Outside the Yukon Courts building in downtown Whitehorse. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – The Yukon Supreme Court has ordered the Yukon Government to pay $35,000 in legal costs to a woman who successfully challenged part of a law that allowed short-notice evictions linked to alleged illegal activity.
Celia Wright took the government to court after she and her family were given five days to leave their home in 2020 following a drug investigation tied to the property.
Earlier this year, Chief Suzanne Duncan struck down the section of the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act allowing the short-notice evictions, ruling it violated Charter rights.
Wright later sought up to $75,000 in legal costs, arguing the case involved major public interest and complex constitutional issues.
In a new ruling, Duncan rejected the higher amount but said the case still involved difficult legal questions and important Charter issues.
