Whitehorse city council is calling for the removal of cabinet minister Brad Cathers from his role as minister of Community Services and minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corp.

An unprecedented resolution passed unanimously by council Monday evening calls on Premier Darrell Pasloski to move Cathers from his two portfolios.

It asks that he “instruct a replacement to take immediate action to design and fund programs for affordable housing targeted to help workers who cannot find affordable housing, especially those in the service industry and resource sector of Whitehorse.”

“I feel this minister has failed miserably,” Mayor Dan Curtis said after voting with the rest of council in the hopes of seeing the minister “shuffled” to a portfolio that may better suit his skills.

Cathers has broken protocol on a number of occasions, the mayor argued. He has shown he doesn’t respect the municipal level of government, Curtis added.

Neither Cathers nor Pasloski returned calls from the Star this morning.

The 1 1/2 page resolution, prepared prior to the meeting and presented by Coun. Kirk Cameron, is something all five council members present said they were not taking lightly, and offered their full support on.

Councillors John Streicker and Betty Irwin were absent from the meeting.

There are a number of issues leading to the decision to call for Cathers’ dismissal, the mayor said, though housing was a major highlight of the resolution.

Part of it states: “... the Minister of Yukon Housing cancelled the affordable housing projects under the Northern Housing Trust after meeting with a small group of constituents yet without considering the larger interests and needs of all citizens of this great city; and

“Whereas Yukon Government still holds over $8 million from the Northern Housing Trust and, in addition, has signed a new Affordable Housing Agreement with the federal government that provides $1.575 million per year for the next five years to address affordable housing shortages faced in Yukon communities...”

Funding from the Northern Housing Trust was set to be used for the building of three affordable housing projects along with two rural housing projects.

While the rural initiatives remain set to go ahead, the government cancelled the Whitehorse projects last June. It cited an increase in land availability as well as the housing supply, arguing the initiative could negatively impact the market.

A number of local realtors had argued the projects could discourage private development by subsidizing new rental units. They were supported by the territory’s landlords’ association.

The government’s move to cancel the projects was met with opposition by the city and a number of local organizations, which have argued affordable housing options continue to be needed in the city.

As it was stated in last night’s resolution: “... the Association of Yukon Communities (AYC) passed two resolutions at their board meeting in September 2014 that called for the Yukon Minister to share the government’s action plan with all municipalities, to listen to the concerns of all communities, and then to act on the shortages of affordable housing, an issue faced by a significant number of Yukon communities.”

While Cathers was at the September AYC board meeting in Faro, Curtis argued the minister was there simply to state the decision of government to cancel the projects was final, and to “stay tuned” for further announcements from the government.

“That kind of relationship is not a very good one,” the mayor told reporters after last night’s council meeting.

He continually stressed his “exasperation” in dealing with the current minister and his hope that the city would be viewed as a partner and given the respect another government should get.

He argued the previous Community Services minister – Elaine Taylor – had a more co-operative relationship with municipalities, following up on issues.

Taylor was moved out of the role in August 2013 during a cabinet shuffle.

While she became Education minister and held on to other portfolios, Cathers was shuffled from Energy, Mines and Resources into Community Services, along with becoming the minister responsible for the housing corporation, the Yukon Liquor Corp. and the Yukon Lottery Commission.

Since then, it’s become difficult to meet with and work with the minister, the mayor said.

“It’s been a very difficult and trying time. We feel shaken to the core,” Curtis said.

The last part of the resolution notes the impact on the relationship with the city stating: “.... the Minister of Community Services has time and time again failed to engage with us, the City of Whitehorse, in partnership, mutual respect and trust, thus failing to demonstrate his willingness to set municipal issues at the forefront of the matters important to him in fulfilling his responsibilities as the minister responsible for the Community Services portfolio.”

It then goes on to request the Lake Laberge MLA’s removal from his role in Community Services and the housing corporation.

“I completely support this resolution,” Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu stated after Cameron presented it.

As “of late,” she pointed out, there’s been a lack of timely information coming from the Yukon government to the city.

Similarly, Coun. Dave Stockdale pointed out the city is home to 70 per cent of the territory’s population, and the Yukon government needs to work with the city.

“We need a better partnership with the Yukon government,” Stockdale said, adding he hopes the resolution will get “us to the table.”

Affordable housing has been the “no. 1 priority” for this council, and it’s clearly needed in the city, Coun. Mike Gladish said in voicing his support for the resolution.

While good efforts have been made to address social housing, affordable housing remains an urgent need in the city.

As Curtis said, the city is continually contacted by employers about what is being done to address the high cost of housing in the city to draw potential employees to the region.

Curtis noted the resolution “will not come as a surprise” to the government, given the concerns the city has already tried to express.

Questioned about what last night’s resolution will mean for a meeting scheduled for Friday with the Yukon government, Curtis commented that it will be “nice to clear the air.”

He noted he looks forward to working with any minister willing to work with the city.