Tenters in for government consultations
The Yukon government says it's working to help the tent city campers find other places to stay.
By Gemma Karstens-Smith on July 21, 2011
The Yukon government says it's working to help the tent city campers find other places to stay.
A small number of tents were set up on the legislature lawn early last month.
They were pitched partially to protest the availability of housing in the region and partially because the campers said they had no other place to stay. They now number about 40.
The movement quickly gained momentum, with new tents being added almost daily. Some joined because they needed a place to rest their heads while others camped out in solidarity.
Now, the government has hired an independent contractor to meet with campers and identify their individual needs.
The contractor will liaise with government officials to identify possible solutions for campers who need help, according to a government press release issued this morning.
The release also said a multi-departmental team has been working to research the complex issues related to the tent site and to assess how best to assist those campers who require support.
"The Yukon government is working with campers to find more suitable accommodation options,” Premier Darrell Pasloski, who is in Vancouver meeting with other premiers, said in the release.
"We are making a concerted effort to identify the individual needs of each camper and offer solutions to those requiring assistance.”
The government said it's continuing to move forward with a number of initiatives to meet a variety of housing needs throughout Yukon.
Recent announcements include funding for a second-stage housing project led by Kaushee's Place in Whitehorse; the opening of new seniors' residences in Watson Lake, Teslin and Whitehorse; construction of additional affordable housing units for families in Whitehorse; and renovations to provide more housing for Department of Health and Social Services clients at the Alexander Street Residence in Whitehorse.
The seniors currently in that building are moving to the new Waterfront Place complex.
The government has come under fire for its lack of response to the tent city protest. Both the Yukon NDP and Liberal parties have called upon government leaders to take action to solve the region's housing crisis.
Last Friday afternoon, a sign was erected at the site reading "No Camping or Overnight Parking”. It was removed within an hour and the government called its installation an "error”.
See NDP caucus submission on last Monday's housing forum, p. 7.
Comments (11)
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Josey Wales on Jul 26, 2011 at 7:35 am
Oh Nile...a little mellow dramatic don't ya think?
I walk by hippy village everyday and as much as I AGREE with you with many of your views, today is but an exception.
This is NOT a post of support per-say...
I have many a walk-by's at that zone of freeloaders. I have never seen anyone there drinking (yet)...nor have I seen or smelt "electric lettuce" being lit there.
The regulars have their zone of freedom to swill/smoke/ at will further downstream...oddly enough in Shipyards park on the spit.
Whom would have ever seen that coming eh, besides everybody whom "didn't"..."move forward"...in building a park there...and wasn't involved in the pissing of tax money building that park.
Whilst I loath its existence...I have (yet) to see what you claim to see Nile?
...not to say your wrong, I just don't buy it.
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Nile on Jul 25, 2011 at 11:57 am
It's great walking by there at lunch seeing the tenters getting high, drinking and harassing women joggers. Is this how we want to represent our city? If these are your people Liz Hanson why don't you let them all set up shop on your property? There were two full pages of places to rent in last Fridays paper. There were numerous pages of help wanted. There is no excuse for this.
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Taxed to the A** in YT on Jul 25, 2011 at 4:57 am
I agree with Another Yukoner. One of the beautiful things about this situation is mother nature will put an end to this fiasco when winter is upon us.
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Funky_Cold_Medina on Jul 25, 2011 at 4:54 am
How many studies are required to know that these folks are lazy freeloaders, and/or people with mental issues? This place is way too PC, and the Yukon Party is starting to govern like the NDP now. If you are the "Conservative” Party, then govern based on conservative principles! Grow a pair, and make the important decisions that need to be made, and stick by your principles. Reward the hard-working people, not the freeloaders. It's like the inmates are running the asylum nowadays. The Yukon Party better wake up, because there is a silent majority out there that is very upset with these constant concessions to the left wing. I wouldn't be surprised if they start seeing a movement similar to the Wild Rose Party of Alberta up here.
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Another Yukoner on Jul 25, 2011 at 12:32 am
just wait tell November they will all be gone without hesitation and without our taxes going to clean it all up
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bobby bitman on Jul 23, 2011 at 1:03 am
I think having a show down to 'kick them out' would be welcome by the tent city campers! A little excitement and drama. Putting a sign up does not amount to kicking anyone out though, it simply states clearly that they are breaking the bylaws. We all know that already. It immediately became a symbolic lightening rod, stirring up too much energy, so whatever, take it down. I don't blame the gov't for being pragmatic about it.
I think the best thing would be to interview each camper individually, and record the conversation. Who are you? Where are you from? Why are you here? Do you have a job? What was your last place of residence? Do you currently have a residence elsewhere? What is your purpose in camping here?
Then publish the results including, 'refused to comment.' (Which is the big complaint about the Yukon Party, so it would be entertaining if a whole pile of them 'refused to comment' as well.)
If these campers really have a message then they should leap at the opportunity to share this information with the public. The resulting knowledge would really help us all to know what is really going on.
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JC on Jul 22, 2011 at 1:21 pm
John Jack: What vote? I just said I wasn't voting. And, at least I pay taxes - since I was 16. What about you?
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john jack on Jul 22, 2011 at 5:51 am
Hey JC who cares about your vote anyways!!!
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JC on Jul 21, 2011 at 9:11 am
And why was the installation of the sign "No Camping or overnight parking" an error? Tells me and many other hard working tax payers that the Yukon Party government caved in to the socialists. I guess they won't be getting my vote in October if they can't stand up for legislated laws. Now, Liz Hanson will be thumping her chest and glorying over her victory. She won't be getting my vote either.
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JC on Jul 21, 2011 at 9:01 am
Horvath has a web site called Invisiblepeople.tv. It can't be related to the homeless people because they are the most visible of all, especially much of their antics which I won't detail for fear of being censored. These people are breaking the law and should be charged. There are other ways of getting the message to the governments without breaking the laws. And who is going to get billed with cleaning up their mess? You guessed it, we the working tax payers.
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jen on Jul 21, 2011 at 8:39 am
Its not only the campers that need help finding homes, there are also a TON of people who do not want to camp there, that need places to stay. We have so much land, build affordable apartments for families, lets get this going now!