4. A memorandum regarding whether to present By‐law No. 5067, a by‐law to declare a one‐half (1/2) day civic holiday on Friday, March 31, 2023, to enjoy the Yellowknives Dene First Nation Spring Carnival, for adoption.

[4. A memorandum regarding whether to present By‐law No. 5067, a by‐law to declare a one‐half (1/2) day civic holiday on Friday, March 31, 2023, to enjoy the Yellowknives Dene First Nation Spring Carnival, for adoption.]

TO ENJOY THE YELLOWKNIVES DENE FIRST NATIONS SPRING CARNIVAL.

MS. BASSI-KELLETT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WITH PLEASURE.

SO THE CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES DOES ALLOW THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO DECLARE A HALF DAY CIVIC HOLIDAY SHOULD WE CHOOSE TO, AND IN THE PAST, A ONE DAY CIVIC HOLIDAY HAS BEEN DECLARED TO ENCOURAGE ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION BY RESIDENTS AT SPRING CARNIVAL EVENTS SUCH AS THE LONG JOHN JAMBOREE AND BEFORE THAT AT CARIBOU CARNIVAL, BUT SINCE COVID, WE SEE THAT MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED TO CONTINUE, INCLUDING LONG JOHN JAMBOREE, AND THIS IMPACTS COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND CONNECTION AMONGST OUR RESIDENTS SUPPORTING A CIVIC HOLIDAY IN 2023 TO ENCOURAGE YELLOWKNIFERS TO GET OUT AND ENJOY SPRING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SPRING CARNIVAL WILL DEFINITELY ENDORSE YELLOWKNIFERS' ABILITY TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND THE NORTHERN TRADITION THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE OF ENJOYING SPRING CARNIVALS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

THANK YOU, AND FOR A LITTLE BIT FURTHER INFORMATION.

BACK WHEN THE CITY AND THE YELLOWKNIVES WERE WORKING ON OUR JOINT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, WE HELD A NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS TOGETHER AND IT WAS RAISED BY THE YKDFN, AND ONE THING THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS MORE YELLOWKNIFERS COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THEIR EVENTS, WHETHER THAT'S THE EASTER AND NEW YEAR'S DRUM DANCE OR THEIR SPRING CARNIVAL OR OTHER EVENTS THEY HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SO WHEN I SAW THE SPRING CARNIVAL'S SCHEDULE COME OUT EARLIER THIS MONTH, I REACHED OUT TO THE CHIEFS JUST TO GET THEIR BLESSING TO DO THIS CIVIC HOLIDAY, AND YES, BOTH WERE WERE EXCITED AND HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE'D BE DECLARING A CIVIC HOLIDAY OR CONSIDER DECLARING A CIVIC HOLIDAY.

THEY'LL BE DECLARING A CIVIC HOLIDAY FOR THE FULL DAY, BUT THE CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACT JUST ALLOWS US TO DO A HALF DAY, AND IF FOLKS ARE INTERESTED, THERE'S THE YKDFN HAVE THE SCHEDULE UP ONLINE.

SO STUFF LIKE THERE'S A FEED THE FIRE CEREMONY STARTING AT 1:30 ON FRIDAY.

[INAUDIBLE] TOURNAMENT FISHING TALENT SHOW, A BUNCH OF SPRING CARNIVAL STUFF THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.

SO AND IT'S HAPPENING ALL OUT IN [INAUDIBLE].

SO WITH THAT, OPENING IT UP TO QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DISCUSSION.

COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN.

JUST A QUESTION REGARDING THE COMMUNICATION.

SO [INAUDIBLE] YOURS IS ON.

I KNOW, BUT I WAS TRYING TO GET HIM [INAUDIBLE].

YEAH, JUST ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS FOR COMMUNICATING THE HALF DAY CIVIC HOLIDAY IF IT'S APPROVED.

SO JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T SORT OF DECLARE JUST HOPE THE MEDIA PICKS UP ON IT AND THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY ARE AWARE THAT IT'S HAPPENING, AND SO THEY DO GO AND PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENTS. FOR SURE, SO THE QUESTION, IF FOLKS WEREN'T ABLE TO HEAR ONLINE WAS ADMINISTRATION'S COMMUNICATIONS PLAN, BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT THE GNWT, IF THE CITY DECLARES A CIVIC HOLIDAY, THEY ALSO GRANT A HALF DAY FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, BUT MS. BASSI-KELLETT, IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION, AND SO SHOULD COUNCIL APPROVE THIS THROUGH BYLAW, WHICH WILL REQUIRE FIRST READING AT A MEETING TODAY AT NOON AND SECOND AND THIRD AT MEETING THIS EVENING.

WE WOULD THEN TOMORROW MAKE SURE THAT WE NOTIFY THE GNWT, WHICH WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO, AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THROUGH PUBLIC MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA AND A MEDIA RELEASE, WE WOULD LET YELLOWKNIFERS KNOW SO THAT THEY COULD AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE OPPORTUNITIES ON FRIDAY IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

[00:05:04]

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE'LL GET THE MESSAGING OUT, BUT WE'LL ENDEAVOR TO DO IT QUICKLY TOMORROW.

THANKS. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? COUNCILLOR MCGURK. THERE YOU GO.

I'M JUST GOING TO SAY, THIS IS A COMMENT AS A KID WHO GREW UP AT CARIBOU CARNIVAL, SPRING CARNIVALS ARE THE BEST, AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING ON FRIDAY.

AWESOME. THANK YOU, AND WE WILL BE DOING FIRST READING AT 12:30, SO WE'LL RECESS GPC AT 12:30.

WE'LL DO FIRST READING AND THEN WE'LL DO SECOND AND THIRD TONIGHT JUST BECAUSE WE NEED ALL NINE PEOPLE TO DO ALL THREE READINGS IN ONE MEETING.

SEEING NOTHING FURTHER ON THIS.

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS SCROLLING TO THE TOP MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO

[5. A memorandum regarding whether to adopt an Access for All Policy.]

ADOPT AN ACCESS FOR ALL POLICY.

MS. BASSI-KELLETT, IF YOU'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.

ABSOLUTELY, WITH PLEASURE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

SO THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE PROMOTES THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL YELLOWKNIFE RESIDENTS IN RECREATION AND TRANSIT SERVICES, REGARDLESS OF THEIR PERSONAL FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS.

EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN RECREATION, LEISURE AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES, AND PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET AROUND OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO ON PUBLIC TRANSIT WITHOUT HAVING ANY CHALLENGES IF THEY CAN'T AFFORD.

SINCE 2014, CITY ADMINISTRATION HAS DELIVERED THE ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM.

THIS CAME ABOUT AFTER A DISCUSSION THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD AND IT WAS IMPLEMENTED AT THE STAFF LEVEL.

HOWEVER, THIS IS A BROAD POLICY STATEMENT AND IT'S A PUBLIC COMMITMENT BY COUNCIL AND BY THE CITY AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE LAID OUT AS A PUBLIC POLICY.

IT'S A WELL-UTILIZED SERVICE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WITH APPROXIMATELY 500 RESIDENTS PER YEAR APPLYING FOR THIS ACCESS FOR ALL ONCE THEY APPLY.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE THEN FREE TO USE THE RECREATION SERVICES AS THEY WISH THEY MIGHT GO EVERY WEEK.

THEY MIGHT GO ONCE A MONTH, THEY MIGHT GO A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR.

SO WE HAVE LIMITED KNOWLEDGE ON THE UPTAKE, BUT THE PRINCIPLE OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS TO PEOPLE WHO DEMONSTRATE THAT THEY ARE FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED TO BE ABLE TO DO SO IS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE FOR US.

SO TODAY WE BRING FORWARD THIS POLICY AS A POLICY STATEMENT FOR COUNCIL TO ENDORSE, TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS FULL TRANSPARENCY FOR HOW THE POLICY IS UTILIZED, HOW IT PLAYS OUT, AND THAT ALL RESIDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY THEN TO SEE AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SHOULD THEY QUALIFY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR FEQUET. HELLO.

THANKS, MADAM CHAIR.

THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION FROM STAFF.

NOTING THAT WE PROCESS ABOUT 500 OF THESE PASSES A YEAR.

HOW MANY DO WE NOT APPROVE? HOW MANY COME IN TOTAL? AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAIN REASONS OTHER THAN INCOME THAT THEY MAY BE REJECTED? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO THE AMOUNT THAT WE WOULD NOT APPROVE EACH YEAR WOULD BE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND IT WOULD BE FOR PEOPLE THAT WHOSE INCOME FALLS ABOVE THE THRESHOLD THAT WE UTILIZE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACCESS FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. MERCI.

OH, YEAH. THEY'RE WIRELESS. YEAH.

WHY DON'T WE JUST SHARE REBECCA'S MIC? [CHUCKLING] SO I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM.

I THINK IT'S AWESOME.

WHAT I'M ACTUALLY WONDERING ABOUT IS, WAS THERE ANY OPERATIONAL REASONS OR CONSTRAINTS? ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T GO FOR THREE.

I UNDERSTAND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KIND OF SYSTEMATIZE OUR CURRENT PRACTICE.

WOULD THERE BE ANY REASON THAT THREE WOULDN'T WORK FROM AN ADMINISTRATION'S PERSPECTIVE? MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I ASSUME YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT WHY DO WE NOT GO TO THE THREE YEAR FOR THE ACCESS FOR ALL.

IT'S WE'RE SEEKING TO FIND A BIT OF A SWEET SPOT.

THERE HAVE BEEN ANNUAL PROPOSALS AND ANNUAL REQUESTS THAT WE'RE REQUIRING RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SEEKING TO GO TO TWO YEARS FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS FOR EASE OF ACCESS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME FORWARD AND ALSO FOR EASE OF ADMINISTRATION, BUT TRYING TO FIND THAT SWEET SPOT BETWEEN WHAT MAKES SENSE IN TERMS OF WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT IN THEIR LIVES, WHERE THEIR FISCAL REALITIES ARE AT.

WE THOUGHT THAT TWO YEARS WAS THAT NICE COMPROMISE AROUND PEOPLE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT STRIKE THEM.

SO IF THEY'RE ABLE TO COME EVERY TWO YEARS INSTEAD IT'S A WAY FOR US TO CAPTURE THIS WITHOUT BEING TOO DEMANDING ON PEOPLE'S TIME AS WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH AN ANNUAL REQUEST TO COME FORWARD. SO AGAIN, IT WAS SEEKING TO FIND THAT SWEET SPOT, THAT BALANCE BETWEEN WHAT IS THE LEAST CUMBERSOME FOR PEOPLE WITH ENSURING THAT PEOPLE STILL CONTINUE TO RETAIN AND MEET THE CRITERIA FOR THE PROGRAM ITSELF.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YEAH. NO, AND I THINK THAT'S MY MOTIVATION AS WELL, IS UNDERSTANDING THE DOCUMENTATION, THAT APPLICATION PROCESS THAT FAMILIES HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

[00:10:05]

UNDERSTANDING THAT AT THE CITY WE HAVE A LOT OF STUFF WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IN OUR STRAT PLAN AND OTHERWISE, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CURRENT THRESHOLD MAY ACTUALLY BE A TEENSY BIT LOW, AS COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN HAD HAD OFFERED SOME DIFFERENT DATA , AND WHETHER THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, I WOULD ACTUALLY PROPOSE THAT WE ADJUST THAT TO THREE YEARS RECOGNIZING THAT FAMILY STATUS DON'T DON'T CHANGE THAT FAST, AND IF WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND MAKE IT EASY FOR STAFF, I THINK I THINK THAT WOULD ACHIEVE BOTH GOALS.

SO THAT WOULD BE MY IDEA TO CHECK ON THE TABLE.

THANK YOU.

ANY FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL ON GOING FROM TWO YEARS TO THREE YEARS? SEEING NODDING HEADS.

THERE WE GO. OKAY, IT WENT FROM IT USED TO BE PEOPLE HAD TO APPLY EVERY YEAR AND THEN IT CHANGED TO NOW IT'S VALID FOR TWO YEARS.

SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS ACTUALLY MAKE IT VALID FOR THREE YEARS.

COUNCILLOR PAYNE.

WHILE FAMILY SITUATIONS DON'T CHANGE I THINK THAT WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT FINANCIAL SITUATIONS WOULD CHANGE.

I'M OKAY RIGHT NOW PUTTING IT AT TWO YEARS.

I MEAN, IT'S ALREADY INCREASING IT TO TWO YEARS FROM ONE.

SO I'M OKAY KEEPING IT WHERE WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SEEING GENERAL SUPPORT STILL FOR THREE YEARS.

COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

IN TERMS OF IF WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON WHO CONTINUES TO ACCESS THE PROGRAM LIKE THAT, DO WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THAT IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE ACCESSING IT EVERY YEAR? I ALSO HAVE A SORT OF THOUGHT THAT IF IT WAS A THREE YEAR.

IF THE PROGRAM WAS OR THE APPLICATION WAS FOR THREE YEARS, IT WOULD KIND OF ALLOW PEOPLE TO BECOME MORE ENGAGED WITH RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND MAYBE IF THEY DO COME INTO A MORE IDEAL OR BETTER FINANCIAL SITUATION, THEY MIGHT BE MORE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO USE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND PAYING FOR THEM.

SO I KIND OF AM ALSO LEANING TO THE THREE YEARS FOR THAT REASON AS WELL, BUT I'M KIND OF CURIOUS IF WE KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY SORT OF DATA ON WHETHER OR NOT THESE ARE RETURN APPLICANTS YEAR TO YEAR.

WHEN THEY MOVED FROM ONE YEAR TO TWO YEARS, I KNOW THEY TOOK A LOOK AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE ON THAT SECOND YEAR WAS LIKE A HANDFUL.

SO IF YOU'VE GOT 505 PEOPLE TECHNICALLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE, BUT THEY'RE JUST OVER THE RANGE.

IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A WHY PUT 495 PEOPLE THROUGH IT? WHY MAKE ADMIN DO ALL THAT WORK AGAIN? THE BIG THING THAT PEOPLE THE BIG DRAW FOR ACCESS FOR ALL IS ACTUALLY THE BUS PASS VERSUS THE RECREATION PROGRAMS, BUT TO YOUR POINT, MAYBE IF PEOPLE DID BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE GOING TO THE FIELD HOUSE, WALKING TRACK, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED, BUT MS. BASSI-KELLETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE DON'T HAVE EXACT STATS ON WHO OUT OF THE 500 ARE REPEAT CUSTOMERS, REPEAT CLIENTS.

WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER THAT DO COME BACK AND THERE ARE REPEAT USERS.

SO WE AGAIN, WE WERE TRYING FOR THE 200 TO FIND THAT SWEET SPOT TO MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE IT ADMINISTRATIVELY LIGHT WHILE RECOGNIZING THAT PEOPLE'S CIRCUMSTANCES DO CHANGE. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. STILL SEEING GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THREE, BUT BEN.

MAYBE JUST POTENTIAL COMPROMISES THAT IF PEOPLE ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH MAYBE THE PRINCIPLE OF THE IDEA THAT BEFORE THIS COMES TO COUNCIL FOR ACTUAL APPROVAL AS OPPOSED, YOU KNOW, AFTER GPC COMES TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL, BUT IF ADMINISTRATION JUST LOOKS AT THAT, AS YOU WERE SAYING, THAT BETWEEN 1 AND 2 YEARS, THERE WASN'T MUCH DROP OFF. IF THAT CONTINUES FOR 1 TO 3 OR 2 TO 3 YEARS, WE BUMP IT TO THREE.

IF THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DROP OFF, THEN ADMINISTRATION CAN COME TO THAT AT THE TIME THAT IT COMES TO COUNCIL AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE STICKING WITH OUR TWO YEAR RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE THERE'S ACTUALLY A HUGE DROP OFF THAT IT'S WORTH IT BUT IF IT'S STILL ONLY 5 TO 10 FAMILIES OR 5 TO 10 APPLICANTS, THEN EXTEND IT FOR THREE YEARS, AND IF THAT'S THE RATIONALE FOR TWO YEARS, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR THREE , AND WE CAN KEEP IT AT TWO AS PRESENTED WITH WHAT YOU SAY, GET ADMIN TO COME BACK BEFORE COUNCIL AND THEN IT CAN BE MADE AT COUNCIL.

[00:15:01]

THE DECISION TO GO FOR THREE.

SEEING NODDING HEADS FOR THAT.

OKAY, SO I'LL HAVE THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT AND BRING THAT FORWARD.

NEXT ON MY LIST.

COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN, DID YOU HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS? SO MY FIRST QUESTION WOULD BE JUST AROUND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR THIS POLICY.

WHILE THE PROGRAM IS ALREADY IN PLACE, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I THINK THE POLICY IS WELL WRITTEN.

I THINK IT'S CLEAR IT PROVIDES SOME GOOD STRUCTURE.

WITHOUT GETTING TOO FAR INTO THE ACTUAL PROGRAMMATIC SIDE OF THINGS WITH . [INAUDIBLE] IS IT BACK ON? OKAY, WITH A POLICY LIKE THIS, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD CHANCE, THOUGH, FOR US TO LOOK AT ARE WE MISSING SOMETHING WITHIN THE POLICY STRUCTURE? HOW IS THE PROGRAM RUNNING OR DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE POLICY AND THEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY? WHEN'S THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SORT OF ENGAGE IN THE PROGRAM INPUT? IT'S ALWAYS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

I KNOW NOT EVERYBODY NECESSARILY LOVES PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T ENGAGE, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHEN SOMETHING COMES BEFORE COUNCIL.

IT'S THAT TIME TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO HAVE A SAY IF THEY WANT, AND I'M ALWAYS JUST LEERY OF ONE WEEK ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN A GPC AND A COUNCIL MEETING. SO I GUESS WHAT IS THEIR PLAN? IS IT MORE THAN JUST THE WEEK? ARE WE PLANNING ON OPENING THIS UP FOR A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROGRAM TO DATE? ARE WE MISSING PEOPLE THROUGH THE PROGRAM? BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF ORGANIZATIONS WITH WORK, WITH PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN OUR CITY.

ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE REACHING THE PEOPLE WHO COULD ACCESS? 500 IS A GREAT NUMBER, BUT ARE WE STILL MISSING PEOPLE THAT COULD BE AVAILING OF THE SERVICE? SO LONG WINDED QUESTION FOR WHAT'S THE NEXT STEPS AROUND THAT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PIECE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE.

SO SINCE THIS ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2014, AFTER COUNCIL HAD SUGGESTED IT, ADMIN HAD REACHED OUT TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AT THE TIME FOR INPUT ON WAYS THAT THE PROGRAM COULD BE IMPROVED, AND WE'VE IMPLEMENTED AND STREAMLINED A NUMBER OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FOSTER FAMILY COALITION CAME FORWARD TO SEE IF WE COULD IMPROVE APPLICATIONS FOR FOSTER CHILDREN IF THEY WERE ENROLLED IN PROGRAMMING AND JUST RECENTLY WE'VE HAD CHANGES FROM FAMILIES THAT CAME FORWARD WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS ADULTS LIVING IN AT THEIR HOME AS ADULTS, AND SO WE HAVE INCLUDED THEM AS WELL IN THE PROCESS.

SO IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING ITERATIVE PROCESS TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED.

WE KNOW AS WELL THE INTEGRATED CASE MANAGEMENT PROCESS THROUGH GNWT IT PROVIDED A LOT OF COMMENTS TO US FROM THE CLIENTELE THAT THEY DEAL WITH AROUND WAYS THAT WE COULD ADJUST AND IMPROVE THE ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAMING.

SO WE'RE OPEN AT ANY TIME AS THERE ARE POCKETS OF STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT COME FORWARD AND SAY, HEY, WE'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE THIS BROADENED TO INCLUDE THIS KIND OF A CLIENT, CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN? IT'S BEEN ITERATIVE. IT'S BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS FIRST PUT IN PLACE.

SO IF COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LONGER, MORE PROACTIVE POLICY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS ON THIS, WE CERTAINLY COULD DO THIS ADMINISTRATION HASN'T BEEN PLANNING TO DO SO BECAUSE WE HAVE HEARD COMMENTS COMING IN FAIRLY REGULARLY FROM USERS AND POTENTIAL USERS, WHICH WE HAVE USED THEN TO ADJUST WHAT THE ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM AND NOW POLICY WILL LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD. SO WE'LL TAKE YOUR DIRECTION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

THAT GIVES ME SOME MORE ASSURANCE ON THE PROCESS.

I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

THEN WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS JUST AT LEAST BETWEEN GPC AND WHEN THIS COMES BACK TO COUNCIL, THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU HAVE, THAT ADMINISTRATION HAS CONNECTED WITH IN THE PAST AND THAT IF YOU'D MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, CONTACT THEM AND HAVE THAT CONFIRMATION TO COUNCIL JUST TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO ONCE AGAIN HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PIPE IN NOW, MAYBE NOT, I DON'T FEEL WE NEED A BROAD PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THEN BASED ON ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE, BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT THOSE GROUPS ARE HIGHLIGHTED AND CONNECTED WITH THE OTHER COMMENT THAT I HAD WAS JUST UNDER THE CONFIDENTIALITY SECTION.

I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND TO OUR MY COLLEAGUES THAT WE REMOVE THE WORDING AROUND ACCESSING IT BY EMAIL THAT WE CAN ONLY ACCESS BY EMAIL.

MY LOGIC BEING THAT EMAILS CHANGE FOR ONE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, CONTACT BY EMAIL LIMITS THINGS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE LITERACY ISSUES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.

SO IF WE PUT IN THE POLICY THAT THE WAY YOU ACCESS TO ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY IS THROUGH AN EMAIL, WE ACTUALLY ARE LIMITING THE SCOPE OF PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO THE PROGRAM

[00:20:01]

AND ACCESS THROUGH HOW WE GET INTO THE PROGRAM.

SO IT'S A VERY SMALL WORDING CHANGE, BUT IT WOULD JUST BE TO REMOVE THAT BY EMAIL AT PIECE AT THE END OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY SECTION.

SO THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.

I WOULD JUST REMOVE HOW THE CONTACT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT'S THE POLICY SECTION, RIGHT? SO HOW ADMINISTRATION OPERATIONALIZE IT AFTERWARDS IS REALLY UP TO THEM.

MS. BASSI-KELLETT. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE ADMINISTRATION CAN CONSIDER MAY CONTACT PROGRAM, ADMINISTRATION, PERIOD, BEFORE IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL.

THANKS VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.

ABSOLUTELY. WE PUT THE EMAIL ADDRESS IN THERE BECAUSE WE'VE USED IT SINCE 2014, BUT WE TAKE COUNCILLOR HENDRICKSEN POINT THAT IT'S ABOUT CONTACTING.

YOU CAN COME IN IN-PERSON, YOU CAN CALL OR YOU CAN EMAIL.

SO WE'LL LEAVE IT OPEN AND WE'LL ADJUST THE WORDING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. OKAY, THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR, AND FOR PASSING AROUND THE MIC TO EVERYBODY.

MY FIRST QUESTION, JUST TO CONFIRM, ARE THE DISCRETIONARY POWERS REQUESTED FOR THE CITY MANAGER IN SECTION 4.11(C) AND 4.21(C) IN THE POLICY, IN ORDER TO MAKE EXCEPTIONS FOR RESIDENTS WHO DON'T FALL NECESSARILY WITH THE DESCRIBED CRITERIA AND ELIGIBILITY OR PROVIDE THE DOCUMENTATION REQUESTED IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

YEAH TO COUNCILOR HENDRICKSON'S POINT, THIS WAS A BIT OF AN EVOLUTION.

WE HAD A REQUEST FROM A FAMILY WHO WAS SPONSORING A REFUGEE AND SO THAT PERSON WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR INCOME ASSISTANCE AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE FILED THEIR TAXES IN CANADA THE LAST YEAR, BUT IN THE SPIRIT OF INTENT OF THIS POLICY, THEY WOULD STILL MEET THE THRESHOLD, WHICH THEN GIVES THE CITY MANAGER THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE A CASE LIKE THAT, BUT MS. BASSI-KELLETT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MADAM CHAIR, THAT'S EXACTLY IT.

WE CAN'T FORESEE EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE SOMEONE WILL COME FORWARD WITH A COMPELLING CASE AROUND WHY THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM.

SO WE DO WANT TO HAVE THAT SLIGHT WINDOW THAT'S OPEN THAT WITHIN THE GENERAL SPIRIT AND INTENT OF WHAT'S INTENDED IN THE POLICY.

THERE CAN BE ONE-OFFS WHERE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND ACCESS FOR ALL GRANTING IS PROVIDED.

SO AGAIN, BASED ON AS AND WHEN CASES THAT COME UP AND PEOPLE'S INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

WITH MY SECOND QUESTION BEING, WHERE ARE THE DISCRETIONARY POWERS CONSIDERED TO BE ALLOCATED AT THE DIRECTOR LEVEL? AND IF SO, WHAT WAS THE RATIONALE IN THE DECISION TO ONLY HAVE THEM REMAIN WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER? MS. BASSI-KELLETT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

SO TYPICALLY A LOT OF THINGS REST WITH THE CITY MANAGER.

OFTEN THINGS ARE DELEGATED.

WE'LL SEE THAT IN BYLAWS.

WE'LL SEE THAT IN LEGISLATION.

SOMETIMES IN POLICY THAT HAPPENS AS WELL.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF DELEGATION THAT DOES HAPPEN, AND CERTAINLY FOR A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, THERE WOULD BE A DELEGATION THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS FOR ME.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS, DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE.

YEAH, I'M IN SUPPORT.

I HEAR EVERYBODY COMING IN FOR THE ACCESS FOR ALL PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY COME TO THE COUNTER RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY DESK.

IT'S A WELL-USED PROGRAM, BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THIS POLICY AND ACTUALLY HAVE IT SPELLED OUT FOR FOLKS.

I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOMEBODY WHO'S JUST ABOVE THAT LIMIT OR BUT USING THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES MARKET BASKET MEASURE IS THE DATASET THAT IS USED ACROSS CANADA FOR DETERMINING THE POVERTY LEVEL, AND SO I'M NOT REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE CREATING OUR OWN FORMULA AND DEFINITION, AND I'D PREFER TO USE MORE WHAT STATS CANADA AND THE GNWT ARE USING FOR THEIR LEVEL, AND I ALSO WANT TO KEEP IT AT THE INCOME TEST LEVEL VERSUS GETTING INTO AGE CATEGORIES OF EVERYBODY'S ELIGIBLE.

I THINK IF WE THIS IS THE ONE WAY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE, AS THE PROGRAM SAYS, ACCESS FOR ALL, BUT IF WE WANT TO TRY TO TARGET AND HAVE A DIFFERENT PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHER RESIDENTS, THEN LET'S DISCUSS THAT, BUT I THINK BROADENING THIS POLICY TOO MUCH CAN CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

SO BUT AS IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, HAVING THIS REVIEWED AND SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATION IS IS WHAT ADMIN CAN DO AS THE SITUATION CHANGES.

SO WITH THAT WE WILL BRING THIS FORWARD.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A TWO WEEK WINDOW BASED ON WHEN OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS.

[00:25:03]

OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IS TUESDAY, APRIL 11TH AT 7 P.M.

SO THAT'S WHEN WE'LL BRING IT FORWARD BECAUSE THE MONDAY IS AN EASTER MONDAY WITH THAT AND THEN WE WILL AT THAT TIME DISCUSS WHETHER IT'S A TWO YEAR OR A THREE YEAR, BUT WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE A RECESS OKAY, ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE. WE CAN ADJOURN, AND I'LL CALL OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING BACK TO ORDER FOR MONDAY, MARCH 27TH, 2023.

WE'RE NOW ON ITEM NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING WHETHER TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO BRING FORWARD IN Q2 2023 A MEMORANDUM TO COMMITTEE OUTLINING THE

[6. A discussion regarding whether to direct Administration to bring forward, in Q2 2023, a memorandum to Committee outlining the cost implications/analysis with respect to hosting the 2026 Arctic Winter Games in Yellowknife.]

COST IMPLICATIONS ANALYSIS WITH RESPECT TO HOSTING THE 2026 ARCTIC WINTER GAMES IN YELLOWKNIFE.

SO COUNCIL REMEMBER THAT WE DISCUSSED THIS IN JANUARY.

AT THE TIME I RECOMMENDED THAT THIS COME BACK TO GPC.

THE MOTION THAT I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST IS THAT IN-LIEU OF HAVING ADMIN DO AN ANALYSIS IS THAT WE BRING FORWARD THE FOLLOWING MOTION TO OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING AND THE MOTION BE THAT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, THE GNWT BID TO HOST THE 2026 ARCTIC WINTER GAMES IN YELLOWKNIFE BY ONE ALLOCATING STAFF RESOURCES IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY ON THE BID COMMITTEE TWO PROVIDING A LETTER OF SUPPORT INDICATING THAT THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE WILL PROVIDE THE REQUIRED CITY FACILITIES TO THE GAMES AT NO COST , AND THREE, ALLOCATING STAFF RESOURCES IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY ON THE HOST COMMITTEE.

SHOULD THE GNWT BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR BID TO HOST THE GAMES.

I CAN DISCUSS FURTHER OR OPEN IT UP TO DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL.

COUNCILLOR FEQUET.

DID YOU WANT TO? NO? SO FOR MYSELF, THIS IS A TOUGH ONE.

ARCTIC WINTER GAMES IS GREAT. I'VE BEEN TO SEVEN.

I WOULD HAVE GONE TO EIGHT IF 2020 HADN'T BEEN CANCELED BUT FROM WITH MY CITY HAT ON IT'S A LOT.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE 2018 GAMES, THERE WAS A $300,000 MUNICIPAL CONTRIBUTION, BUT THEN THE HOST SOCIETY, I.E.

THE MUNICIPALITY, HAD TO ALSO FUNDRAISE 5.3 MILLION.