The Yukon government is continuing to take steps to help address the ongoing problems associated with the Whitehorse Emergency Shelter on Alexander Street.

Premier Ranj Pillai outlined some of those current moves Thursday afternoon in the legislature in a ministerial statement and followed up later with reporters.

Some additional security patrols will be running in the area around the shelter, Pillai said.

As well, the government is investigating the feasibility of opening the old cafeteria in the basement of the Jim Smith Building to serve meals to those in need.

“We’ve got lots of work to do,” Pillai said when questioned on how the public will view the measures.

“I think it’s going to be incremental. We want to be communicating sort of every 10 business days to show you the work we’ve been doing. That keeps the pressure on me and all of the ministers who are involved.

“I think if we continue to show progress, that’s where trust gets built. People need to see action. I think people feel we are making progress. I think right now we’re moving in the right direction.”

Pillai also noted there is a Yukon Housing Corp. property across the street from the emergency shelter that could be contributing to the problems in the area – which have led to October’s closure of the Alpine Bakery.

He said he will be looking into taking measures for that location as well.

“There have been some disturbances outside,” he said. “I think there’s a number of pieces we’re going to continue to work on.

“We’re going to continue to work on our programming, and make sure that people are safe.”

It’s important to make sure the shelter has proper protections in place, as well as the neighbourhood and businesses, he said.

Community policing is one way of doing so, he added.

“When people put their hand up, you’ve got to make sure you listen to their ideas and figure out how to get them involved.”

Pillai then quoted figures showing the shelter has prevented 40 deaths from drug overdoses among its clients in the last couple of years.

He also said the shelter has served more than a 100,000 meals.

He stressed it’s important to treat people using the shelter with respect. They are Yukoners’ family members and friends, he pointed out.

“We’ve got to look after each other. That’s what we have to keep in mind.”

Pillai was questioned by one reporter as to why it took the closure of the Alpine Bakery before serious action was taken on the issue.

He said work on the situation was going on before then, and stressed he is taking personal responsibility to handle solving the problems.

He said these problems have been ongoing in the city for more than 40 years, but the bakery’s closure has simply put them into the spotlight.

“They’re just more visible. Everybody knows we have to come together.”

Pillai expects it will take at least two months to work on a plan to open the Jim Smith Building cafeteria, which was closed after the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020.

There are many logistics involved, he said.

As well, there will need to be considerable consultation with government staff and with the opposition parties, whose offices are near the cafeteria.

The premier had no idea how much the project might cost.

One of the research tasks will be to compile a list of organizations that are already offering meals to minimize overlap.

Pillai declined to say much about the planned April 2024 inquest into four women’s deaths associated with the shelter in 2022 and earlier this year.

“I don’t have a full briefing on it at this point in time,” he said. “So I don’t have a lot to share. It’s important to understand what’s happened.”

Lane Tredger, the NDP MLA for Whitehorse Centre, said “one of the things that is so frustrating about the situation is that these concerns and cries for help have been on for years from people who live nearby, from people who use the shelter, from people who work in the area.

“I’m happy to see action, but I don’t know why it took so long. We really need to talk about the shelter.”

Tredger suggested anyone using the shelter has likely been let down by many government agencies.

“We shouldn’t be failing so many people. We need to talk about housing, we need to talk about food security. And that needs to happen everywhere in the city, not just in one place.”

The government has hired Sirius Security to begin patrolling the area from Black Street to Strickland Street between Third and Fifth avenues.

Pillai said patrols will operate Sundays to Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.

“During these patrol tours, Sirius staff will observe and report on incidents, and act as a visible deterrent against loitering, vandalism, and drug use,” the premier said.

“Patrol guards will be encouraged to interact with individuals during their tours in a friendly manner but not in an enforcement capacity.

“In addressing any situations involving individuals, patrol guards will respond with non-violent interventions informed by the company’s social safety mandate and specialized non-violent conflict resolution training.

“Where these interventions are not successful in defusing situations, the RCMP may be called for support where warranted.”

Pillai said this will be an initial two-month pilot project, with costs covered by the government.

He said the contract with Sirius is in addition to the government’s partnership with the Council of Yukon First Nations, which is launching a mobile downtown out-reach initiative.

“I am proud that our government was able to contribute approximately $300,000 to fund this project through to March 31, 2024.”

Yukon Party MLA Brad Cathers was somewhat supportive of the initiatives.

“Steps taken in the last few weeks are a start, but much more action is needed,” he said.

“Serious problems near the shelter began in 2019, when the government made a political decision to take over operation and made big changes to the policies and operating model.

“Area residents and businesses have been experiencing negative impacts for years as a result.”

Reports done for the government, Cathers continued, “show that the shelter is actually causing harm to many of the vulnerable clients it is supposed to be helping.

“Two reports released by government, by House of Wolf & Associates and Vink Consulting, show that the operation of the shelter is failing vulnerable people, as well as people and businesses near it.”