YELLOWKNIFE (July 22, 2014) – Under authority provided by the Hamlets Act, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs has appointed Bill Buckle as Municipal Administrator for the Hamlet of Fort McPherson effective July 17, 2014 for an indeterminate term. The appointment of an Administrator means that the hamlet council has been dissolved; all responsibilities of council are now being handled by the Administrator in cooperation with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA).

Mr. Buckle has extensive experience in municipal management in communities across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. He was previously Municipal Supervisor in Fort McPherson, where he helped the community government develop a deficit recovery plan that will now be implemented. 

“Appointing a Municipal Administrator is not a step I took lightly,” said Minister Robert C. McLeod. “The Fort McPherson hamlet council has faced some challenges over the past few years and I am confident this move is in the best interests of residents and will provide the community government with a good basis for beginning its recovery.”

In addition to appointing Mr. Buckle as the Administrator, Minister McLeod also appointed three Deputy Administrators: Tom R. Williams, Deputy Minister of MACA; Eleanor Young, Assistant Deputy Minister of MACA; and Lorie Fyfe, MACA Inuvik Region Superintendent.

The Administrator was appointed to help the community government get back to a positive financial position. Over the past three years the community government has faced a number of difficulties that have led to a significant deficit in excess of $2 million.

For more information:

David Maguire
Communications and Website Advisor
Municipal and Community Affairs
Government of the Northwest Territories
Phone: (867) 920-3092