The territorial government will not be providing portable toilets to a homeless encampment. The decision from the GNWT comes despite a request from city council to do so.
During a governance and priorities committee meeting earlier this month, councillors passed a resolution recommending the GNWT ensure the encampment has access to basic needs like porta-potties.
But when asked if the GNWT would commit to providing portable toilets to the encampment, Jeanne Gard, communications manager for Housing NWT, said it would not.
"At this time, the GNWT does not plan to provide these resources to tent sites within the city," she said in response to questions from SA国际影视传媒 on Wednesday.
That decision is in contrast to last summer, when the territorial government paid for portable toilets to be placed next to a homeless encampment near Aspen Apartments. The city provided those services, but the GNWT covered the cost SA国际影视传媒� a similar arrangement to what the municipality requested again this summer.
Now, Gard said the GNWT has provided maps to "representatives of unhoused individuals," showing locations of public amenities, including washrooms.
"This information empowers individuals to make informed decisions about where they choose to camp, allowing them to be near essential services if they wish," she said.
Peter Adourian, a lawyer representing some of the encampmentSA国际影视传媒檚 residents, said he was shocked to hear the GNWT won't be providing porta-potties.
"I suppose the people who live at the encampment are going to have to use public restrooms," he said. "That's going to increase the burden of homelessness on the rest of the community."
Adourian is one of the representatives who received a map, but he stressed that he does not represent all encampment residents and cannot speak to who the other representatives might be.
As for the map itself, it's actually something anyone can access. It's a physical copy of the , which outlines what is private property versus CommissionerSA国际影视传媒檚 Land.
"It's not a special map," said Adourian.
Coun. Garrett Cochrane sighed when he was first told the news by SA国际影视传媒 on Wednesday.
"I'm certainly disappointed and I would urge (the GNWT) to reconsider," Cochrane said. "I think it is incredibly important that the resources, not only the porta-potties, but also the basic needs such as potable water, waste removal and other necessities, be provided by the Government of the Northwest Territories."
Coun. Rob Warburton said he had no comment on the matter.
In a statement to SA国际影视传媒, city spokesperson Saxon Chung said it will follow the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 direction as it is responsible for these decisions.
"The city respects the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 authority to determine service levels for individuals sheltering on territorial land and remains committed to working closely with territorial departments and community organizations to uphold the health and safety of all residents," said Chung.
When the GNWT did provide portable toilets last year as well as fencing, Toyeke Adedipe senior communications manager with the Department of Finance, said it was done as a health and safety measure.
"These are two items that have been recommended by both residents of the neighbourhood and people in the encampment as measures that can reduce disruption and protect the health and safety of all involved," she told SA国际影视传媒 last summer.
After the encampment left its original downtown location, SA国际影视传媒 observed two prominent spots that smelled of urine and appeared stained. No porta-potties had been provided at the site.
