Feds deny involvement after cigarettes given to homeless in Yellowknife

Article content

A federal government department denies any involvement in the city of Yellowknife’s handing out cigarettes as an incentive among the mostly Indigenous homeless population to participate in a Point-in-Time (PiT) count.

Article content

Article content

Article content

A point-in-time count is an estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night. It will also identify locations where they spent the night such as shelters, transitional housing or unsheltered locations.

The city said in a Nov. 28 email to National Post that the cigarettes were distributed as an incentive during the Yellowknife count “in accordance with guidance from Government of Canada staff.”

The federal department involved was Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, according to Yellowknife corporate communications officer Abby Schelew.

“Members from (federal) team trained representatives from participating communities across Canada on how to execute this initiative,” Schelew said in the email. “During this training, those collecting survey responses were advised to offer items to be used as conversation starters and honoraria as a form of engaging potential respondents and showing appreciation to those who voluntarily participated.”

Article content

Instead, the federal department informed the Post in a Dec. 2 email that it had nothing to do with this tactic. Departmental guidance “to communities makes no reference to tobacco or cigarettes,” wrote Geoff Koehler, media relations with Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada.

Koehler confirmed that Ottawa provides funding to support Point-in-Time counts of homelessness in Canada, however, he says, “communities are responsible implementing their local PiT Counts. The purchase of alcoholic beverages, tobacco for personal use (e.g., cigarettes), cannabis, and illicit substances are all ineligible expenses” under the program.

Further, he says the PiT Count Guide suggests “ice breakers and honoraria for survey participants” but they include “small items (e.g., transit ticket, socks, toiletries, snacks) and gift cards (e.g., for a coffee shop or grocery store). HICC guidance to communities makes no reference to tobacco or cigarettes.”

Article content

The cigarette handouts were first flagged by local Yellowknife’s NNSL Media. The tactic prompted comments from Dettah Chief Ernest Betsina. Dettah is a community within the Yellowknife Dene First Nation, just outside Yellowknife.

Chief Betsina told the National Post in a Nov. 29 interview that the city trying to leverage smoking as an incentive among Indigenous homeless people — often struggling with addiction — was “disturbing. We don’t give out cigarettes to our members. Our tobacco is sacred to us — used for ceremonial purposes.” The community prays “to the creator” using the sacred tobacco, and “asks (its) ancestors to help (them).”

Furthermore, he said, while expressing added concern for his community’s health, “Not everyone smokes (recreationally).”

Article content

The city has stepped up to acknowledge the “significant concerns” about the cigarette handout expressed by Chief Betsina. The city “takes (his concerns) seriously,” Schelew wrote in a Nov. 28 email to the Post.

“Instruction has been given to ensure that this practice does not occur again. The City deeply regrets any harm these actions may have caused. Going forward, we will ensure participation and engagement is better aligned with culturally appropriate norms in our community.”

Meanwhile, Betsina says Yellowknife’s mayor, Rebecca Alty, reached out to him when the cigarettes-for-participation initiative reached the local press. However, he told the Post he hasn’t spoken with her.

“I wish the city had reached out to the Chiefs before this happened.”

Article content

Instead of cigarettes, Betsina suggests the city could have provided more meaningful incentives, such as food or food coupons, which is in line with the advice from Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada.

“Homeless people would appreciate a few days’ worth of help,” Chief Betsina says.

When asked about the city’s assertion that it had followed the federal government staff advice, Betsina was skeptical. “I think they are just trying to backtrack — double back. I wish they had done their homework and at least talked with us.”

The incident has unfolded against a backdrop of N.W.T. having the highest tobacco tax on cigarettes in Canada. In 2022, the territorial government hiked the tax about 13 per cent. At the time, some smokers in Yellowknife told CBC News the tax increase could be the push needed to kick the habit.

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.

Article content