[00:00:05]
>> I'LL CALL OUR COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH,
[1. Councillor McLennan will read the Opening Statement]
2023 TO ORDER AND I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY ASKING COUNCILOR MCCLELLAN TO PLEASE READ THE OPENING STATEMENT.>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE'RE LOCATED IN CHIEF DRAGHI'S TERRITORY.
FROM TIMELY MEMORIAL, IT HAS BEEN THE TRADITIONAL LAND OF THE YELLOWKNIFE DENE FIRST NATION.
WE RESPECT THE HISTORIES, LANGUAGES AND CULTURES HAVE ALL OF THEIR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE METIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS METIS ANYWAY WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE AWARD CEREMONIES AND PRESENTATIONS.
THERE ARE NO AWARD CEREMONIES OR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE AGENDA, SO WE HAVE ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
[Items 3 & 4]
WE HAVE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING ON MONDAY, JULY 24TH, 2023. COUNCILOR MCCLELLAN.>> I MOVED THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, JULY 24TH TO ONE, 1T23 BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.
>> THANK YOU. SECONDER? COUNCILOR MCGURK.
ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, WE HAVE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF TUESDAY,
[Items 5 & 6]
AUGUST 8TH, 2023, COUNCILOR MCCLELLAN.>> I MOVE THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF TUESDAY, AUGUST 8TH, 2023, BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.
>> THANK YOU. SECONDER? COUNCILOR HENDRICKSON.
ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, WE HAVE MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY,
[Items 7 & 8]
AUGUST 14TH, 2023. COUNCILOR MCCLELLAN.>> I MOVED THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY, AUGUST 14TH TO 2023, BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.
>> THANK YOU. SECONDED BY COUNCILOR FEQUET.
ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, WE HAVE MINUTES FOR THE EMERGENCY MEETING ON MONDAY,
[Items 9 & 10]
AUGUST 14TH, 2023, COUNCILIOR MCCLELLAN.>> I MOVED THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF MONDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2023, BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A SECONDER? COUNCILIOR MCGURK? ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, WE HAVE DISCLOSURE PECUNIARY INTERESTS, AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF.
DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A PECUNIARY INTEREST IN ANY MATTER BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY? SEEING NONE.
NEXT, WE HAVE CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS.
THERE WAS NO CORRESPONDENCE NOR WERE THERE ANY PETITIONS FOR THE AGENDA.
THERE WERE NO STATUTORY PUBLIC [NOISE] HEARINGS FOR THE AGENDA.
THERE WERE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
THERE WERE NO STATEMENTS FOR THE AGENDA,
[16. Are there any Member statements from the floor?]
BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEMBERS' STATEMENTS FROM THE FLOOR SO I WILL BEGIN WITH COUNCILIOR FEQUET.>> MY SEAT MADAM CHAIR. WELCOME BACK TO EVERYONE WHO LEFT.
SAFE TRAVELS TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET RETURNED.
AN ENORMOUS AND HEARTFELT MAHSI CHOO TO THOSE WHO WERE ASKED TO STAY AND KEEP OUR HOMES SAFE.
WORDS CAN NEVER EXPRESS THE LEVEL OF GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SWEAT AND TEARS AND BEING SEPARATED FROM YOUR OWN FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.
[NOISE] IN A TIME OF INFORMATION OVERLOAD AND MISINFORMATION, WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO THE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS THAT DO THEIR HOMEWORK AND HELP CONVEY IMPORTANT AND ACCURATE INFORMATION AND ENORMOUS MAHSI CHOO TO THE JOURNALISTS WHO ARE ON THE FRONTLINES FROM KEVIN RADIO, CBC, AND OTHERS.
I AM TRULY AND DEEPLY SORRY TO THOSE WHO STRUGGLED AND SUFFERED AND WHO HAVE STRUGGLED TO RECOVER.
I'M SORRY BECAUSE FOR MOST PEOPLE THIS EXPERIENCE WAS NOT EASY.
THAT RECOVERING PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND FINANCIALLY IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME.
MANY PEOPLE AND FAMILIES ARE IN TOUGHER SITUATIONS NOW THAN THEY WERE PRIOR TO THE EVACUATION.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I HEAR YOU, WE HEAR YOU, AND THAT THROUGH THE DECISIONS WE NEED TO MAKE DURING THE RECOVERY PERIOD OVER THE COMING YEAR, PLUS PARTICULARLY THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS, WE WILL ENSURE THAT THIS EXPERIENCE GUIDES OUR DISCUSSIONS AND OUR DECISIONS.
I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS AND WANT ANSWERS AND I'M SORRY, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE YET.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT COUNCIL'S DELIBERATIONS EARLIER TODAY AND OUR GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE MEETING ON HOW TO BEST MOVE FORWARD WITH AN AFTER-ACTION ASSESSMENT WILL ENSURE THAT A MEANINGFUL PROCESS IS UNDERTAKEN WITH THE PUBLIC, RELEVANT NGOS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE US BOTH INTERIM RECOMMENDATIONS PRIOR TO NEXT SUMMER'S FIRE SEASON AND FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENSURE WE CAPTURE ALL THE AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT AND CELEBRATE THE SUCCESSES.
I LIVE HERE IN YELLOWKNIFE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE.
IT'S SPECIAL BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO ENJOY AND LEARN FROM, AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE KIND AND DEVOTED.
I WANT TO RAISE MY DAUGHTERS IN A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, PEOPLE HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, WHERE WE CAN ALL ENGAGE IN A RESPECTFUL DISCOURSE TO SHARE OUR WEAKNESSES AND CELEBRATE OUR STRENGTHS AND SUCCESSES TOGETHER,
[00:05:04]
AND WHERE THEY KNOW THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND SHAPE THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY LIVE.FROM MY OWN EVACUATION EXPERIENCE, I KNOW THERE WERE CHALLENGES AND FRUSTRATIONS AND AWFUL THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO SOME PEOPLE, BUT THERE WERE ALSO HEROES WITHOUT CAPES.
I WAS REMINDED OF THE GOODNESS OF HUMANITY SHINING THROUGH AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND IN DIFFERENT PLACES.
A GOOD FRIEND AND ONE OF THE MANY HEROES THAT WERE UNWAVERING WHEN ASKED TO STEP UP TO HELP OTHERS DURING THE EVACUATION, POSTED A QUOTE FROM GEORGE BERNARD SHAW EARLIER TODAY THAT MORE ELOQUENTLY ARTICULATES AND SHARES MY FEELINGS AND MY MESSAGE TO EVERYONE WHO STEPPED UP IN SOME WAY TO HELP.
THIS IS A TRUE JOY OF LIFE, THAT BEING USED FOR A PURPOSE RECOGNIZED BY HERSELF AS A MIGHTY ONE.
ALSO, WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET, BUT WE MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT WE GIVE.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO GAVE SO MUCH DURING THIS TIME TO HELP. MAHSI CHOO.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR ALTY. THIS MEMBER SAVING I THINK LITTLE CATHARTIC FOR ME AND I HOPE FOR SOME YELLOWKNIFERS TOO, SO I'LL START MY STATEMENTS TONIGHT BY HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE SPECIFIC THANKS TO PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES WHO I WILL FOREVER BE THANKFUL FOR.
FIRST, YOU MAYOR ALTY, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, CLARITY, AND WILLINGNESS TO LEAD, LISTEN, AND BE KIND, OR BEING A FORCE FOR ACTION.
THANKS. AT A TIME OF CRISIS FOR OUR CITY, YOU PROVIDED A CALM BUT HONEST VOICE TO YELLOWKNIFERS, CANADIANS, AND THE WORLD TO BE HONEST, WHO WATCHED YOU ACROSS MANY PLATFORMS IN THE FIRST WEEKS AT THE END OF AUGUST.
FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN YELLOWKNIFE ACROSS CANADA AND OVERSEAS, EVERY LAST PERSON LET ME KNOW THAT YOU WERE WHAT THEY SAW AND WHAT THEY WANTED IN THEIR OWN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP.
YOU AND I MAY NOT AGREE ON EVERY ISSUE, BUT I CANNOT THINK OF ANOTHER PERSON I WOULD HAVE WANTED IN THAT SEAT OVER THE LAST MONTH.
SECOND, THANK YOU TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND ALL OF YOU, OUR CITY STAFF, THE FIREFIGHTERS FROM ACROSS THE NWT, CANADA, AND THE WORLD, AS WELL AS STAFF FROM ALL OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WHO LED THE EFFORT THAT ENSURED OUR COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOMES ARE SAFE AND WHO HAVE WORKED TO GET THINGS MOVING AGAIN NOW THAT WE'RE ALL HOME.
YOU'RE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS BY YOUR JOB BUT YOU'VE SHOWED OVER THE LAST MONTH THAT YOU ARE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS BY YOUR ACTIONS.
TO THE PRIVATE CONTRACTORS WHO QUICKLY CHANGED YOUR WORK AND BEGAN TO WORK ALONGSIDE ONE ANOTHER FOR A COMMON GOOD AND A COMMON GOAL TO CREATE A PHYSICAL PROTECTIVE BARRIER AROUND OUR CITY, WHICH WHO THE HECK EVER THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO BE NEEDED? THANK YOU.
TO THE MEDIA AND YELLOWKNIFE ACROSS THE NORTH AND ACROSS CANADA WHO HELPED TO KEEP YELLOWKNIFE WAS INFORMED OF THE FACTS OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, WHETHER WITHIN THE CITY OR IN REGARDS TO SUPPORTS AND CHALLENGES OF ACCESSING THOSE SUPPORTS WERE EVACUATED, THANK YOU.
THE MEDIA IN THIS COUNTRY IS FACING ONCE IN A CENTURY CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW.
SO TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE DEDICATED YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE TO KEEPING PEOPLE INFORMED AND DIGGING FOR ANSWERS ON OUR BEHALF, THANK YOU.
FINALLY, TO ALL RESIDENTS WHO RESPONDED TO THE CALL TO EVACUATE AND SHOWED THE COURAGE TO LEAVE YOUR HOMES AND EVERYTHING WHO HAVE WORKED FOR AND KNOW IN ORDER TO ENSURE YOU WERE SAFE, THANK YOU.
I KNOW LEAVING WAS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.
BUT BY LEAVING, THE PEOPLE WHO STAYED BEHIND TO PROTECT YELLOWKNIFE, WERE NOT EVEN A FOCUS ON OR THINK ABOUT YOUR SAFETY.
WHEN WE ALL LEFT YELLOWKNIFE BEGINNING ON AUGUST 18TH, WE HONESTLY DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WOULD SEE OUR HOMES AGAIN.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REFLECT ON THAT REALITY NOW, TO BREATHE DEEPLY ON A DAY LIKE TODAY WHERE WE ACTUALLY CAN AND TO TAKE TIME TO CARE FOR YOURSELF IN WHATEVER WAY THAT IS BEST FOR YOU.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A COLLECTIVE TRAUMA AND WE CAN'T FORGET THAT REALITY.
SOME OF US WILL BE ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK FASTER THAN OTHERS, AND IT'S OKAY IF YOU TAKE LONGER THAN YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, OR NEIGHBORS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO CARE FOR YOURSELF, TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER OVER THE COMING DAYS, WEEKS, MONTHS AND YEARS.
REACH OUT FOR THE SUPPORT YOU NEED.
TO THOSE THAT I HAVEN'T SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED, BUT WHO ENSURED THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTED RESIDENTS ACROSS CANADA WHILE STRUNG OUT OVER THOSE FEW WEEKS, THANK YOU.
NOW TO SOME BRASS TAX, AS SEEN OVER THE LAST MONTH, THERE HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ABOUT ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN, DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE, AND HOW WE CAN BEST RECOVER AS A CITY AND AS A TERRITORY.
SOME OF THESE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION WE'RE SEEING THIS AFTERNOON, AS COUNCIL DISCUSSED HOW TO BEST ENSURE MEANINGFUL REVIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED.
NOW WITH THE GOAL OF BLAME, BUT WITH THE GOAL OF RECOGNIZING WHAT AMAZING THINGS WERE ACHIEVED, ENSURING COLLECTIVE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND WITH THE GOAL OF ENSURING FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD AN EMERGENCY LIKE THIS UNFORTUNATELY EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
ONLY BY THAT REFLECTION AND ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OURSELVES AS COUNCIL AND SEEKING IMPROVEMENT CAN WE CONTINUE TO REPAIR AND REBUILD OR EVEN START TO BUILD IN A LOT OF CASES, TRUST IN GOVERNMENT, NOT AT JUST THE CITY-LEVEL, BUT TERRITORIAL AND FEDERALLY AS WELL.
SOME RESIDENTS I SPEAK WITH ARE SUPPORTIVE OR AT LEAST UNDERSTANDING OF MOST OR ALL ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY, THE GNWT AND OTHERS OVER THE LAST MONTH.
[00:10:01]
ON THE OTHER HAND, I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM THOSE THAT HAVE TOLD ME THEY BELIEVE ALMOST EVERY ACTION TAKEN WAS WRONG.MOST OF US SIT SOMEWHERE IN THIS SQUISHY AND GRAY MIDDLE.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU SIT, I ASKED YOU AT THE START OF THIS PERIOD OF REFLECTION AND ASSESSMENT TO REMEMBER THAT EVERY PERSON TO THE LAST PERSON, I BELIEVE FROM MY OBSERVATION, DID WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS BEST FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES IN OUR CITY OVER THE LAST MONTH.
OUR TASK AHEAD IS COUNSELING AS A CITY, AND I HOPE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS IS NOT TO JUDGE FAULT, BUT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED, WHY IT HAPPENED THE WAY IT DID, AND TO ENSURE WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE FOR DOING BETTER IN THE FUTURE.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE NEED TO BUILD SYSTEMS, PLAN AND THEN TRAIN OURSELVES REGULARLY GOING FORWARD TO ENSURE WE IMPROVE AND ARE READY FOR THE NEXT EMERGENCY, WHETHER IN A YEAR, 10 YEARS OR 50 YEARS.
LIFE'S ABOUT LEARNING AND WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM THIS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND ALL THE COLLEAGUES IN YELLOWKNIFE FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
THE PAST 10 MONTHS HAS DELT OUR COUNSEL AND OUR CITY SEVERAL CHALLENGES.
WE'VE WORKED THROUGH A RECORD SNOWFALL LAST NOVEMBER, A STRIKE AND LOCKOUT IN LATE WINTER, THE EVACUATIONS OF HAY RIVER, CALADESI FIRST NATION, AND [INAUDIBLE] YELLOWKNIFE THIS SUMMER AND NOW OUR OWN CITYWIDE EVACUATION OUT OF THE NWT.
FOR MYSELF, I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE SAID I EXPECT IT TO BE FACING WITH IN OUR FIRST YEAR AND DEFINITELY NOT WHAT I HAD BEEN PLANNING TO ADVOCATE FOR ON COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, EVERY DAY I AM PROUD TO CALL THIS CITY MY HOME.
I EXTREMELY PROUD FOR DIFFERENT REASONS TO WORK WITH EVERY ONE OF THE EIGHT PEOPLE SITTING ON COUNCIL WITH ME.
WORKING TOGETHER WITH ONE ANOTHER WITH UNDERSTANDING, COMPASSIONATE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND HARD WORK WILL COME THROUGH THIS AND THESE EVENTS STRONGER YET. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR MCGURK.
THEN COUNCILOR COCHRANE. THEN COUNCILOR MCLENNAN.
>> THANK YOU. THANKS TO ALL MY FELLOW COUNCILORS WHO HAVE SPOKEN AND ARE GOING TO SPEAK.
FEELING VERY MOVED BY IT ALREADY.
THE LAST TWO MONTHS HAVE LEFT ME WITH MORE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR ROLES AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE FUTURE OF OUR MUNICIPALITY AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US.
I'M HONESTLY PRETTY CONFUSED ABOUT HOW WE PROCEED.
OUR WHOLE LIVES WERE UPENDED BY CLIMATE DISASTER AND AN EVENT THAT WILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH FOR MONTHS INTO YEARS.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE TRY TO ATTRIBUTE THIS TO BEING AN ANOMALY, IT'S THE RESULT OF A GLOBAL TREND THAT IT'S CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE'RE FIGHTING THIS UNDER THE WEIGHT OF LATE STAGE CAPITALISM.
A TIME WHEN SYSTEMS ARE BRITTLE AND BREAKING AND SUPPLY CHAINS ARE INTERRUPTED.
THE LABOR FORCES UNADAPTABLE AND SHORT, AND EVERYTHING IS UNGODLY EXPENSIVE.
OUR INSTITUTIONS, MUNICIPAL, TERRITORIAL AND FEDERAL, WERE NOT DESIGNED TO BE SUSTAINABLE IN THESE SYSTEMS AND THE SYSTEMS THAT STEM FROM THEM ARE EITHER FLAWED IN THIS REGARD OR REQUIRE GREAT AMOUNTS OF EFFORT TO AMEND AND REDESIGN.
WE DON'T OFTEN OPENLY OR EARNESTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS.
I'M NOT SURE HOW WE, AS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS ROOTED IN GLOBAL CRISIS WITH LIMITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US.
THERE ARE IMMEDIATE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES TO ANY ACTION WE TAKE.
WE SPEND MONEY NOW OR ARE WE SPEND IT LATER AND WE CAN'T AFFORD EITHER OPTION.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HOLD IN CONCERT THE UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR PRACTICES AND AS A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ARE UNSUSTAINABLE AND THE FACT THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CHANGE THEM.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO ABOUT MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE WHEN OUR FOOTPRINT IS SO SMALL ON A GLOBAL SCALE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO AFFORD TO PAY FOR ADAPTATION EVEN IF THE MUNICIPAL FUNDING GAP OR TO CLOSE.
THE BRIGHTEST LIGHT I SEE LIES IN OUR COMMUNITY'S RESPONSE TO THE WILDFIRE THREAT.
THE SUCCESS OF THIS OPERATION WAS ENTIRELY CONTINGENT ON THE CHOICES EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN THIS TOWN MADE.
THE PEOPLE WHO LEFT AND LOOKED AFTER EACH OTHER.
THE CONTRACTORS, VOLUNTEERS, CITY STAFF, EMERGENCY FIRE FIGHTERS, MEDIA, AVIATION OPERATIONS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, RANGERS, ETC.
EVERYONE WHO CALLS THIS PLACE HOME STEPPED UP MASSIVELY AND THE ALUMNI FIRST TOOK ACTION TO KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE.
WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTENTION AND HOLD IT TIGHT TO OUR CHESTS AND TRY TO BRING IT INTO OUR DAILY LIVES.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT THINGS CHANGING NOW.
WE CAN EITHER STEER CHANGE OR BE REACTIVE TO THE CHANGE, BUT WE NEED TO BE READY FOR IT.
TO ME, THE BEST PATH FORWARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY INVOLVES A CIVICALLY ENGAGED POPULOUS.
UP TO THIS POINT, WE'VE DRAWN A LINE BETWEEN RESIDENT AND GOVERNMENT, BUT THAT'S NOT A PRACTICAL REFLECTION OF HOW THESE SYSTEMS FUNCTION.
THINGS WERE ROCKY, OFTEN UNBEARABLY, BUT WE FOUND A WAY THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.
I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO HOLD ONTO THE UNDERSTANDING, THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES, THAT EACH COMMUNITY MEMBER HAS SOMETHING VALUABLE TO CONTRIBUTE.
THERE'LL BE AN IMPORTANT THING TO UNDERSTAND AS WE HEAD INTO A REALLY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL TOLL THIS EXPERIENCE HAS TAKEN ON ME.
ALL MY COLLEAGUES, RESIDENTS AND CITY STAFF TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS WELL.
WE DID A BIG HARD THING AND WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO.
LET'S TAKE THE BREAKS WE NEED TO CARE FOR OURSELVES AND GET EACH OTHER TAKING CARE OF AND GET IT DONE.
THE GEORGE BERNARD SHAW QUOTE THAT COUNCILOR FEQUET DELIVERED HAS ALSO BEEN ON MY MIND, "SKIPPING OVER A CHEEKY BIT ABOUT NOT COMPLAINING TOO MUCH." THE NEXT PART OF THE QUOTE GOES, "I'M OF THE OPINION THAT MY LIFE BELONGS TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AS LONG AS I LIVE, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO DO FOR IT WHAT I CAN.
[00:15:01]
I WANT TO BE THOROUGHLY USED UP WHEN I DIE FOR THE HARDER I WORK, THE MORE I LIVE." THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING YOU.>> THANK YOU. COUNCILOR COCHRANE.
I JUST WANTED TO DO A QUICK THANK TO MY COLLEAGUES WHO SPOKE PRIOR TO ME FOR THEIR ELOQUENCE, THE VULNERABILITY, AND ABOVE ALL, THEIR HUMANITY.
I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING ALL FIRST RESPONDERS, CONTRACTORS, VOLUNTEERS, YKDFN STAFF, AND OUR OWN STAFF AND MAYOR WHO STAYED BEHIND TO ASSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WAS SAFE, SECURE, AND PREPARED AGAINST THE CALAMITY THAT FORTUNATELY NEVER CAME.
THE WORK YOU DID HAS NOW PUT US IN A PLACE WHERE I CAN CONFIDENTLY STATE OUR DEFENSES AGAINST WILDFIRES ARE IN A FAR BETTER PLACE THAN EVER BEFORE.
AS A COMMUNITY, WE OWE YOU ALL AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF GRATITUDE AND UNENDING PRAISE.
JUST SPEAK FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE IS ONE OF THE EVACUEES.
THOUGH THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITIES THAT OFFER YELLOWKNIFE SHELTER AND DESERVE OUR GRATITUDE.
I WILL SPEAK OF THE COMMUNITY THAT I CALLED MY TEMPORARY HOME FOR ALMOST A MONTH, EDMONTON.
I KNOW IT'S A RELATIVELY CONTROVERSIAL PLACE FOR SOME.
HECK, WHEN I DROPPED TO A NEED TO ASK BRENDA TO MARRY ME WHILE DOWN THERE, I PREFACED WITH, I HOPE THIS MAKES YOU HATE THE CITY A LITTLE LESS.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I, FOR ONE, LEARN TO LOVE THE CITY OF EDMONTON FOR MORE THAN JUST ITS MALLS.
THE EDMONTON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE WELCOMED US AT THE EVACUATION CENTER WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY LEVEL OF OPENNESS AND RESPONSIVENESS TO THE NEEDS OF YELLOWKNIFE.
WHETHER FOR FOOD, CLOTHES, DIAPERS, PET SUPPLIES, MEDICAL NEEDS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHELTER, THEY WERE THERE TO DO ALL THEY COULD.
I WOULD LIKE TO ESPECIALLY THANK COUNCILOR KAREN TANG, COUNCILOR SARAH HAMILTON, COUNCILOR ANDREW NECK, AND CITY MANAGER ANDREW CORBELLED, WHO IMMEDIATELY WELCOMED US WITH OPEN ARMS AND ACCESS TO PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING WE ASKED, SUCH AS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND EVEN TOOK INTO ACCOUNT CERTAIN DISSATISFACTION WITH CATERING AT THE EVAC CENTER, ALL OF WHICH THEY DID NOT NEED TO PROVIDE TO THE 6,400 YELLOWKNIFERS WHO WERE DISLOCATED AS SOME COMMUNITIES DID NOT GO THAT FAR.
THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF EDMONTON FOR BEING A ROLE MODEL, A FRIEND IN A TIME OF NEED IN A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.
I WANT TO ALSO PROVIDE AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF GRATITUDE OF THE CANADIAN RED CROSS AND IN PARTICULAR GILAPAGE, A PERSON WHO I GREW TO HAVE PROFOUNDLY DEEP RESPECT FOR.
I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EVER HAVE TO DEAL WITH HIS ORGANIZATION DIRECTLY AS AN EVACUEE, LET ALONE AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, ASSISTING CONSTITUENTS IN CRISIS.
BUT I WAS GLAD TO HAVE THEM AT THE READY WHEN WE NEEDED THEM THE MOST.
THROUGH THEM, WE HOUSED THOUSANDS, FED THOUSANDS, AND PROVIDED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TO THOSE MOST IN NEED, RANGING FROM BREATHING MACHINES FOR KIDS WITH RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS INTO THEIR HOTEL ROOMS, TO GETTING CANCER PATIENTS HOME CARE INTO THEIR ROOMS AND EVENTUALLY PALLIATIVE CARE.
THE COMPASSION AND GRACE OF THIS ORGANIZATION PRIMARILY MADE UP OF VOLUNTEERS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE BEST OF HUMANITY HAS TO OFFER.
I'M IN AWE AND I LOOK FORWARD FOR THEM TAKING MY DONATIONS REGULARLY.
IN CONCLUSION, EDMONTON, LIKE ALL OTHER COMMUNITIES, IS MADE UP OF FACILITIES, SERVICES AND SOME FANTASTIC RESTAURANTS.
BUT GROUNDED IN ITS PEOPLE, ARE PEOPLE WHO WELCOMED THOUSANDS OF VULNERABLE AND SCARED YELLOW KNIFES INTO THEIR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHO DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE US FEEL SAFE, SECURE, AND DISTRACTED FROM WHAT WAS NO DOUBT, ONE OF THE MOST TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES WE ALL WENT THROUGH.
EDMONTON, YOU MAY BE A LITTLE ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES, BUT AT YOUR CENTER YOU ARE A DIAMOND.
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM MY HEART, AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
>> SO THE WEDDING ISN'T THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCILOR COCHRAN AND CONGRATS ON ENGAGEMENT. COUNCILOR MCLENNAN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR.
I'M VERY GLAD WE'RE ALL BACK IN YELLOWKNIFE.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE CITY BACKUP AND RUNNING AND TO SEE MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AGAIN.
TO PUT IT SIMPLY, I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE ALL HOME.
I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE IN SAYING THAT THERE MUST BE A REVIEW OF THIS EVACUATION WE ALL JUST LIVED THROUGH WHILE I REMEMBER HE'S REFRESH.
THE NEW FIRE BREAKS AND CHANGED LANDSCAPE MAY ALTER OR FUTURE FOREST FIRES, BUT WE KNOW THAT CLIMATE CHANGE WILL BRING MORE EMERGENCIES.
THE FOCUS OVER REVIEW MUST BE ABOUT LEARNING FOR THE FUTURE, NOT LAYING BLAME.
TO DO THIS, THE REVIEW MUST BE OPEN, TIMELY, AND TRANSPARENT.
THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR THEIR WORK ON THE SCOPE OF THIS REVIEW AND I BELIEVE OUR DISCUSSION AS A GROUP TODAY WAS PRODUCTIVE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO BEGINNING THE REVIEW PROCESS.
IN THE SHORT TERM, OUR EXPERIENCE IS FRESH, I BELIEVE THE CITY AND KEY STAKEHOLDERS SHOULD UPDATE THE CITY'S EVACUATION FRAMEWORK AND WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN.
IN MY OPINION, THE CITY AND JNBTS LACK OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SPECIFIC ACTION PLAN FOR A FULL-SCALE EVACUATION OF THE CITY WAS A FAILURE ON OUR PART AS GOVERNMENTS.
THIS ABSENCE OF A FLESHED-OUT PLAN PUT INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE IN A POSITION WHERE IT WAS NECESSARY TO STEP UP AND TAKE A HUGE ROLE IN BRINGING ABOUT A SAFE OUTCOME.
COUNCILOR ARDEN SMITH ASKED YELLOWKNIFE TO BE YELLOWKNIFE WHEN WE DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND THE COMMUNITY DID NOT DISAPPOINT.
IFRS ARE SKILLED, RESOURCEFUL, AND CARING, THERE CAN BE NO BETTER DEMONSTRATION OF THIS THAN THE LAST SIX WEEKS.
I CANNOT PROPERLY EXPLAIN HOW PROUD I AM OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HAVING SAID THIS, THERE WAS CERTAINLY NOT A LACK OF EFFORT OR GOOD HARD WORK ON THE PART OF CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE STAFF.
[00:20:02]
I CAN ASSURE RESIDENTS THAT GIVEN THE SITUATION, EVERYONE AT THE CITY WORKED THEIR ASSES OFF TO HELP US REACH AN OVERALL SAFE OUTCOME.COUNCILOR IN THE COMMUNITY ARE VERY GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATIVE FOR CITY STAFF'S WORK.
AS A GOVERNMENT, WE MUST LEARN FROM THIS.
WE AS AN ORGANIZATION, AS A COUNCILOR, AND MYSELF AS AN INDIVIDUAL NEED TO REASSESS THE ASSUMPTIONS WE'RE MAKING ABOUT RISKS IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW WE CAN MITIGATE THEM.
WHILE PLANNING FOR EVERY SCENARIO IS NOT FEASIBLE, HAVING DETAILED SPECIFIC OPTIONS TO ADDRESS THE MOST LIKELY RISKS FACING OUR COMMUNITY IS NECESSARY.
WE CAN BE BETTER PREPARED IN THE FUTURE AND WE WILL BE.
WE AS A CITY, AS A TERRITORY, AS A COUNTRY, AND AS A PLANET ARE FACING AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS IN CLIMATE CHANGE.
THE CHALLENGE IS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS EVERYDAY ISSUES SUCH AS HOUSING, WHILE FINDING THE RESOURCES TO PROTECT AND RECOVER FROM DISASTERS SUCH AS THIS FIRE SEASON, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DEALING WITH THE UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT ARE CAUSING AND EXACERBATING THESE DISASTERS.
WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF ADDRESSING THESE UNDERLYING ISSUES.
THE CLIMATE CHALLENGE IS DAUNTING, BUT I'M HOPEFUL AND I BELIEVE WE CAN FIND A WAY FORWARD.
DROP UP, I'D LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE OF THANK YOU'S.
IT WOULD TAKE HOURS FOR ME TO PROPERLY THANK EVERYONE WHO DESERVES IT, SO I'LL KEEP THIS SHORT.
THANK YOU TO THE NGOS SUCH AS YELLOWKNIFE WOMEN'S SOCIETY, SALVATION ARMY, YELLOWKNIFE DAY SHELTER AND HOME-BASE FOR WORKING SO HARD TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY'S VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE FULL SCOPE OF THE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES THE EVACUATION HAD ON THESE RESIDENTS.
WHILE INDIVIDUALS DO HAVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE IN THEIR ACTIONS, THESE CHOICES ARE MADE WITHIN A CONTEXT.
THIS CONTEXT TO MAKE POSITIVE CHOICES DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOME AND DICTATES THE CONSEQUENCES OF MISTAKES OR POOR CHOICES.
WE AS A SOCIETY AND AS GOVERNMENTS CREATE THE CONTEXT, AND WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PILOTS, AIR CREW MEMBERS, ENGINEERS, DISPATCHERS, AND SUPPORT CRUISE FOR ALL YOUR AERIAL FIRE SUPPRESSION WORK THAT CONTINUES AS I SPEAK.
I HAVE A VAGUE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CHALLENGING AND TIRING THIS WORK CAN BE YET IT IS DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO COMPREHEND THE SCALE OF THE TASK YOU FACED.
WE'RE ALL VERY GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR FACING THIS TASK AND YOUR EFFORTS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
THIS OBVIOUSLY EXTENDS TO ALL THE WILDLAND FIRE GROUND CREWS, CONTRACTORS, VOLUNTEERS, AND EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED THE EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR CITY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR DOING SUCH A PHENOMENAL JOB, DISSEMINATING THE QUICKLY CHANGING INFORMATION SO THAT RESIDENTS COULD MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE DECISIONS.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT PERHAPS THE MOST ABSURD THING ABOUT THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE IS THE FACT THAT CABIN RADIO STILL DOESN'T HAVE AN FM STATION.
[LAUGHTER] I'VE GOT THE TRUCK RADIO ALL PROGRAMMED, READY TO GO, JUST SAYING.
FINALLY, THANK YOU TO A NEW SCENE, CALGARY, CYNTHIA AND EDMONTON AND YELLOWKNIFE MEMES FOR KEEPING ME LAUGHING IN TOUGH TIMES.
I'M MORE PROUD THAN EVER TO CALL YELLOWKNIFE MY HOME.
WE'LL LEARN FROM THIS AND WE'LL BE AN EVEN STRONGER COMMUNITY FOR IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANYTHING FURTHER? SEEING NONE.
NEXT, WE HAVE INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.
WE HAVE GOVERNANCE AND PARTIES COMMITTEE REPORT FOR JULY 24TH AND AUGUST 14TH, AND THERE WAS NO BUSINESS ARISING FROM EITHER OF THOSE MEETINGS.
[Items 21 & 22]
A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH DRAGON TONER FOR THE SERVICES OF INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.COUNCILOR MCLENNAN, IF YOU CAN INTRODUCE THE MOTION, PLEASE.
>> REMEMBER THAT COUNCILOR AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH DRAGON TONER FOR THE SERVICES OF INTEGRITY COMMISSIONER FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.
>> THANK YOU. SECONDED BY COUNCILOR COCHRAN.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AND THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, WE HAVE A MEMORANDUM REGARDING WHETHER TO APPOINT T.
[Items 23 & 24]
VIVIAN PING AS A DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE. COUNCILOR MCLENNAN.>> I MOVE THAT ONE PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.1 OF THE ZONING BYLAW NUMBER 5049, KIEVAN YANG PING BE APPOINTED AS THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE AND TWO, THE TERMINAL OF APPOINTMENT SHALL EXPIRE UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A SECONDER. COUNCILOR FEQUET.
SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, WE HAVE ENACTMENT OF BYLAWS.
[Items 25 & 26]
BYLAW NUMBER 5074 IS A BYLAW AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE TO DISPOSE OF LOT 31, BLOCK 47, PLAN 3082, AND LOT 26, BLOCK 48, PLAN 1804, WHICH IS CIVIC ADDRESS 5226, 53RD STREET, IS PRESENTED FOR THIRD READING. COUNCILOR MCLENNAN.>> I MOVE THIRD READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5074.
>> THE SECONDER? COUNCILOR MCGURK.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? THAT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THERE WAS NO DEFERRED BUSINESS AND THERE WERE NO TABLED ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA.
[00:25:03]
IS THERE ANY DEFERRED BUSINESS OR ARE THERE ANY TABLED ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR? THERE WAS NO OLD BUSINESS FOR THE AGENDA.IS THERE ANY OLD BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR? THERE WERE NO NOTICES OF MOTION FOR THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY NOTICES OF 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 SAD, IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN, MOVED BY COUNCILOR HENDRICKSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR FEQUET.
ANYBODY OPPOSED? SEEING NONE, WE CAN BE ADJOURNED.
AGAIN, OUR NEXT MEETING, GPC IS CANCELED FOR NEXT TUESDAY, SORRY MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY.
THEN THE NEXT MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY AFTER THAT.
SO OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10TH AT 12:05 AND 07:00 P.M. SEE EVERYBODY THEN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.