An announcement with regard to an emergency shelter is expected Friday afternoon, Oct. 15.

Mayor Rebecca Alty told a meeting of Rotarians to SA国际影视传媒渟tay tunedSA国际影视传媒� for a press conference including herself, Health Minister Julie Green and Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) Minister Shane Thompson at 1 p.m., according to reporting by Cabin Radio.

Michael Fatt, who has emerged as an advocate for street-involved individuals and has been vocal on the subject of shelters, is one of the people who will be watching with interest.

A week after Yellowknife city council voted down a motion to green-light what Green called the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渓ast optionSA国际影视传媒� for a temporary day shelter, he said heSA国际影视传媒檚 embarrassed by the decision.

He said some city councillors are demonstrating discriminating thinking and aligning themselves with business interests over human lives.

But two councillors who voted against the motion say itSA国际影视传媒檚 just not that simple.

Coun. Stephen Payne says the issue has divided the community.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been getting a lot of hate in the last week,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Payne emphasized he didnSA国际影视传媒檛 vote against the matter out of prejudice and would have voted yes if the life of use was closer to eight months SA国际影视传媒� like last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 proposed use of the Mine Rescue building SA国际影视传媒� rather than three or four years as proposed.

SA国际影视传媒淭his was a vote for something better,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Coun. Stacie Smith echoed that sentiment at the Oct. 4 meeting of council and again in a Facebook post on Oct. 5.

The thread that follows her post is brimming with messages from Yellowknifers; some thanking her, most critical, some calling for council to spend a day in the life of a person experiencing homelessness in Yellowknife.

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 an experience Smith says sheSA国际影视传媒檚 already well aware of.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been dealing with under-privileged people my whole life SA国际影视传媒� theySA国际影视传媒檙e my family,SA国际影视传媒� she told Yellowknifer.

Smith is a third generation residential school survivor who grew up in Yellowknife and owns and operates Flowers North.

She said the reasons behind her vote arenSA国际影视传媒檛 black-and-white as Fatt suggests.

SA国际影视传媒淚 didnSA国际影视传媒檛 vote for business, I voted for the bigger picture,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淓very decision I make is for the benefit of the community SA国际影视传媒� not just the business community SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 for everyone.SA国际影视传媒�

Despite the skepticism of her colleagues on council that the Frankin Avenue location was really the last option before them, Alty told Yellowknifer Oct. 14 that the city has a SA国际影视传媒済ood working relationshipSA国际影视传媒� with the Department of Health.

She said city staff have been working with the department since the Oct. 4 vote to find another way to support people experiencing homelessness in Yellowknife.

She said there are many considerations council must weigh when they vote and isnSA国际影视传媒檛 always privy to the full scope of work city staff and the health authority have done and continue to do.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e not attending every meeting and seeing all the work,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

As for the hateful messaging aimed at councillors who voted no, Alty says residents should share their concerns, but with respect.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 fine to disagree but not to be disagreeable,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Requests for comment from Couns. Konge and Silverio were not answered before press deadline.