N.W.T. gov't seeks to avoid 'enforcement' to evict Yellowknife encampment residents

People are still living at an encampment in downtown Yellowknife, but the N.W.T. government says the site is needed for a new public housing project by Monday.

The territorial government originally asked residents to leave the encampment, which is located in a parking lot at the south end of 51 Street, by Tuesday. Officials removed essential services from the site on Wednesday.

Some residents have now left the encampment, but others have stayed behind. As of Saturday morning, about ten tents remained up at the encampment site.

The encampment moved to its current location on 51 Street in mid-August with government help, after residents were asked to leave two previous encampment locations. Territorial and local governments provided access to electricity, porta-potties, and garbage collection.

Estimates of how many people were living there have varied. An N.W.T. government official told MLAs on Sept. 6 that 12 to 15 people were staying at the encampment. On the same day, encampment resident Colton Migwi told CBC he believed the range was closer to 25 or 30.

Housing N.W.T. needs site by Monday, gov't says

The N.W.T. government said the parking lot where the encampment is set up will be needed by contractors working with Housing N.W.T. to turn former federal staff housing at Aspen Apartments into public housing. 

The parking lot will be used to store construction equipment and for contractor parking, Department of Executive and Indigenous Affairs spokesperson Adetoyeke Adedipe said in a Friday email to CBC.

She said Housing N.W.T. needs the site starting on Monday, and that unless encampment residents vacate the space "right away," the project may be delayed.

Some residents who live near the encampment have also expressed concerns about the impact it's having on the surrounding neighbourhood.

N.W.T. MLA Kate Reid, who represents residents of the area, said during a briefing to MLAs she has gotten complaints from residents about public defecation and trespassing, and said some constituents reported feeling unsafe around encampment residents.

N.W.T. gov't 'would prefer a positive resolution'

CBC asked spokesperson Adetoyeke on Friday whether the territorial government had a hard deadline for encampment residents to leave the site, and what, if any, enforcement mechanisms the government was considering to enforce a deadline.

"The [N.W.T. government] is examining its options with respect to those individuals who have chosen to remain at the site beyond the deadline. The GNWT would prefer to seek a positive resolution than to rely upon other means such as enforcement," Adetoyeke responded.

She added that staff from local NGOs and the territorial government have been visiting the encampment daily to encourage residents to relocate, and said N.W.T. Government staff will continue to visit the site and "recommend alternatives" to residents.

She also reiterated that the department was confident there are alternative housing options for all encampment residents, either at shelters or with family.

But some residents who are still at the location said they still don't know where else to go.

'I don't really have a place to go'

Encampment resident Karl Gardlund and his partner have been homeless since they were evicted from their Yellowknife apartment about two months ago.

"I don't really have a place to go other than, I don't know, here, I guess," he said in a Saturday interview. "This is our place… these guys are my family, my friends." 

He said that he has no idea where he could stay if he needs to leave the encampment.

"By all means, force me out. I don't know, I'll just walk, make a tent somewhere else I guess," Gardlund said. "Winter's coming, I'm going to be in a tent. It's ridiculous."

Deputy minister of Executive and Indigenous Affairs John MacDonald has said there are between 30 and 60 people currently sleeping outside in Yellowknife. The Salvation Army men's shelter has been at capacity nearly all summer, and isn't able to take in additional people because of concerns about overcrowding.

Adetoyeke said there are currently shelter spots open in Yellowknife, but confirmed that the city is likely facing a deficit of shelter spaces going into the winter.

"The [N.W.T. government] has planning underway and is factoring in the needs of the entire unhoused population in Yellowknife," she said in her Friday email.

"We look forward to sharing more information about our plans for the winter months at the appropriate time."