Yukon premier backs minister in dispute with Whitehorse

Yukon premier Darrell Pasloski is defending Community Services minister Brad Cathers after the Whitehorse city council called for him to be replaced.

The council unanimously passed a motion Monday asking for Cathers to be moved from the Community Services and Yukon Housing Corporation portfolios.

The premier says the government operates as a team and that Cathers is part of that team.

"Our team, including Minister Brad Cathers, has worked together to accomplish great things to date, and theres more to come", Pasloski says.

He says while there may be occasional disagreements it's "essential to...not personalize debate."

Cathers says he's disappointed that Whitehorse city council is willing to work with anyone except him. He says he'll continue working with the municipality on challenging issues including housing.

Whitehorse mayor Dan Curtis says, among other things, the city has been excluded from important meetings and its concerns ignored.

Cathers says the city and his department do have meetings.