Mar 25, 2026 Council Meetings

[00:00:08]

AND I WILL CALL OUR COUNCIL MEETING FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25TH 2026 TO ORDER AND I WILL ASK COUNCILOR COCHRANE TO READ THE OPENING STATEMENT.

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

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 PEOPLES, INCLUDING THE NORTH SLAVE MÉTIS AND ALL FIRST NATIONS, METIS AND INUIT, WHOSE PRESENCE CONTINUES TO ENRICH OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. NEXT WE HAVE AWARD CEREMONIES AND PRESENTATIONS. THERE WERE NO AWARD CEREMONIES OR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE AGENDA. NEXT, WE HAVE ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS. WE HAVE THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH 2026.

[Items 3 & 4]

SECONDARY COUNCILLOR FOOTE. ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.

NEXT, WE HAVE THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH, 2026 PRESENTED,

[Items 5 & 6]

ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS. NEXT, WE HAVE THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF WEDNESDAY,

[Items 7 & 8]

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I SO MOVE THAT THE MINUTES OF COUNCIL FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18TH, 2026 BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SECONDER. COUNCILLOR FOOTE. ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.

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

DOES ANY MEMBER HAVE A CONFLICT BEFORE COUNCIL TODAY? SEEING NONE, NEXT WE HAVE CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITION.

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

STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS. THERE WERE NO STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR THE AGENDA.

DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

THERE WERE NO DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

MEMBER STATEMENTS. THERE WERE NO MEMBER STATEMENTS FOR THE AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE. INTRODUCTION AND CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS.

[Items 15 & 16]

COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I SO MOVE THAT COUNCIL PURSUANT TO SECTION 74 OF THE PROPERTY ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION ACT PATA, SECTION 15 OF TAX ADMINISTRATION BYLAW NUMBER 4207, AS AMENDED, AND COUNCIL'S PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION CRITERIA FOR SOCIETIES POLICY, DENY THE REQUEST FROM THE YELLOWKNIFE DAYCARE ASSOCIATION FOR PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE LAND AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR LOT 25.

BLOCK 39 PLAN 4689 5121 52ND STREET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IS THERE A SECONDER? COUNCILOR MCGURK ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT IS EVERYONE IN FAVOR EXCEPT FOR.

OH, WE ARE UNANIMOUS. OH. ARE WE? YOU'RE OPPOSED? OKAY. YOU JUMPED THE GUN ON ME. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR EXCEPT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER MCLENNAN, WHO IS OPPOSED.

NEXT, WE HAVE THE GOVERNANCE AND PRIORITIES COMMITTEE REPORT FOR MARCH 18TH, 2026.

[Items 17 & 18]

ON FRIDAY, JUNE 5TH, 2026, AND TO SET THE MINIMUM PRICE FOR EACH PROPERTY AT 50% OF THE ASSESSED VALUE LISTED FOR THE PROPERTY AND THE DESCRIPTIONS WILL BE READ AS PER THE MEMO. THANK YOU FOR NOT READING THEM ALL. IS THERE A SECONDER? COUNCILOR FOOTE. ANY QUESTIONS COMMENTS ON THIS ONE? NO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILLOR COCHRANE FOR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE.

[19. That Council adopt the following recommendations presented by the Grant Review Committee to award the 2026 Grant Funding as follows:]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED, YOU CAN GO TO OUR AGENDA AND YOU'LL SEE THE WHOLE ALLOCATION.

IS THERE A SECONDER? COUNCIL MCGURK. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.

COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.

[20. That Council appoint Ann Peters and Matthew Yap to serve, for a three (3) year term effective March 26, 2026 until March 25, 2029, on the City of Yellowknife Development Appeal Board. ]

[00:05:06]

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS. NEXT. COUNCILLOR COCHRANE.

[Items 21 & 22]

IS THERE A SECONDER? COUNCILOR MCGURK QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.

NEXT WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS AND I WILL PASS THIS TO COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN.

[23. That the Property Tax Exemption Criteria for Societies Policy be amended by deleting Section 4.b.a which states: “Social and community services to the General Public; or” ]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IS THERE A SECONDER? COUNCILOR COCHRANE AND COUNCIL MCLENNAN. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? FOR SURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I BRING FORWARD THIS MOTION IN ORDER TO ALIGN THE TAX EXEMPTION FOR SOCIETY'S POLICY WITH THE WILL OF COUNCIL.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS COUNCIL, AS WELL AS THE LAST ONE, DOES NOT DEEM IT FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE TO GRANT TAX EXEMPTIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE EXTENSIONS TO MUNICIPAL SERVICES.

THIS POSITION IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE POLICY AS WRITTEN.

IN ORDER TO PROVIDE CLARITY FOR RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS AND ADMIN, I BELIEVE IT'S PRUDENT TO ENSURE OUR WILL IS CLEARLY REFLECTED REFLECTED IN THE POLICY.

IT IS NOT TO PRECLUDE OR ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR A LARGER DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL'S GOALS WITH REGARD TO SUPPORTING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.

AS I'VE STATED BEFORE, I HOPE A DISCUSSION WILL REVIEW THE TAX EXEMPTION POLICY ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM AND THAT THAT REVIEW HAPPENS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

I BELIEVE THIS IS DISCUSSIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER, GIVEN THE EXISTING WORK PLAN AND NEW WORK ON THE HORIZON, I CAN EASILY SEE THIS POLICY REMAINING IN PLACE FOR SOME TIME.

WHETHER OR NOT I OR ANY INDIVIDUAL COUNCILLOR HOLDS BELIEFS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS LINE I PROPOSED TO DELETE AND ITS CORRESPONDING GOAL SHOULD BE IN THE POLICY, OUR POSITION AS A GROUP WAS MADE CLEAR DURING THE DISCUSSION REGARDING DAYCARE ASSOCIATION'S APPLICATION.

IN THE INTEREST OF GOOD GOVERNMENT GOVERNANCE, I'M PUTTING FORWARD THIS MOTION TO ENSURE OUR POSITION AS A GROUP IS REFLECTED IN OUR POLICY. WHILE I ACCEPT THIS APPROACH MAY SEEM HARSH, I BELIEVE IT'S NECESSARY SO THAT NO MORE TIME IS SPENT, WHETHER BY RESIDENTS OR STAFF, ON AN ISSUE WHERE COUNCIL HAS MADE ITS POSITION CLEAR.

I WELCOME LOOK FORWARD TO QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS FROM COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILLOR. MCLENNAN. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO EITHER COUNCILMAN MCLENNAN ADMINISTRATION OR A COMMENT FROM YOURSELF? SEEING NO, COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

GO AHEAD. JUST THAT I UNDERSTAND WHY COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN WOULD PROPOSE THIS, AND I THINK IT'S A SOUND REASONING. I'M IN FAVOR. THANKS VERY MUCH.

YEAH. FOR MYSELF, MUCH THE SAME. COUNCILLOR MCGURK I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN MCLENNAN YOU BRING THIS FORWARD AND SHOWING IN PRACTICE COUNCIL'S VALUES PROPOSITION THAT WE'VE EXPRESSED. SO TO MAKE OUR POLICY ACTUALLY ALIGN WITH THAT.

SO I APPRECIATE BRINGING THAT FORWARD. SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

COUNCIL. MCLENNAN YOU HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO IT IF YOU'D LIKE. YEAH, NOTHING.

NOTHING MORE TO ADD. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THEN WITH THAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS. NEXT WE HAVE ENACTMENT OF BYLAWS, A BYLAW AMENDING BYLAW NUMBER 5024 FOR THE PURPOSE OF UPDATING A LEGAL DESCRIPTION

[Items 25 - 33]

I SO MOVE THE THIRD READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5125.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. IS THERE A SECONDER? DEPUTY MAYOR WARBURTON.

ALL OR ANY QUESTIONS OR NO. SORRY. THIRD READING? CAN ALREADY SEE THE CITY CLERK NOD HER HEAD AT ME.

GOOD FOR YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

AND NEXT, WE HAVE A BYLAW AMENDING BYLAW NUMBER 5056 FOR THE PURPOSE OF UPDATING A LEGAL DESCRIPTION FOR ONE OF THE LANEWAYS PRESENTED FOR THIRD READING.

COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I SO MOVE THE THIRD READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5126.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE SECONDER COUNCIL MCGURK.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS. NEXT WE HAVE A BYLAW TO RENEW THE EXISTING ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH NAKA POWER UTILITIES LIMITED UNTIL DECEMBER 2035, PRESENTED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I SO MOVE THE FIRST READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5128.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE A SECONDER? COUNCILOR FOOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

[00:10:03]

COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIR.

I SO MOVE THE SECOND READING OF BYLAW NUMBER 5128.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE A SECONDER. COUNCIL MCGURK.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DEPUTY MAYOR WARBURTON.

THANK YOU MAYOR. YEAH, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS OBVIOUSLY.

I MEAN, I HONESTLY HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS. I DID ASK QUESTIONS IN A CALL WHEN THEY WERE HERE LAST TIME AROUND AND A BUNCH OF US DID AROUND MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT AND AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE A CAPITAL PLAN. BUT I'M GOING TO KEEP THEM ON THEIR TOES AND PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE TEN YEARS IS A LONG CONTRACT.

BUT IN RETURN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM ACTUALLY DO SOME QUALITY MAINTENANCE AND MAINTENANCE ON THEIR EASEMENTS.

SO I WILL SUPPORT IT, BUT WITH OPEN EYES. THANK YOU.

ALWAYS THE BEST WAY TO SUPPORT THINGS. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. DEPUTY MAYOR WARBURTON. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ONE? COUNCILLOR MCGURK. I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT FOR RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HAD CONCERNS WITH POWER SUPPLY ISSUES, I HOPE OUR, THE PRESENTATION FROM NAKA THAT WE JUST HAD AT GPC WILL INDICATE THAT A LOT OF THE SUPPLY ISSUES ARE NOT ON THEIR END.

AND SO WHEN YOU SEE THAT WE ARE, IF YOU SEE THAT WE SUPPORT THIS KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE'S, THERE IS ALSO A SUPPLIER THAT HAS NOT LIKE THAT IS A PART OF THIS THAT IS NOT INSIDE OF OUR REALM OF CONTROL.

SO JUST WANT TO NOTE FOR THE PUBLIC, IF THEY'RE CONFUSED OR FRUSTRATED AT OUR CHOICE THAT IT'S, THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF, THEIR NUMBERS ARE QUITE GOOD ACTUALLY, IN TERMS OF SUPPLY.

SO THE DISTRIBUTION, THE DISTRIBUTION VERSUS THE SUPPLY QUESTION.

YES. NO I APPRECIATE THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS? SEEING NONE THEN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.

AND FOR THOSE LOOKING AT THE AGENDA, YOU MAY SEE THE IDEA OF THIRD READING, BUT WE DON'T HAVE FULL SLATE OF COUNCIL HERE TODAY, SO WE WILL NOT BE BRINGING THAT FORWARD FOR THIRD READING.

SO WE'LL BRING THAT FORWARD AT A FUTURE COUNCIL MEETING FOR THIRD READING.

NEXT, WE HAVE DEFERRED BUSINESS AND TABLED ITEMS. THERE WERE OR THERE WAS NO DEFERRED BUSINESS OR TABLED ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE. OLD BUSINESS.

NONE FOR THE AGENDA. ANY FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE.

NOTICES OF MOTION. NONE FOR THE AGENDA. ANY FROM THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE. NEXT WE HAVE DELEGATIONS PERTAINING TO ITEMS ON THE OR NOT ON THE AGENDA.

[40. A presentation from Jeremy Flatt regarding a request that Yellowknife City Council endorse a resolution calling for Proportional Representation in Canada’s Federal elections. ]

PARDON ME. JUST BEFORE YOU BEGIN. JUST GOING TO READ YOU THE ALL OF THE THE FINE THINGS FOR YOU TO ABIDE BY BEFORE YOU GET INTO YOUR PRESENTATION.

SO JUST TO NOTE THAT ALL DELEGATIONS. SO YOURSELF IN THIS CASE SHALL ADDRESS REMARKS DIRECTLY TO MYSELF AS A PRESIDING OFFICER AND SHALL NOT POSE QUESTIONS TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OR ADMIN OR DEVIATE FROM THE TOPIC OF YOUR PRESENTATION.

YOU SHALL BE AFFORDED UP TO FIVE MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION.

THE TIME ALLOWED TO EACH PRESENTER MAY BE EXTENDED BY ANOTHER TWO MINUTES BY A SPECIAL RESOLUTION OF COUNCIL.

AFTER A PERSON HAS SPOKEN, ANY MEMBER MAY THROUGH MYSELF ASK THAT PERSON OR THE CITY MANAGER OR ACTING CITY MANAGER RELEVANT QUESTIONS.

FOR MY COLLEAGUES, NO DEBATE SHALL BE PERMITTED ON ANY DELEGATION OF COUNCIL, EITHER BETWEEN MEMBERS OR WITH AN INDIVIDUAL MAKING A DELEGATION SO YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS, BUT THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS. WHEN MAKING A PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL OR ITS STANDING COMMITTEE, IN THIS CASE, COUNCIL, SPEAK DIRECTLY. YOU MAY NOT SPEAK DISRESPECTFULLY OF THE CROWN, ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL, THE PUBLIC OR AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY, USE OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE, MAKE PERSONAL REMARKS ABOUT ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL, THE PUBLIC OR AN EMPLOYEE OR THE CITY, REFLECT UPON THE MOTIVES OF MEMBERS WHO MAY HAVE VOTED FOR A PARTICULAR MOTION IN THE PAST, REFLECT UPON THE MOTIVES OF ADVICE GIVEN TO COUNCIL BY ADMIN, OR REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH THE DECISION OF MYSELF AS PRESIDING OFFICER.

ALL CLEAR AS MUD MR. FLATT? PERFECT. IT'S OVER TO YOU FOR FIVE MINUTES AND YOU CAN HIT THE MIC WHEN YOU'RE READY.

THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. I WILL TRY AND AVOID USING OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE.

FOR ONE, IT'S A LITTLE LIKE PUNCTUATION FOR ME, SO IT'LL BE A CHALLENGE. SO MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR FROM ME TODAY. AND THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE QUESTIONS THAT I RECEIVED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

MY NAME IS JEREMY. I'M A REPRESENTATIVE OF A LOCAL DEMOCRACY ADVOCACY GROUP CALLED FAIRVOTE NWT, AND WE'RE AFFILIATED WITH FAIRVOTE CANADA. WE CAMPAIGN ON A RANGE OF ISSUES CONCERNING THE HEALTH OF CANADIAN DEMOCRACY, MOST NOTABLY THAT REFORM, WE REFORM OUR FEDERAL ELECTIONS SPECIFICALLY TO ADOPT A SYSTEM OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. BY NOW, I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO READ THE DRAFT RESOLUTION THAT WAS CIRCULATED LAST MONTH.

[00:15:07]

I'M REALLY HAPPY TO MAKE TIME TO TALK TO ANYONE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

IF A QUESTION DOES COME UP, PLEASE MAKE A NOTE.

YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL ME AS WELL. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT IN THIS RESOLUTION, THERE ARE SOME CLAIMS MADE ABOUT FIRST PAST THE POST AS AN ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND SOME OF THE THE THE EFFECT THAT THAT SYSTEM HAS AND ALSO SOME, SOME CLAIMS MADE ABOUT PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION AND HOW THOSE SYSTEMS WORK AND THE BENEFITS OF THOSE SYSTEMS. AND YOU SHOULD RIGHTLY EXPECT ME TO SUBSTANTIATE THOSE CLAIMS. BUT AGAIN IT IS A LITTLE TRICKY TO, TO, TO DO ALL OF THAT SORT OF WITHIN THIS KIND OF FIVE MINUTE PERIOD.

SO PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME AND I'LL MAKE TIME TO MEET WITH YOU AND ANSWER ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS AS BEST I CAN.

SO TODAY I'M GOING TO USE MY TIME TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT AND TO SORT OF EXPLAIN WHY OUR GROUP BELIEVES THAT A CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION IS APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY AND TIMELY. SO WHY SHOULD YELLOWKNIFE CITY COUNCIL A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN THE NORTH PASS, A RESOLUTION PRAISING A DIFFERENT WAY OF RUNNING OUR FEDERAL ELECTIONS? OKAY, I'LL BE BRIEF. I'M NOT GOING TO BE BRIEF.

YEAH. WELL, ACTUALLY, THE SHORT ANSWER IS THAT RESIDENTS OF YELLOWKNIFE AND OTHER NORTHERNERS DO STAND TO BENEFIT QUITE A LOT FROM SUCH A CHANGE. AND I'M HAPPY TO ELABORATE ON EXACTLY HOW THAT MIGHT WORK. IT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF US CARE ABOUT.

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF CAMPAIGNING IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

AND IT'S BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED. WE HAVE A LARGE GROUP OF INTERESTED PEOPLE WHO'VE SIGNED UP SOMETHING CALLED THE DECLARATION OF VOTER RIGHTS, WHICH IS AN ONGOING PETITION THAT FAIRVOTE CANADA USES TO KIND OF KEEP DEMONSTRATING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF SUPPORT FOR A SWITCH TO PROPORTIONAL ELECTORAL SYSTEMS IN CANADA. SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT, AND I WELL UNDERSTAND THAT FEDERAL ELECTIONS ARE COMPLETELY OUTSIDE THE JURISDICTION OF CITY COUNCIL IN YELLOWKNIFE.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY COUNCIL IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PROMISES THAT YOU MAY HAVE MADE IN YOUR CAMPAIGNS THAT AND FOR SORT OF PERFORMING YOUR DUTIES EFFECTIVELY WITHIN YOUR, YOUR REMIT, BUT YOU, ANOTHER ASPECT OF YOUR ROLE IS ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CITIZENS AT OTHER LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, CITY COUNCIL AND PEOPLE HOW, WHAT AM I TRYING TO SAY? YOU HAVE A MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE WITH, SAY, THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT THINGS LIKE LAND TRANSFERS.

WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR FUNDING THESE SORTS OF THINGS, IT'S VERY MUCH A PART OF BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. IT'S BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL AS BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM.

SO. THAT'S KIND OF WHY I THINK THIS SHOULD BE DONE.

WHY NOW? I DON'T KNOW. I TEND TO THINK THAT THE BEST TIME TO FIGHT FOR YOUR DEMOCRACY IS WHILE IT'S STILL FUNCTIONING WELL.

AND I GUESS I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT A CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION AFTER WE HAD A QUICK VISIT FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF CANADA AS PART OF A TRANSPARENCY TOUR.

AND HE SAID SOME THINGS THAT WILL BE FAMILIAR TO EVERYONE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINKING THIS STUFF RIGHT NOW THAT DEMOCRACY IS, IS KIND OF STRUGGLING IN VARIOUS PLACES AROUND THE WORLD. THERE'S A SENSE THAT DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK. AND WHILE HE DIDN'T MENTION THE US SPECIFICALLY, HE MADE LOTS OF REMARKS ABOUT SEEING THE KIND OF PRESSURE THAT DEMOCRACY IS UNDER IN THE STATES AND THAT CANADA IS VULNERABLE TO THE SAME KIND OF DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING.

AND I THINK HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. HE SORT OF WENT ON TO PRAISE THE STRENGTH OF OUR CANADIAN DEMOCRACY AND OUR INSTITUTIONS AND SAID THAT WE SHOULD BE VIGILANT, BUT KIND OF LEFT IT AT THAT. SO I'M THIS IS ME BEING VIGILANT AND RESPONDING TO A PROBLEM THAT THAT VIGILANCE HAS UNCOVERED.

AND WHEN JUSTICE WAGNER WAS TALKING ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF CANADIAN DEMOCRACY, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, MANY KEY DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES STILL IN PLACE.

ONE OF THOSE IS THE DISTRIBUTION OF POWER AMONG DIFFERENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, AMONG DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS OUR JUDICIARY, LEGISLATURE, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF OUR GOVERNMENT, AND THE MUNICIPAL, TERRITORIAL, PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS DISTRIBUTION OF POWER THAT'S STILL ALIVE AND WELL AND HEALTHY IN CANADA IN MANY RESPECTS.

SO IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE. I JUST NEED TO JUMP IN QUICKLY.

YOU'VE REACHED YOUR FIVE MINUTES. IF I CAN GET A MOTION FOR TWO MORE MINUTES. COUNCILLOR MCGURK. SECONDED BY COUNCILOR COCHRANE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? YOU HAVE TWO MORE MINUTES.

OKAY. THAT WAS BRIEF. ALL RIGHT, WELL, SO BOTTOM LINE, I THINK IT'S ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO BE HERE.

I THINK THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR YELLOWKNIFE SPECIFICALLY TO SPEAK UP ON THIS ISSUE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE PARTIES IN THE N.W.T., WE DO NOT HAVE PARTIES AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL.

[00:20:03]

RIGHT? ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE WANT TO GET RID OF THE FIRST PAST THE POST SYSTEM AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IS IT PROMOTES PARTISANSHIP.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE RESOLUTION DEALS WITH PARTISANSHIP AND THE FACT THAT PARTISANSHIP WORKS AGAINST PRAGMATIC GOVERNMENT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT UNDERMINES PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO HOLD THEIR GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT.

AND IT UNDERMINES POLICYMAKERS ABILITY TO ACT PRAGMATICALLY OR ACT IN THE INTERESTS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

SO WE AS A AS A GROUP IN OUR SMALL, ISOLATED CITY, WE HAVE WIDELY RANGING OPINIONS.

WE DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER ON ALL SORTS OF THINGS, BUT AT THE CITY LEVEL, WE COOPERATE.

WE COLLABORATE TO GET THINGS DONE. AND WHEN WE DO HAVE DISAGREEMENTS WITH PEOPLE, WE DON'T.

WE CAN'T ALLOW THOSE TO DETERIORATE INTO THE SORT OF DEHUMANIZING PARTIZAN LANGUAGE THAT WE SEE COMING OUT OF PLACES LIKE THE US, PLACES LIKE THE UK. THE ONLY OTHER TWO COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD THAT USE THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM THAT WE USE, CANADA IS ONE OF ONLY THREE DEMOCRACIES IN THE OECD THAT USES FIRST PAST THE POST, WHERE A TINY MINORITY USING AN ANCIENT SYSTEM THAT HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE FEUDAL AND FEUDAL BRITAIN. IT'S A VERY OUTDATED SYSTEM, AND I THINK YELLOWKNIFE IS IN AN IDEAL PLACE TO SPEAK TO THIS ISSUE AND SAY, LOOK, WE WE DO THINGS BETTER HERE. WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

WE YOU KNOW, OUR SYSTEM ISN'T PERFECT, BUT WE VALUE THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE KNOW.

PROPORTIONAL SYSTEMS DELIVER, AND THERE'S VERY GOOD EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT PROPORTIONAL SYSTEMS DELIVER THOSE. SO THAT'S IT.

YOU HIT YOUR TWO MINUTES. SO THERE YOU GO. WELL DONE.

THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE PRESENTER AND JUST YEAH WE'LL GET.

THANK YOU. COUNCILLOR COCHRANE COMING TO YOU A SECOND JUST FOR YOURSELVES. REMEMBER THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN SHARED WITH YOURSELVES AS COUNCIL. ULTIMATELY, IT WILL BE UP TO YOURSELF IF YOU WANTED TO BRING THIS FORWARD YOURSELVES, BUT OTHERWISE THIS IS WHERE THE CONVERSATION WOULD END.

SO THAT'S I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR FOR YOURSELVES, BUT MORE FOR ANYBODY WATCHING.

COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEREMY. YOU AND I HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH ON THIS MANY TIMES.

NO, I WON'T GET INTO THE TECHNICALITIES. OF COURSE, I PERSONALLY STAND FOR MIXED MEMBER PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. BUT THE QUESTIONS.

YEAH. FIRST OFF, WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE PASSED SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS FOR THIS? MR. FLATT. THAT'S AN INTERESTING ONE. IT'S A COUPLE OF SMALL TOWNS IN ONTARIO.

I WANT TO SAY, I CAN'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

I'M SORRY. BRIGHTON. THERE YOU GO. WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE THE FIRST CITY IN CANADA TO PASS A RESOLUTION LIKE THIS, SPECIFICALLY ENDORSING PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

AND THIS ONE HAS BEEN KIND OF NORTHERNIZED AND TWEAKED TO BE RELEVANT TO YELLOWKNIFE AND TO DRAW ON THE FACT THAT, YES, WE DO VALUE COLLABORATIVE GOVERNMENT AND DECISION BY CONSENSUS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

AND IT WOULD BE REALLY IMPACTFUL, I THINK BECAUSE THERE IS A TENDENCY TO, TO TREAT ELECTORAL REFORM AS BEING A BIT OF A SORT OF A FANCY KIND OF PURVIEW OF ACADEMICS IN LATTE SIPPING LIBERALS LIKE MYSELF. BUT THE REALITY IS IT'S A VERY BROADLY POPULAR IDEA KIND OF ACROSS THE BOARD.

A STRONG MAJORITY OF CANADIANS FAVOR SOME KIND OF PROPORTIONALITY IN OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM, WHETHER THOSE ARE LIBERAL PARTY MEMBERS, CONSERVATIVE PARTY MEMBERS, PEOPLE'S PARTY OF CANADA MEMBERS, GREEN PARTY MEMBERS. THE SUPPORT IS, IS STRONG ACROSS THE BOARD.

YEAH, SO IT'S HAVING HAVING A RESOLUTION COME OUT OF A PLACE LIKE YELLOWKNIFE WHERE, YOU KNOW, CRITICS MIGHT THINK THAT REALLY PEOPLE DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS KIND OF THING, THAT MAYBE WE'D BE AT A DISADVANTAGE.

IT WOULD BE VERY IMPACTFUL FOR THE MOVEMENT. AND THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM IN THE NORTH, SPECIFICALLY UNDER A PROPORTIONAL SYSTEM THAT I'M HAPPY TO GET INTO RIGHT NOW, OR AT THE CONVENIENCE OF ANYONE WHO IS CURIOUS.

COUNCILLOR COCHRANE THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT ANSWER.

VERY CONCISE, PRECISE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE AS ALWAYS.

MY SECOND QUESTION IS, PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME KNOW I'M A BIT OF A STICKLER FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL EVOLUTION OF BNA ACT 1867, CONSTITUTION ACT 1982. AND THOUGH THERE IS SORT OF AN AD HOC EVOLUTION WITH MUNICIPALITIES DIRECTLY GOING TOWARDS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON CERTAIN AFFAIRS, WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO WANT TO UTILIZE THIS FORM TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, INSTEAD OF HAVING US GO TOWARDS THE MINISTER OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS IN THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT TO ADVOCATE ON THIS POSITION? MR. FLATT. WELL, FOR ONE SEEING THAT THE PROCESS WENT THROUGH FAIRLY IN A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY IN, IN, IN BRIGHTON WAS YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGING, BUT FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THE CITY COUNCIL IS JUST VERY ACCESSIBLE, YOU KNOW, AND I REALLY THINK THAT YOU IDEOLOGICALLY PROBABLY THE MOST SIMILAR TO A PROPORTIONAL, THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD BE FORMED UNDER A PROPORTIONAL SYSTEM, YOU'RE MORE RECEPTIVE TO, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE ARGUING ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF, OF BEING PRAGMATIC, PLACING PRAGMATISM OVER YOUR IDEOLOGICAL POSITION.

[00:25:06]

AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY I MAYBE WON'T APPROACH THE TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS PART OF A RANGE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT. THIS IS ME WORRYING ABOUT THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY IN CANADA AND USING ALL OF THE TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ME AS AN ADVOCATE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW. SO I'M NOT JUST DOING THIS.

I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE THIS THE CITY OF YELLOWKNIFE'S PROBLEM. THIS IS THIS IS LIKE WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, YOU KNOW? DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. COUNCILLOR COCHRANE. ANYTHING FURTHER? NOTHING FURTHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEREMY. NO WORRIES. VERY CONCISE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILLOR MCGURK.

I THINK I HEAD NEXT. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR COMING, JEREMY.

I DON'T SEE THIS BEING OUTSIDE OF OUR SCOPE AS A MUNICIPALITY.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEIR ACTIONS OBVIOUSLY DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR OPERATIONS OF THE CITY.

AND WE, FOR INSTANCE, RECEIVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDING EVERY YEAR.

AND EVERY TIME THERE'S A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP, MANY OF THOSE GRANTS ARE PUT AT RISK.

SO I GUESS WITH THAT IN MIND, I DIDN'T ASK THIS IN ADVANCE.

SO I UNDERSTAND IF ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS, BUT I'M HOPING ADMINISTRATION CAN PROVIDE SOME.

OR IF YOU HAVE A LIST OF GRANTS THAT ARE FEDERALLY FUNDED OR LIKE EVEN JUST A COUPLE OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD TO SORT OF GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF LIKE, I'M THINKING THE REALLY BIG ONES. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GET INTO THE NITTY GRITTY BECAUSE THE LIST IS LONG, BUT. I'LL KICK THIS OVER TO THE ACTING CITY MANAGER.

BUT I FULLY RESPECT IF YOU SAY THAT IF THIS IS A QUESTION YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE, WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK THROUGH EMAIL.

AND AS PART OF THE CONSIDERATION FOR THIS, I JUST WANT TO GIVE THE.

IT'S A DOOZY OF A LIST. ACTING CITY MANAGER MR. [INAUDIBLE] YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I DO NOT HAVE THAT LIST IN MY BACK POCKET. THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING HAS LET ME KNOW THAT THE HOUSING ACCELERATOR FUND IS ONE SUCH FEDERAL PROGRAM, BUT I WOULD TAKE THAT AWAY AND CAN GET BACK TO YOU IF YOU WANT THAT LIST.

SURE. SO YOU CAN LET THEM KNOW. BUT I MEAN, THERE'S A HOUSING ACCELERATOR FUND REACHING HOME. WE'VE APPLIED FOR TRANSPORTATION FUNDING. THERE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, OTHER GRANTS THAT COME THROUGH ON LOADS OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. BUT IF A FULL LIST AFTER THIS MEETING.

I MEAN, THE INFORMATION IS ALL THERE. JUST HAVE TO BE COLLATED. BUT BACK TO YOU.

COUNCILLOR MCGURK. YEAH, THE FULL LIST IS NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRED.

I JUST WANTED TO ILLUSTRATE THE LEVEL OF INVESTMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INTO THE MUNICIPALITY AND HOW MUCH THAT AFFECTS OUR BUDGET AND OUR PLANNING.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF THOSE POTS OF FUNDING, HALF FUNDING IS A GREAT EXAMPLE, IS, IS VERY MUCH CONTINGENT ON WHO IS IN POWER AT THE TIME ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL. SO I THINK, LIKE YOU SAID, PRAGMATIC GOVERNMENT, IF WE IF THERE IS.

IT WOULD, WOULD PROVIDE A LOT MORE SECURITY FOR MUNICIPALITIES AND KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND SO I'M, I THINK THAT THIS IS INHERENTLY A MUNICIPAL ISSUE.

IT HAS A LARGE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. THANKS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILLOR MCGURK. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILLO MMCLENNAN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. YEAH. MY MAIN QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE WHY SHOULD CITY, WHY? AND CAN A CITY COUNCIL COMMENT ON A FEDERAL ELECTION ISSUE? AND YOU SORT OF HANDLED THAT ANSWER. YEAH, I THINK I, I ACCEPT THE YEAH, THAT IT BOTH IN TERMS OF REPRESENTING OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT, THAT CITY COUNCIL CAN AND SHOULD COMMENT ON SUCH THINGS.

SO I JUST HAVE A QUESTION TO ADMIN. I THINK I WOULD HAVE SOME INTEREST IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

FOR A VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION. BUT MY WORK SCHEDULE IS NOT HAMMERED DOWN FOR APRIL 22ND.

IS THERE ANY SORT OF LIKE TIME LIMIT COULD POTENTIALLY BRING THIS FORWARD AT A FURTHER MEETING IN MAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, JUST LOOKING FOR A COMMENT ON THE PROCESS. SO I MEAN, I'LL GET THE CITY MANAGER TO PIPE IN IF HE WANTS, BUT REALLY THERE'S NO I MEAN, ULTIMATELY THIS WOULD BE A DECISION OF YOU AS A COUNCILLOR IF, IF AND WHEN YOU WANTED TO BRING IT FORWARD SO YOU COULD BRING IT FORWARD AT ANY MEETING BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF OUR TERM. AND IF YOU WANTED TO BRING IT FORWARD YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A SPECIAL OR A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING, DEPENDING ON WORK SCHEDULE, THAT'S SOMETHING MYSELF AS CHAIR AND YOU AS A COUNCILOR CAN FIGURE OUT, BUT I'LL SEE IF THE ACTING CITY MANAGER HAS ANYTHING ELSE THEY'D LIKE TO ADD. YEAH.

NO. THAT ALIGNS THE COUNCIL PROCEDURE BYLAW JUST ASKED FOR A NOTICE OF MOTION SO IT COULD BE DONE THAT WAY.

OR IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THE RESOLUTION IN ADVANCE, WE CAN GET IT ON THE AGENDA THAT WAY.

THAT WORKS TOO. SO REALLY AT YOUR DISCRETION AS IT GOES FORWARD.

COUNCILLOR MCLENNAN. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THANKS AGAIN FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DEPUTY MAYOR WARBURTON.

THANKS, JEREMY. I AM NOTHING BUT PRAGMATIC, SO I IT'S THE ENTIRE REASON I LIKE THIS LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THERE IS NO PARTIES.

[00:30:02]

DEPUTY MAYOR WARBURTON. I THINK WE ALL GIVE A LAUGH, BUT OUT OF GENUINE.

I THINK IT'S A MOTION ALL OF US FEEL AT THIS TABLE.

COUNCILLOR FOOTE THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, JEREMY.

NO QUESTION. JUST WANT TO COMMENT THAT I DO THINK WE NEED SOME SORT OF REFORM, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING IT FURTHER.

THANKS AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILLOR FOOTE ANYTHING FURTHER? AND IF COMES FORWARD, THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE FOR MORE DISCUSSION THEN.

SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU, MR. FLATT. THANK YOU.

SO WITH THAT, WE COME TO THE END OF OUR MEETING.

I'M JUST MAKING SURE I'M NOT MISSING ANYTHING. THANK YOU.

SEE, JUMPING AROUND, WE HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES.

THERE WERE NONE FOR THE AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY FOR THE FLOOR? SEEING NONE, WE HAVE ADJOURNMENT. CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN? DEPUTY MAYOR WARBURTON, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR FOOTE.

WE WILL SEE YOU TONIGHT AT 6:00 FOR OUR SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING FOR STATUTORY PUBLIC HEARINGS.

SEE YOU THEN.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.