Territorial legislative rules are constraining the ability of municipalities to more efficiently manage their own communities, say Yellowknife political leaders.

While the issue has come up in the past, the latest leader to voice concern over devolving powers is Yellowknife North MLA Rylund Johnson.

In the legislative assembly on March 11, Johnson said Yellowknife has the capacity to deal with land value taxes, liquor regulations and voting rights but it lacks the power.

The MLA said the structure of community governments allows them to be more nimble than the GNWT and that their services SA国际影视传媒渙n the groundSA国际影视传媒� are more important than much of the work of the legislative assembly.

But the GNWT hasn't given community governments sufficient power because, for one thing, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) hasn't brought forward relevant legislation.

SA国际影视传媒淚 would like MACA to engage discussions on a city charter with them. I would like to have conversations about devolving powers,SA国际影视传媒� Johnson said. SA国际影视传媒淚 can't foresee a legislative assembly where there will ever be agreement on liquor, yet I believe there is a path forward where we give communities control over what they want their liquor regulations to look (like).SA国际影视传媒�

He asked MACA Minister Paulie Chinna if there are plans to update the Cities, Towns and Villages Act and other related legislation in the life of the current assembly.

Chinna responded that the act won't be updated by the existing government.

For Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Alty, amendments or updates to the , from which the city derives its authority, would, among other things, help it push through legislation faster. In the current legislative structure, changes move at a very slow pace, if they move at all.

Alty referred to an issue Johnson raised in the assembly relating to a vote in support of permanent residents being able to vote in elections. On March 9, 2020, Yellowknife , after Johnson had earlier presented the idea to councillors.

SA国际影视传媒淚t passed in the sense that we support it but now it's up to the GNWT to change the legislation to allow us to do that. The ball's in their court on that one. The dictates who can vote in municipal elections,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

More delegation of powers needed

Another issue over which the city would like authority is vacant commissioner's land inside municipal boundaries. If the city had jurisdiction, it could potentially add more residential areas. Currently, Yellowknife must ask the Department of Lands to transfer land to it by parcels.

SA国际影视传媒淲e're asking the GNWT to delegate it one more step (to us). Land within our boundaries should be transferred to the municipality, excluding Akaitcho land claim withdrawals,SA国际影视传媒� Alty said.

One SA国际影视传媒渇lagship successSA国际影视传媒� the city has had in trying to take on more powers was with the hotel levy, a move that allows municipalities in the NWT to impose a tax of up to four per cent on tourism accommodations to generate additional revenue.

It was the result of an amendment to the Cities, Towns and Villages Act that was passed by the NWT legislature in November 2018.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat simple change that wouldn't seem like it would cause much disagreement took more than 10 years (to push through),SA国际影视传媒� Alty said. SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the communities didn't think it was a good idea so we had to consult with everyone to get everyone on board. It took that many years to communicate and educate the stakeholders to get the political buy-in at the territorial level.SA国际影视传媒�

Next step city charter

A city charter is one solution to more powers and getting things done faster, Johnson and Alty believe.

A charter could take on many forms, but Alty cited the charters of Edmonton and Calgary and the City of Toronto Act that gave those cities more flexibility and authority to manage their own affairs.

SA国际影视传媒淗ere in the NWT we're not at that level yet. We're trying to get the GNWT on board to consider a legislative change,SA国际影视传媒� the mayor said. SA国际影视传媒淲e're not looking to get health or education delegated to the city. We're looking to get more municipal government-specific legislation delegated to us.SA国际影视传媒�

When the current cabinet and premier were elected in fall 2019, Yellowknife council sent them a letter outlining its priorities and a city charter was among them. The council again met with cabinet last summer to discuss the idea but after their mandate letters were released in September, a city charter wasn't included in MACA's letter.

SA国际影视传媒淚 know it's a new idea so it will take some time to get traction,SA国际影视传媒� Alty said. SA国际影视传媒淢ACA staff are meeting later this month to discuss it so we'll see where it goes.SA国际影视传媒�

In April, Alty hopes to join the virtual , where participants will discuss the changing role of municipalities in the context of Canadian federalism.

SA国际影视传媒�(Cities) are creatures of provinces or territories. They only have authority based on what the province or territory gives them,SA国际影视传媒� Yellowknife's mayor said. SA国际影视传媒淟ike when Doug Ford became Ontario premier, he cut the number of Toronto city council members and he decreased the number of wards, which he was legally allowed to do.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat might have been true when the constitution was written back in the day, but today cities are more mature and deserve more legislative authority. This conference will discuss how cities can get more of that authority.SA国际影视传媒�