Suspected Whitehorse drug house back in business, residents say

One of the first suspected drug houses to be shut down under the Yukon's safe communities law may be up and running again, prompting area residents to wonder whether the government should take the house away from its owner.

Traffic around 810 Wheeler Street has picked up again recently, according to those attending the Downtown Residents Association's annual general meeting Wednesday night.

"I was delivering these flyers the other day, and sure enough, a couple of cars drove up," John Pattimore, the association's outgoing president, told CBC News at the meeting.

Other residents have noticed renewed activity at the Wheeler Street house.

"It is concerning," said J.P. Pinard. "I've watched a lot of these people to see where they're going, and most are going to the house."

Last year, the house was the first suspected drug house to have its occupants evicted under the territorial government's Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, known as SCAN.

Under the legislation, which was passed in May 2006, the public can file complaints about a property they believe has criminal activity, such as drug dealing, prostitution and bootlegging.

SCAN investigators look into the complaint, and tenants can be served eviction notices if they are engaged in criminal behaviour at that property.

Pattimore said the territorial government should now look at taking the next step under the legislation, which is to take the house away from its owner.

"They have told us that they were going to shut it down, so we just have to wait for whatever they need," he said.

"They need an iron-clad case … They can't do this frivolously because it's pretty serious; essentially taking somebody's house away from them."

Pattimore said concerned residents can trigger that next step by filing complaints with SCAN officials. The more calls are made, the more likely something will be done, he added.