SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Henry White said the alley beside his home is used as a latrine by homeless people on a daily basis.

Henry White said he will throw the excrement that litters his front step onto the street so the city can deal with it. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

But when he found a deposit beside his door on Wednesday morning, he threatened to throw it out on the street and let the city deal with it.

"This is the second time I've had to clean it up, and I won't do it anymore. I'll put it on the back alley lane and let the city clean it up," said White, known to many as Henry the barber.

He said his partner, who is attempting to recover from a recent surgery, stepped outside one morning last week only to be faced with the flies, odours and sights one would expect to find in a poverty-ridden slum.

The problem has continued to worsen during his three years in the residence, he said, and he feels let down by the city.

"The City of Yellowknife doesn't give a shit. I phoned the mayor this morning, but they haven't called me back," he said.

White received a phone call from the city Thursday about the excrement problem. The city offered to send a truck over to clean it up, but by that time White had already moved the excrement to the alleyway.

"From now on it's going in the back alley," White said. "I don't care anymore. It's filth and it shouldn't be happening. Someone needs to speak up."

White has begun work on a petition. He said he plans to have at least 1,500 signatures but figures he can get over 2,000.

"It's going to be a big one," he said, adding he figures he's got 99 per cent of businesses on board and the public will back him in full support. "It's a shame. There is no place for people to use the washroom downtown and there should be."

While he understands the plight of homeless people, he said he believes personal responsibility is necessary.

"I do have sympathy for these people, but they have to start taking responsibility for themselves too," he said. "Just because they have a drinking problem doesn't mean they should shit and piss everywhere."

He does not blame the RCMP, and said they cannot be expected to monitor the situation around the clock. However, he plans to install surveillance cameras in the area, and believes more needs to be done by the city to deal with the problem.

"When I walk my two dogs down the road, I pick up their poop. If I didn't, I'd get a ticket. So why aren't they doing something about this?"

However, Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the city has not abandoned White, and the situation has been dealt with whenever a complaint was made.

"I'm officially on vacation, but when I got the message this morning I put someone on it and it's getting cleaned up," Van Tighem said last week.

Despite this, as of 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, the excrement remained unmoved.

The mayor said there was no excuse for anyone relieving themselves outside, because there are facilities and day shelters currently available.

In addition, the city plans to have a new day shelter Ð with washrooms available Ð put in place by September this year.

- with files from Andrew Livingstone