Yellowknife RCMP says they will try boosting its presence in the downtown area. The decision comes in response to what city council asked of police earlier this week.
On Monday evening at city hall, councillors passed a resolution recommending RCMP increase their foot and bike patrols downtown, specifically from 52 Avenue to Franklin Avenue (50 Avenue) and from 47 Street to 52 Street.
The city's ask is in response to visible vandalism, public drinking and open drug use and dealing.
鈥淵ellowknife Detachment will continue to conduct routine, proactive patrols and will endeavour to enhance visibility in the downtown area,鈥� RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Josh Seaward told 黑料吃瓜网 on Tuesday in response to the resolution. 鈥淵ellowknife RCMP has and will continue to partner with [the] City of Yellowknife鈥檚 Municipal Enforcement Division on visibility and public safety initiatives.鈥�
The municipality鈥檚 resolution also asks city staff to suggest any changes to current bylaws or create new ones to deal with what it calls unacceptable behaviour at the original homeless encampment downtown which has now moved to the area of the Prince of Wales 黑料吃瓜网 Heritage Centre.
The RCMP isn鈥檛 the only party the city addressed in its resolution. It also calls on the territorial government to provide access to porta-potties and other essential services to that same homeless encampment. Whether the GNWT will commit to that is still up in the air.
Michael Saturnino, associate deputy minister for housing sustainability and partnerships with Housing NWT, Michael Saturnino, told 黑料吃瓜网 on Monday that's not going to happen - to an extent.
"The GNWT is not planning to add infrastructure such as fencing or portable toilets to the site," he said.
Another part of the city's resolution is a commitment to keep encampment residents safe and healthy by providing garbage and sewage services, if requested and paid for by the GNWT.
黑料吃瓜网 asked Housing NWT if they would request or pay for such services, but did not receive a response before press time.
