Yukon opposition supports RCMP's call for more funding

Yukon's opposition supportsthe RCMP's call for more funding, arguing that the territory's police force needs help to deal with a recent spike in violence andopioiduse.

• RCMP request more funding from Yukon government

"The RCMP members across the territorydo important jobs, jobs that can be dangerous, and they need appropriate resources," BradCathers, MLA for LakeLaberge, said.

"The [territorial]government doesn'tappear to be taking this matter asseriously as they should be. We've heard from people who are not getting any downtimeand are working, really, night and day with an unsustainable workload," Cathers said.

There hasbeen 7 murders in Yukonthis year.

Opioid drugs, like Fentanyl, have also contributed to at least five deaths in the territory.

Cathers says he raised concerns in July in a letter to Yukon's Minister of Justice Tracy-Anne McPhee.

The response,which Cathersreceived in August and provided to CBC, pledges to "work with the RCMP" but does not commit to increasedfunding.

Cathers's letter also suggestedthat Yukon consider hiring a second coroner.

The response from McPhee saidthe government is investing in renovations to the morgue and says "additional capacity and resources are being reviewed and considered for the coroner's office."

It also says Victim Services added a new position designed to support families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Yukon RCMPrelies on outside help

RCMP in Yukon have been relying on officers from Alberta and BC recently to assist in investigations, which Catherssays is fine in the short term.

The situation has elicited apublic expression of concern from RCMP superintendent Brian Jones, who has called the current situation "not sustainable."

"Those investigators that have come up from Alberta and other places they're busy with their full-time jobs as well," he said in an interview with CBC in July.

McPhee'swritten response does not express concern about outside help, but instead calls it a benefit.

"One of the benefits of having the RCMP as a territorial police service is that when additional resources are required for major incidents or unprecedented events, they are able to draw upon the wider resources of the organization elsewhere in the country," it reads.

RCMPhave declined to discuss any details of the funding request, however confirmed they are askingthe territorial government for anincrease in funding this year.

CBC is trying to reach the justice ministerfor comment.