Enterprise Mayor Michael St. Amour says he has SA国际影视传媒渁 million questionsSA国际影视传媒� for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) and the wider GNWT.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen those questions are answered, ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to have a million more,SA国际影视传媒� he added.
In August 2023, much of Enterprise was destroyed by wildfires.
Outside of a three-day period immediately following a mandatory evacuation order, St. Amour said he has been in the community ever since, doing what he can to help its roughly 120 residents.
In the first days after the fire subsided, that meant handling SA国际影视传媒渢he daunting task of advising people that theySA国际影视传媒檇 lost their homes.SA国际影视传媒�
More recently, he said, his priorities have involved cleaning up the scorched community, and helping displaced residents return after losing their homes.
In late September, St. Amour attempted to purchase new modular homes for those who suffered losses using hamlet funds. However, that plan was ultimately shut down by MACA, he said.
SA国际影视传媒淎ll I wanted to do was use our capital dollars to buy housing,SA国际影视传媒� he explained. SA国际影视传媒淭he evacuees, theySA国际影视传媒檙e in hotels right now, or private accommodations. Why wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 we do the housing thing instead of paying for hotels?
SA国际影视传媒淸I wanted to] use that disaster assistance program money SA国际影视传媒� the rental portion of it SA国际影视传媒� to pay for housing,SA国际影视传媒� he added. SA国际影视传媒淭hey threatened to dissolve council and put in an administrator, so we backed down.SA国际影视传媒�
While the GNWT did not approve of St. AmourSA国际影视传媒檚 housing plan, he said it did get a green light from the federal government. However, it could not proceed without the GNWT signing off.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a good plan. EverybodySA国际影视传媒檚 saying itSA国际影视传媒檚 a good plan except the GNWT,SA国际影视传媒� said the mayor.
The housing proposal isnSA国际影视传媒檛 the only area where St. Amour has had difficulty with MACA and the GNWT.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 arguing with them constantly on issues,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey came in and said, SA国际影视传媒榃eSA国际影视传媒檒l take over everything, while consulting [you], and they havenSA国际影视传媒檛. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 always after the fact.SA国际影视传媒�
A spokesperson for MACA agreed to answer questions about the situation in Enterprise, with the caveat that SA国际影视传媒淢ACA has contracted the work being done in Enterprise, so some information may need to be coordinated with the contractor.SA国际影视传媒�
As of print deadline, the department had not responded to any of the six questions SA国际影视传媒 submitted.
Receiving backlash
Some residents of Enterprise feel that St. Amour and hamlet staff are failing to communicate relevant information to displaced residents, who are scattered across the NWT and even farther afield.
Former SAO Tammy Neal, who said she SA国际影视传媒渓ost everythingSA国际影视传媒� in the fire, feels that she has SA国际影视传媒渂asically been forgottenSA国际影视传媒� by the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 leaders.
Former mayor Winnie Cadieux offered a similar assessment, contending that the hamlet office isnSA国际影视传媒檛 SA国际影视传媒渁dvocating in a positive, healthy way.SA国际影视传媒�
A third displaced community member who asked not to be identified by name, accused St. Amour and senior administrative officer Blair Porter of SA国际影视传媒渒eeping people in the dark,SA国际影视传媒� and called for an SA国际影视传媒渁uditSA国际影视传媒� of their office.
In response to those concerns, Porter stated that the hamlet office often doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have the answers people seek, contending that MACA SA国际影视传媒渟hould be the ones that are communicating those decisions to the public.SA国际影视传媒�
St. Amour added that SA国际影视传媒渢here was a good six weeks with absolutely no staffSA国际影视传媒� at the hamlet office, and that landlines were only reinstalled in town SA国际影视传媒渁bout a month ago,SA国际影视传媒� which has made communicating with displaced residents difficult. Some residents have also been difficult to locate.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e trying out best,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Glennis Poitras, who has lived in Enterprise since 2021, vouches for the mayor. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 one of just a few community members whose home was not destroyed in AugustSA国际影视传媒檚 fires, but contended that its value has plummeted and she SA国际影视传媒減robably wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be able to pay somebody to take it.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淭he mayor tried to get housing in here for these people,SA国际影视传媒� Poitras said in response to the criticisms of St Amour. SA国际影视传媒淲e got a prize mayor.SA国际影视传媒�
She also contended that SA国际影视传媒淢ACA is definitely bogging things downSA国际影视传媒� as far as getting people back to Enterprise.
SA国际影视传媒楢 wedge in the communitySA国际影视传媒�
With many unanswered questions, and frustration rising, St. Amour couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 say when or even if things will return to normal.
Some of the displaced residents whose homes were destroyed have already decided to live elsewhere due to the sheer difficulty of getting a new home in town, he noted.
SA国际影视传媒淧eople are starting to get really frustrated,SA国际影视传媒� the mayor said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 some people that were coming back that arenSA国际影视传媒檛 now. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e walking away.
SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e insured ones. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e saying, SA国际影视传媒榊ou know what, give me the payout for my loss, and weSA国际影视传媒檙e moving away.SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�
That creates another problem.
While residents may choose not to return to Enterprise, their charred lots will remain, and there is already debate over whose responsibility it is to clean them.
SA国际影视传媒淣ow we have two or three properties that havenSA国际影视传媒檛 been cleaned up that are insured properties, and I get the contractors here saying that SA国际影视传媒榯heySA国际影视传媒檙e insured properties, weSA国际影视传媒檙e not touching them,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� said St Amour. SA国际影视传媒淲ow! Excuse me? This is a community and youSA国际影视传媒檙e not touching those? ItSA国际影视传媒檚 sick.
SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e putting a wedge in the community that I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know if we can fix.SA国际影视传媒�
Dehcho MLA Sheryl Yakeleya was left multiple messages, via phone and email, but did not respond to requests for comment on the situation in Enterprise.
There is a municipal election underway in Enterprise, which will conclude on Feb. 13.
