Fort McPherson struggling with rising cost of municipal services: MLA

An N.W.T. MLA is asking the territorial government to ease the rising cost of municipal services in Fort McPherson.

The government took administrative powers away from the community's mayor and council in July after the hamlet racked up a $2 million deficit. It turned over the day-to-day running of the communityto a municipal administrator.

In the legislature Thursday, Mackenzie Delta MLA Sonny Blake said the deficit has resulted in huge hikes inthe cost of water, sewer and garbage services for residents.

Blake says last March, households were paying about $150 a month for water, sewageand garbage services.

"The cost went through the roof and now Fort McPherson homeowners arepaying on average $425 every month and upwards of $1,400 a month."

Blake says people can't afford that and some have been cut off.He says the housing corporation and people on fixed incomes are not getting more money to cover the higher costs.

Blake asked the minster of Municipal and Community Affairs if the deficit could be paid off for over a longer period to lessen the impact.

Robert C. McLeod said that's not an option.

"We're believing within two or three years they should have the deficit almost off the books," he said.

"If we were to stretch it out too long, then that may affect their ability to provide a lot of services in the community."

Blake also asked the minister to provide more oversight in the community.