A pilot project aimed at dealing with youth homelessness may be in place by the new year.

Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers said in an interview Monday an announcement detailing the project will likely be put in place in the coming weeks following cabinet approval, hopefully before the new year.

'The details are being finalized very shortly,' he said.

Cathers made the comments after being grilled through the legislature's question period about a proposed youth emergency shelter.

Protesters spent last Friday night outside the Elijah Smith Building on Main Street calling on the government to take action on the issue.

While Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell and the three NDP MLAs attended throughout the evening, the governing Yukon Party sent no representatives to the event.

Mayor Bev Buckway was also on hand at the demonstration, which saw about 20 young people sleep outside overnight while the temperature hovered around the freezing mark.

'We're already dealing with this,' Cathers said when questioned why neither he nor any representatives from his department attended.

The minister stressed that residents are welcome to demonstrate their views. However, he also noted the government has been working with the Council of Yukon First Nations, the Kwanlin Dun First Nation and a number of community organizations to produce a plan that addresses the needs of youth dealing with homelessness.

Although Mitchell said he's encouraged by the possibility of a project, he also wondered during question period whether there would be an emergency place for youth to stay at in November.

'Again, I will ask the minister if he can give us some more concrete information, other than telling us that he's consulting, as to what sort of place would be in place this winter for children who are at risk,' Mitchell said during question period.

Cathers, however, would not go into further detail about the proposed project. It would be premature to make an announcement without the plan being finalized, he said.

Mitchell has lobbied continually for the shelter. He has argued a number of youth who have homes are forced to flee on nights when their parents or guardians are drinking or fighting.

The minister also came under fire during question period Monday for comments he made earlier that youth are 'theoretically' slipping through the cracks in the system.

'If the minister had been there on Friday night, he would have known it wasn't a theory,' NDP MLA Steve Cardiff said, questioning whether Cathers would apologize for the comment.

'If he had taken time to show up and actually spent time with those kids, he would know it's not theoretical.'

Cathers replied: 'The only thing I will apologize for is the member's portrayal of my remarks. That is clearly, at best, a significant spin on what I said.'

He went on to argue the government has shown its support by working with first nations and other organizations on the proposed pilot project.

'We will work with the facts; we will work on the details of a proposal and a project,' he argued.

Moving forward with a pilot project means the government can evaluate the results with the ability to adjust the initiative to suit the long-term needs, Cathers said during the interview.

NDP Leader Todd Hardy suggested the money for an emergency shelter could come out of the territory's surplus. He brought forward a motion that the government use the nearly $100-million surplus to fund the shelter and support programs for youth in need this winter.

The motion also proposed using the surplus to raise social assistance rates, provide support and housing services to Yukoners with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and to ensure safe, clean housing is available to all Yukoners in need, regardless of their ability to pay.