CommunitySafety

Mayor surprised by premier’s criticism over downtown safety

Mayor Laura Cabott is pressing her disenchantment with some recent comments by Premier Ranj Pillai about downtown safety.

Cabott told The Yukon Star earlier this month she was bewildered at Pillai saying the city hasn’t done enough to help solve the problems downtown in recent years.

Pillai criticized the city during remarks he made July 30 at the Council of Yukon First Nations’ annual General Assembly. The subject was downtown safety in Whitehorse, a challenge that has bedeviled the premier for nearly a year.

“Our efforts to make downtown Whitehorse a safer, more welcoming place for everyone in the community – regardless of where they are in their health and wellness journey – is missing a valuable partner in the City of Whitehorse,” Pillai told the General Assembly, held in the Lake Laberge area.

“In their absence, we are doing our best to work with Yukon First Nations to have more culturally supportive, appropriate treatment options for substance users, but we need the city to come to the table.”

Cabott has followed that up with a letter to the premier.

“At the outset I wish to say I am a bit surprised by the statements about downtown safety I have been reading in the media. Some of these statements refer to ‘…missing a valuable partner in the City of  Whitehorse’ and ‘…need(ing) the city to come to the table,’” the mayor wrote.

“These surprise me, as the city has been at the table since the beginning of the discussion regarding downtown safety and I am unaware of the city having missed any related meetings.

“I personally have attended many of the meetings and discussions and furthermore, the city has been consistently well-represented by Bylaw Services and occasionally by municipal planners. 

“Additionally, I am intrigued by your reference to the City having the opportunity to ‘step up’ its role through enhanced bylaw enforcement and waste management services.”

Cabott added “I am unaware of your specific thoughts on what these enhancements would be and am interested in learning more. I say this given that many of the illegal activities occurring in the area of Alexander Street are subject to the Criminal  Code of Canada and as such are beyond the authority of Bylaw Services.

“Likewise, I am interested in your thoughts on enhanced waste management in the area, given that the full suite of municipal waste management services is already in place across the entire downtown.”

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