCIL RESCIND THE PROOF OF VACCINE POLICY EFFECTIVE WHEN THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER LIFTS THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES COVID 19 GATHERINGS ORDER ON MARCH 1ST, 2022.

THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY, AND I WILL SEE EVERYBODY IN PERSON, YOU ALL GET TO JOIN ME AT CITY HALL NEXT TIME.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL PASS THE CHAIR TO DEPUTY MAYOR SMITH.

[Items 19 - 23]

BYLAW NUMBER 5048, A BYLAW TO AUTHORIZE THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 2890 FOR THE TERM OF JANUARY 1ST, 2020 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2023, IS PRESENTED FOR FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD READING.

COUNCILLOR MORSE? THANK YOU.

I MOVE FIRST, READING A BYLAW NUMBER 5048.

DO WE HAVE A SECONDER? THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILLOR MORSE? THANK YOU. I MOVE SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5048.

SECONDER? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, AND WE CAN OPEN THIS UP TO DISCUSSION.

DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE, COUNCILLOR MORSE? I MOVE THAT BYLAW NUMBER 5048 BE PRESENTED FOR THIRD READING.

DO I HAVE A SECONDER? THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR WILLIAM.

ALL IN FAVOR? AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILLOR MORSE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I NOW MOVE THIRD READING OF BYLAW 5048.

DO I HAVE SECONDER? COUNCILLOR SILVEIRA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

I WILL PASS THE CHAIR BACK.

[Items 24 - 28]

A BYLAW TO AMEND LIVERY LICENSE BYLAW NUMBER 4526 TO PERMIT THE MAXIMUM AGE OF TAXIS TO INCREASE FROM NINE MODEL YEARS OLD TO 10 MODEL YEARS OLD IS PRESENTED FOR FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD READING.

COUNCILLOR MORSE? THANK YOU.

I MOVE FIRST READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5050.

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILLOR MORSE? THANK YOU.

I MOVE SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5050.

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR SMITH.

ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA? THANK YOU VERY MUCH YOUR WORSHIP.

I WANTED TO SEE IF I COULD PROPOSE A MOTION TO THE FLOOR TO AMEND THIS BYLAW FROM THE PROPOSED 10 YEARS TO 15 YEARS OF [INAUDIBLE] TO 15 YEARS FOR THE TAXIS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR KONGE.

OPENING IT UP TO DISCUSSION ABOUT INCREASING IT FROM NINE MODEL YEARS OLD TO 15 MODEL YEARS OLDS.

COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THE MOTION? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORSHIP.

SO YES, PLEASE YOUR WORSHIP. SO TODAY WE ARE JUST REQUESTING THAT THIS BE AMENDED TO 15 YEARS JUST TO BE ABLE TO HELP MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT RUN TAXICABS DURING THIS VERY HARD PERIOD. WE DO KNOW THAT 10 YEARS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO REPLENISH THEIR VEHICLES, SO HOPING THAT WE COULD GET AN EXTENSION AND JUST GIVE US ENOUGH TIME 15 YEARS. WE HAVE SEEN THIS TOWN OF INUVIK EXTEND FROM 10 YEARS TO 15, CITING THE DIFFICULTIES OR THE HARDSHIPS OF VEHICLES GETTING INTO INUVIK, AND I'M JUST HOPING THAT WE WOULD ADOPT THE SAME TODAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION?

[00:10:01]

THANKS TO COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

I CERTAINLY WILL SUPPORT IT, I WOULD HAVE ALSO SUPPORTED NOT HAVING ANY AGE LIMIT ON IT.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE ROBUST PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE WHERE VEHICLES AFTER THE AGE OF SIX BASICALLY NEED A MECHANICAL INSPECTION EVERY SIX MONTHS TO BE A TAXI. I THINK THAT REALLY THAT THAT KEEPS THE VEHICLE SAFE AND THAT'S WHAT IT SHOULD ALL BE ABOUT. I'VE SEEN SOME VEHICLES THAT AT TWO AND THREE YEARS OLD ARE NOT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. I'VE SEEN SOME VEHICLES--.

I MEAN, I HAVE A 1968 CLASSIC CAR THAT IS IN GOOD SHAPE TODAY AS WHAT IT WAS WHEN IT CAME OFF THE FACTORY LINE.

SO IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW YOU MAINTAIN THEM, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS SHOULD BE.

AND SO, YEAH, I SUPPORT THE 15 YEARS AND HOPEFULLY WHEN THE LIVERY BYLAW GETS A REVAMP, HOPEFULLY WE CAN LOOK AT NOT HAVING ANY AGE RESTRICTIONS ON IT AND JUST GO STRAIGHT UP WITH THE SAFETY ASPECT.

THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? COUNCILLOR MORSE? THANKS.

IT'S NOT A COMMENT, BUT A QUESTION FOR ADMINISTRATION.

I WAS JUST KIND OF WONDERING IF THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ANY THOUGHTS ON INCREASING TO 15, WHAT THE RATIONALE WAS FOR 10 AND WHAT THE RATIONALE WOULD BE FOR KEEPING IT AT 10? YEAH, IF WE CAN GET A COMMENT FROM OUR STAFF.

SURE THING. MS. BASSI-KELLETT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WORSHIP, AND THANKS FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCILLOR KONGE--.

OR COUNCILLOR MORSE, FORGIVE ME.

CERTAINLY, WE WERE RESPONDING TO A REQUEST THAT HAD COME IN FROM A TAXI OPERATOR TO ADD ON ONE MORE YEAR TO GO FROM NINE YEARS TO 10.

WE WERE TAKING THIS AS AN INTERIM STEP, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE LIVERY LICENSE BYLAW, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT FROM A NUMBER OF ANGLES TO UPDATE A NUMBER OF THINGS.

COUNCILLORS WILL REMEMBER, ABOUT TWO, THREE YEARS AGO, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE METERS THEMSELVES, AND WE NEED TO DO SOME WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE UPDATING COMPREHENSIVELY.

SO OUR INTENT HERE WAS WE WILL RESPOND TO THE REQUEST THAT WAS RAISED BY THE TAXI OPERATOR, AND WE DO, OF COURSE, WANT TO DO THE POLICY REVIEWS, LOOK AT BEST PRACTICES, ENSURE SAFETY IS UPHELD, PUBLIC SAFETY, SAFETY OF TAXI DRIVERS, OPERATORS AS WE DO THE OVERALL COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE LIVERY LICENSE.

I'LL ASK MS. HUNT-POITRAS AND MR. ROLAND, HEAD OF MED.

THEY'RE BOTH HERE ON THE CALL, I'LL ASK THEM IF THEY'VE GOT ANY COMMENTS THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE ON THIS. THANKS.

THANK YOU. I THINK THAT YOU'VE COVERED IT QUITE WELL, MS. BASSI-KELLETT.

I DO THINK THOUGH, THE THINKING IN TERMS OF THE RECOMMENDATION THAT ADMINISTRATION WAS MAKING AT THIS TIME IS THE FACT THAT WE WANTED TO TAKE A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, GIVEN THAT THE RULE IS THERE IN RELATION TO DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY, SO WHENEVER WE'RE DEALING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, WE'RE TAKING A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH AT THIS POINT, KNOWING, AS YOU SAID, THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A DEEPER DIVE FAIRLY SOON AND TAKING A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE OVERALL AT THE BYLAW AND CONSIDERING ALL FACTORS.

I ALSO ASK MR. ROLAND TO ADD HIS COMMENTS.

NOW, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, I MEAN, THIS IS MORE OF AN INTERIM MEASURE IN RESPONSE TO A LETTER THAT WE RECEIVED AND A REQUEST THAT WE RECEIVED FROM A LOCAL TAXI DRIVER BECAUSE-- . AND THE REASONS GIVEN IN HIS LETTER AND HIS REQUEST TO US WAS BECAUSE OF COVID AND SUPPLY CHAIN AND ECONOMY CURRENTLY, HOWEVER, THIS IS A SAFETY MEASURE, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE OTHER FORMS OF DUE DILIGENCE WITH THE INSPECTIONS AND OLDER VEHICLES ARE INSPECTED TWICE A YEAR. HOWEVER, THIS IS MORE OF AN INTERIM MEASURE PENDING THE FURTHER REVIEW OF THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE LIVERY LICENSE BYLAW.

TAXIS ARE RELIED UPON AS A SAFE AND RELIABLE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PUBLIC.

IT IS PART OF OUR, YOU KNOW, IN A WAY, PART OF OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND THEY DO NEED TO BE SAFE AND THEY NEED TO BE OPERABLE AND MECHANICALLY FIT.

WE DO THAT THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEASURES, ONE OF THEM BEING ALSO LIMITING THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT THEY'RE ON THE ROAD, HOWEVER, AS STATED PREVIOUSLY, THERE IS OTHER DUE

[00:15:02]

ANYTHING FURTHER, COUNCILLOR MORSE? NO, THAT'S IT FOR QUESTIONS, THANKS.

THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

THANKS, SO I THINK, AS I MENTIONED IT AT GPC, I'D PREFER TO WAIT UNTIL WE GET THE RESEARCH RESULTS BACK FROM ADMINISTRATION ON THE OVERALL LIVERY LICENCE BYLAW BEFORE WE MAKE THIS DRAMATIC EXTENSION, I MEAN, WE'RE GOING FROM NINE YEARS AND SO THE PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO 15.

AND SO THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, AND I WOULD JUST WANT TO ENSURE BEFORE WE DID THAT THAT ADMINISTRATION DID THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND RESEARCH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA LOOKED AT THE EXAMPLE OF INUVIK TO FIND THERE IS A PRECEDENT THERE, BUT I'M NOT--. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE REASONING WAS ECONOMIC AND TROUBLES WITH GETTING NEW CARS OR NEW PARTS UP TO INUVIK.

I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT RESEARCH THEY DID IN INUVIK ON SAFETY IMPLICATIONS, SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ADMINISTRATION DID LOOK AT THE SAFETY SIDE OF IT AND LOOKED AT PRECEDENTS IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, TOO, AND JUST THAT WE WERE SURE THAT OUR RATIONALE COULD BE DEFENDED BASED ON SAFETY REASONS, AND SO THE REQUEST THAT SOUNDED WAS TO EXTEND FOR NOW TO TO 10 YEARS, AND I THINK WE COULD FURTHER EXTEND LATER ONCE WE'VE DONE THE DUE DILIGENCE THERE.

BUT I'M COMFORTABLE EXTENDING FROM NINE TO 10 YEARS AS PER THE REQUEST, BUT AT THIS POINT I WOULD WANT TO WAIT BEFORE WE EXTEND ANY FURTHER, SO I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS MOTION.

THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YEAH, I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST PIPE IN TO AS WELL.

I WILL BE DEFINITELY SUPPORTING THIS MOTION AND THINK COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA FOR BRINGING IT UP. YEAH, I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY ABOUT SAFETY, NOT ABOUT AN AGE OF A VEHICLE, AND WOULD CERTAINLY ECHO A COUNCILLOR KONGE'S SENTIMENTS ON, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD SAFETY RECORD OF THAT VEHICLE. AND IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE ADMINISTRATION'S DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE BY INSPECTING THESE VEHICLES TWICE A YEAR, WHICH I THINK IS QUITE RIGOROUS AND YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE GET A TAXI RIDE IN COUNCILLOR KONGE'S HOT CAR AT SOME POINT MIGHT BE A GOOD THING.

SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVING A HOT ROD OR SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE SORT OF FITS THE CULTURE AND WHO YELLOWKNIFE COULD BE OR MAYBE A NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEBODY. SO I'LL BE SUPPORTING THE MOTION.

THANKS SO MUCH. THANK YOU.

YEAH, WE COULD HAVE ALL THOSE OLD SCHOOL CARS, JUST LIKE HAVANA HAS.

ANYTHING FURTHER FROM COUNCIL? COUNCILLOR SMITH? THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

I HAVE TO BE IN AGREEMENT WITH COUNCILLOR MORGAN ON THIS ONE.

ADMINISTRATION IS BRINGING IT FORWARD JUST AS A MIDDLE GROUND BEFORE WE ACTUALLY DIVE INTO THE LIVERY LICENSE, AND I'D RATHER NOT JUMP THE GUN ON THIS PRIOR TO GETTING MORE OF IN-DEPTH RESEARCH THAT IS REQUIRED.

NOTING THAT IF AND WHEN THIS RESEARCH COMES FORWARD, WE CAN DEFINITELY CHANGE IT AT THAT POINT, BUT I WOULD PREFER JUST TO KEEP IT AT THE 10 YEAR MARK FOR NOW.

THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER? COUNCILLOR PAYNE? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

I'LL BE SUPPORTING CYNTHIA'S AMENDMENTS TO THE MOTION.

WHEN THE LIVERY LICENSE GETS LOOKED AT AGAIN, I MEAN, IF WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES AT THAT POINT, I'M SURE WE CAN.

THIS IS JUST LEAVING IT OPEN FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE FREEDOM WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME, YOU KNOW, AND IT GOES TO THE SAFETY AND CONDITION OF VEHICLES.

IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO MAKE MORE MONEY, THEIR VEHICLE IS GOING TO BE IN TIP TOP SHAPE AND NOBODY IS GOING TO BE RIDING AROUND IN A 15 YEAR OLD CAR THAT'S NOT SAFE AND NOT ESTHETICALLY PLEASING, SO I THINK, FOR THE MOST PART, THIS WILL POLICE ITSELF, BUT I'M IN AGREEMENT OF 15 YEARS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANYTHING FURTHER BEFORE I GO BACK TO COUNCILLOR MORSE?

[00:20:01]

YEAH, THIS ONE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFICULT ONE FOR ME, JUST BECAUSE I DON'T SEE A LOT OF RESEARCH BEHIND EITHER OPTION, LIKE WHEN I ASKED ADMINISTRATION, I MEAN, THEY EFFECTIVELY JUST DID A YEAR BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS ASKED FOR, BUT IT DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A BUNCH OF BACKING BEHIND IT, EITHER.

SO BETWEEN THE 15 AND 10 I--.

I MEAN, THERE'S ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE ON BOTH SIDES, THERE'S SAFETY, THERE'S JUST THE FACT THAT ALWAYS PUTTING NEW VEHICLES ON THE ROAD HAS A CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT IN THE SENSE THAT CONSTANTLY REPLACING VEHICLES OBVIOUSLY REQUIRES A HUGE AMOUNT OF MANUFACTURING ENERGY. THE ONLY DIFFICULTY I HAVE WITH GOING WITH THE 15 IS THAT WE DON'T LIKE.

I MEAN, INUVIK DID IT.

WE'RE NOT INUVIK, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T HEAR US LIKE SAYING 10 YEARS IS THIS MAGIC NUMBER, IT'S JUST WHAT WAS ASKED FOR.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFICULT ONE, AND I DO KIND OF AGREE WITH A FEW OF THE COUNCILORS WHO HAVE MENTIONED THAT OUR REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN THE VEHICLES, I MEAN, 15 YEARS IS NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR A VEHICLE THESE DAYS IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE.

THEY CAN LAST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF KILOMETERS NOW AND HAVE BEEN BUILT TO DO THAT, SO I DON'T--. AND LIKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CAR BUILT IN 2005 AND 2020, THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF--.

THERE'S TECHNOLOGICAL UPGRADES, BUT I MEAN, THE CAR FROM 2005 WILL HAVE AIRBAGS, SAME AS ANY OTHER. SO I DON'T THINK THEY'RE NECESSARILY INHERENTLY SAFER, BUT THIS IS ALL KIND OF OFF THE CUFF. IT'S A LITTLE BIT--.

I DON'T PREFER MAKING DECISIONS THIS WAY, BUT JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A BUNCH OF RESEARCH AND BACKING BEHIND THE TEN YEARS EITHER, IT KIND OF LEAVES ME FEELING LIKE EITHER OPTION IS PROBABLY OK.

SO WITH THAT, I GUESS I'M INCLINED TO AGREE WITH COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA'S MOTION.

IF I HAVE TO PICK ONE, I MEAN, SURE, I'LL GO WITH THAT.

AS WAS SAID, I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE BYLAW COME FORWARD WITH A BIT OF RESEARCH BEHIND IT. IF THERE IS A REALLY GOOD REASON TO KEEP VEHICLES NEWER THAN I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR IT AND LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING THE DECISION WHEN THE BYLAW COMES FORWARD.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

FOR MYSELF, I HAVE THOUGHT OF IT SINCE OUR LAST GPC, AND I TOOK A LOOK AT OUR WORK PLAN AND HOW FAST--.

TOMORROW'S MARCH. AND I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE THE LIVERY LICENSE BYLAW EVER SINCE WE GOT ON COUNCIL AND WE HAVEN'T GOT AROUND TO IT.

SO AS MUCH AS ORIGINALLY, I WAS SUPPORTIVE OF 10 YEARS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE THE LIVERY LICENSE. IF WE DON'T UPDATE THE LIVERY LICENSE BYLAW IN THE NEXT YEAR, THE 15 YEARS ISN'T UNREASONABLE.

THE OTHER THING, I THINK THAT THE SIX MONTH CHECKUP AFTER IT'S SIX YEARS OLD IS A GOOD CHECK AND BALANCE.

THE OTHER THING I WAS REFLECTING ON IS WHETHER VEHICLES WOULD EVEN GET PAST 10 YEARS OLD . AGAIN TO COUNCILLOR PAYNE'S POINT ABOUT RELIABILITY IS, NOBODY'S GOING TO WANT THEIR CAR OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO EARN AN INCOME, SO IF IT GETS TO THE 10 YEAR MARK OR THE 11 YEAR MARK, AND THEIR VEHICLE IS NOT RELIABLE IT MEANS THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO WORK SO THEY MIGHT JUST RETIRE THEIR OWN VEHICLE.

SO, YEAH, I WOULD BE INTERESTED WHEN WE DO THE LIVERY LICENSE BYLAW REVIEW TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE TAXI COMPANIES TO SEE ACTUALLY HOW, IF THEY'RE RETIRING THEM BEFORE 10 YEARS, IF THEY THINK THEY COULD HAVE A FEW MORE YEARS AND FROM AN O&M PERSPECTIVE, PERHAPS PEOPLE WOULD BE MORE DILIGENT TO KEEP THE VEHICLES IN CHECK IF THEY KNOW THEY COULD MAKE IT LAST LONGER.

AGAIN, THE WHOLE ASSET MANAGEMENT STRATEGY COULD BE EXTENDED.

SO I WILL SUPPORT COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA AMENDMENT.

COUNCILLOR MUFANDAEDZA TO CLOSE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WORSHIP, AND THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR SPEAKING TO THIS MOTION.

I'M JUST ASKING ONE--.

MAKING ONE LAST PLEA TO MY FELLOW COUNCILORS THAT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE LIVERY BYLAW WILL BE COMING FORWARD.

THIS IS AN INTERIM MEASURE ACKNOWLEDGING THE DIFFICULTIES THAT TAXI DRIVERS HAVE EXPERIENCED DURING COVID.

I DO KNOW THAT ONCE WE HAVE MORE RESEARCH AND HAVE MORE IN-DEPTH INFORMATION WHEN THE LIVERY BYLAW COMES FORWARD, THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT DECISION, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, THIS IS MORE OF THIS URGENT [INAUDIBLE] FOR AN INTERIM MEASURE JUST SO THAT THESE TAXI DRIVERS CAN GET BY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SO TO THE AMENDMENT TO PERMIT THE MAXIMUM AGE OF TAXIS TO INCREASE FROM NINE

[00:25:02]

TO SECOND READING AS AMENDED.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILLOR MORSE NUMBER TWENTY SEVEN? THANK YOU. I MOVED THE BYLAW NUMBER OF 5050 BE PRESENTED FOR THIRD READING.

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

COUNCILLOR MORSE? THANK YOU.

I MOVE THIRD READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5049-- 5050.

OH, SORRY.

YEAH. RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

NO PROBLEM. SO, THIRD READING ABOUT LOT NUMBER 5050.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST SWITCHING IT UP THE NAMING CONVENTION FOR A SECOND.

NO, NO.

YEAH. A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[Items 29 & 30]

COUNCILLOR MORSE? THANK YOU.

I [INAUDIBLE] MYSELF THERE.

MOVE THIRD READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5049.

THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILLOR SILVERIO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THERE WAS NO DEFERRED BUSINESS AND THERE WERE NO TABLED ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA.

IS THERE ANY DEFERRED BUSINESS OR ARE THERE ANY TABLED ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR? AND COUNCILLOR KONGE, YOU CAN EXCUSE YOURSELF, WE'RE NOW AT OLD BUSINESS.

[33. A memorandum regarding whether to determine how to respond to the Integrity Commissioner’s Investigation Report dated February 10, 2022.]

THANK YOU, AND DO WE HAVE ANY MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR? MADAM MAYOR? THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY CENSURE COUNCILLOR KONGE FOR BREACHING ARTICLES 4.2 AND 4.3 OF THE COUNCIL CODE OF ETHICS BYLAW, AND IF I HAVE A SECONDER I'LL SPEAK TO IT.

COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS. THANK YOU.

SO AS PER THE CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT, WHICH IS THE LAW THAT GOVERNS YELLOWKNIFE CITY COUNCIL, WHEN A MEMBER OF COUNCIL BREACHES A CODE OF ETHICS, COUNCIL CAN DO ONE OF TWO THINGS WHICH IS ISSUE OF PUBLIC CENSURE OR REMOVE THE COUNCIL MEMBER FROM A MEETING.

AS PER THE INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER'S REPORT, BY MAKING INAPPROPRIATE COMPARISONS DURING OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN THE FALL, COUNCILLOR KONGE BREACHED ARTICLES 4.2 AND 4.3 OF THE COUNCIL CODE OF ETHICS BYLAW.

IN THIS CASE, I FEEL THAT THE MOST APPROPRIATE ACTION IS A CENSURE, AS A CENSURE IS A FORMAL PUBLIC GROUP STATEMENT THAT DENOUNCES AN INDIVIDUAL'S ACTIONS THAT RUN COUNTER TO THE GROUP'S ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS FOR INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR.

IN BOTH CASES, COUNCILLOR KONGE HAS APOLOGIZED AND RECOGNIZE THAT HIS STATEMENTS WERE WRONG. THE COMMENTS, WHILE NOT INTENDED TO BE RACIST, PRESENT A CASUAL RACISM THAT CANNOT BE TOLERATED BY THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.

I ACCEPT HIS APOLOGIES AND APPRECIATE THAT HE'S ALSO WILLING TO LEARN THROUGH ANTI-RACISM TRAINING.

ALTHOUGH COUNCIL COULD ALSO JUST ACCEPT THESE TWO ACTIONS AND NOT ISSUE A CENSURE, I DO FEEL THAT A CENSURE IS AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY COUNCIL THAT SETS THE STANDARD FOR OUR DEBATES THAT WE ALL NEED TO STRIVE TO ACHIEVE AND HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE FOR AND WHAT OUR INSTITUTION STANDS FOR.

SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M BRINGING THE MOTION FORWARD.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR WILLIAM? THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. YEAH, REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FROM MADAM MAYOR ON THIS ONE, COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH THE STATEMENTS AS PRESENTED.

CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, DON'T SUPPORT THE COMMENTS THAT WERE SORT OF SAID AT COUNCIL THAT EVENING AND HOPING TO MOVE FORWARD, SO JUST WANTED TO THROW MY SUPPORT BEHIND MADAM MAYOR'S COMMENTS AND BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?

[00:30:01]

COUNCILLOR MORGAN? THANK YOU. YEAH, I'M ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT LABELING PEOPLE AS RACISTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT THE IDEA IS JUST TO IDENTIFY WHEN SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE IS DONE AND JUST SAY THAT THE ACTION IS NOT APPROPRIATE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S THE IDEA OF THIS CENSURE IS JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, BOTH AMONG OURSELVES AND TO THE PUBLIC OF THE STANDARDS THAT WE HOLD OURSELVES TO AND WHAT WE FEEL IS APPROPRIATE OR NOT APPROPRIATE, AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS REVIEWED IN DETAIL IN THE INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER'S REPORT, WHY THE COMMENTS WERE REALLY DISRESPECTFUL AND INSENSITIVE.

AND SO, I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT WE FOCUS ON THE COMMENTS THEMSELVES AND NOT FOCUS ON THE PERSON BECAUSE WE ARE ALL COLLEAGUES AND WE ARE ALL LEARNING AND WE'RE ALL TRYING TO DO BETTER IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WORK TOGETHER AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE MORE TO LEARN IN TERMS OF HOW TO ENHANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT OF ALL THE DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY.

AND SO I THINK I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ANTI-RACISM TRAINING, THAT I BELIEVE IS SCHEDULED FOR THE SPRING, THAT WE ALL HAVE A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN.

SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US, BUT I THINK THE CENSURE ITSELF IS JUST IMPORTANT TO SHOW FOR OURSELVES AND TO THE PUBLIC THE STANDARDS THAT WE ASPIRE TO AND HOLD OURSELVES TO. THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR MORGAN.

AND COUNCILLOR PAYNE? THANK YOU, MADAM DEPUTY MAYOR.

FOR ME, THIS--.

IT'S A TOUGH ONE. INTENT IS A WORD THAT I THINK ABOUT A LOT AND WE COME OUT HERE WEEK AFTER WEEK AND WE SPEAK TO CERTAIN THINGS AND WE SPEAK TO EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN TOWN AND WE ARE PUT UNDER PRESSURE, AND SOMETIMES WE MISSPEAK.

AND I'VE MISSPOKE MYSELF, BUT NEVER IN THE INTENT THAT WOULD HURT ANYBODY.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF US ARE HERE FOR THE PUBLIC, AND THERE'S NOT AN OUNCE OF ME THAT THINKS THAT THERE WAS ANY NEGATIVE INTENT ON COUNCILLOR KONGE'S BEHALF, AND WHEN THE INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER PUT THIS OUT, IT WAS, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE PREVIOUSLY THAT THE RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION WENT THE WAY IT DID. SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A TOUGH ONE.

I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF CENSURING CENSORING COUNCILLOR KONGE.

IF IT WAS--.

IF COMMENTS WERE MADE WITH ANY NEGATIVE TONES AND ANY MALICE IN HIS HEART, I WOULD HAVE NO ISSUE SUPPORTING THIS.

SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILLOR PAYNE.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE. SO, TO THE MOTION THAT'S PRESENTED, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR ? AND THOSE OPPOSED? AND SEEING THE MOTION CARRIES WITH COUNCILLOR PAYNE OPPOSED.

AND I'LL HAND IT BACK TO YOU MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU, AND I'LL ASK COUNCILLOR KONGE, HE CAN REJOIN THE MEETING.

THANK YOU. AND SO, COUNCILLOR KONGE, CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY CENSURE YOU FOR BREACHING

[00:35:04]

SO, THANK YOU.

WITH THAT, IS THERE ANY OLD BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE.

THERE WERE NO NOTICES OF MOTION FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY NOTICES IN MOTION FROM THE FLOOR? THERE WERE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES FROM THE FLOOR? WITH THAT, IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOVED BY COUNCILLOR MORSE, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR SMITH.

ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE. STAY TUNED FOR WHETHER WE MEET IN PERSON ON MARCH 7TH.

WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL CHAMBERS IS UP AND READY, BUT CHECK YOUR EMAILS, WHETHER IT'LL BE GOTO OR IN PERSON.

BUT EVERYTHING ELSE RESTRICTIONS LIFT TOMORROW, SO WOOHOO! HAVE A GREAT NIGHT, EVERYBODY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.