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Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce tracking break ins, shoplifting at downtown businesses

Press conference elaborated on chamber's Safebiz program to address downtown safety and crime
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Premier Ranj Pillai, left, and Joel Gaetz of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce speak at a press conference at the Yukon government media room on Jan. 30, 2025.

The Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce has been collecting some information on the impact of crime and safety issues on businesses through social media posts.

“In the last 18 months, we have a list of just over 40 businesses that have had either their windows or entrances smashed or significant shoplifting,” Joel Gaetz, who chairs the chamber's safety committee, said. 

“We know there's probably a lot more than that.” 

Premier Ranj Pillai, who is Economic Development minister, and Gaetz attended a press conference about an ongoing crime prevention and downtown safety program at the Yukon government media room on Jan. 30.

The first phase of the Safebiz program talked about that afternoon involves $100,000 in Yukon government funding for 2024-25. Money has been identified to go toward the program for the next two fiscal years, a spokesperson for the Economic Development department clarified by email.

The results and uptake of the program's first year will inform the department's approach to using this identified funding in the subsequent two years, per the email.

“For example, this will give us an ability to address gaps that are identified in security assessments and expand on available resources. This could mean things like funding for physical security improvements, such as additional security cameras,” Pillai said at the press conference. 

The Safebiz program is offered by the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce.  

The program is intended to respond to concerns around “crime, theft and escalation of workplace violence impacting the business community,” according to the chamber’s website. 

Gaetz said safety and de-escalation training courses, security assessments for Whitehorse businesses and organizations, and the creation of a security checklist are the three components of the program’s first step. 

“In addition to the Safebiz program, the Whitehorse chamber has been meeting with various stakeholders of the policing and justice community” including RCMP, the Yukon Department of Health and Social Services, and judges and justices, he said.  

A summary document is anticipated to be released this spring so that businesses and the public can better understand the justice system and how to navigate it, per Gaetz.

Gaetz said Pillai has been responsive.

Gaetz commented on some of the issues the premier raised around downtown safety, federal cuts to the number of spots allocated for the Yukon Nominee Program, and Trump’s proposed tariffs.  

“A lot of that's come up really, really quick,” he said.  

Gaetz noted the chamber has issued a survey about the Yukon nominee program but hasn’t had much engagement on tariffs. 

Pillai took to defending his record on the economy and nine years of working with the business community, particularly during tough times. 

“We did the most effective programs in this country when it came to making sure that our business community was looked after during COVID,” he said. 

“We've worked together through a lot of different challenges. And that's why we've had the lowest unemployment in Canada for now what looks at eight straight years. That's why our GDP has been the way it is. That's why we've had record retail and wholesale sales year after year for now eight years. That's why there's been record investment in residential building permits and commercial.” 

Pillai indicated the accomplishments mentioned above couldn’t have been done “without listening to the business community.” 

Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com



Dana Hatherly

About the Author: Dana Hatherly

I’m the legislative reporter for the Yukon News.
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