Yellowknife dock clearance order to strand houseboaters

The City of Yellowknife posted notices Friday demanding the removal of all private property from the government dock within two weeks, including the canoes and boats houseboaters use to get to shore.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said houseboaters will have to make some other arrangement for their boats at least for a while.

"Hopefully something will be found so it becomes relatively seamless, but everything needs to come out of there for a period of time so the environmental studies can be done," he said.

But houseboaters such as Wade Carpenter are wondering where they're going to put their canoes and boats during the studies.

"There's still 30-40 people who live and work on the lake who come to shore every day to go to school and work that still need some sort of access."

Anne Lynagh was the houseboaters' representative on a city committee about the waterfront plan.

"I think a good public dialogue would be nice," she said. "I've seen signs that say restricted parking, no unauthorized use, no mooringI guess the question is what is authorized?"

Houseboaters have written city councillors calling for a meeting. They want to find a way of continuing to use the dock during the environmental work and after.