The Yukon Liberals are reaching deep into their election grab bag today with ambitious new promises on housing.

At a news conference held this morning in Whitehorse, Liberal Leader Sandy Silver said “a re-elected Liberal government will ramp up action to increase housing availability throughout the Yukon by:

• Developing and releasing 1,000 new lots in the next five years and establish a land bank for housing lots.

• Build the Yukon’s next Housing First project in Watson Lake.

• Support a new Community Land Trust through a land parcel grant, which would create permanently affordable housing through a rent-to-own or facilitated ownership model.

• Continue to work with the private sector to develop the land parcel at Fifth Avenue and Rogers Street in downtown Whitehorse, ensuring the development increases the amount of available housing, including rentals.

• Work with the private sector and the City of Whitehorse to consider relocating the grader station in the Marwell area of Whitehorse, and remediating the land to enable future development for housing.

• Work with First Nations and private sector partners in Whitehorse to investigate the development of a new, bare land condominium mobile home park.

• Increase energy efficiency rebates available for mobile homeowners and support a transition to electrical heating.

“Stable, affordable housing is foundational to the health and wellbeing of all Yukoners,” Silver said.

“Our Liberal government took a multi-faceted approach to address Yukon’s housing pressures following years of inaction by previous governments. We need to keep this progress going to provide more options for Yukon’s growing population,” the premier added.

“Housing is important to all Yukoners. We know that safe, secure housing is a necessity for people. We also know that there is a spectrum of housing needs, and one of those needs is better access to housing.”

Silver said the government has “made improving access to housing a priority.

“We know that, despite great progress in the last 4½ years, there is more that needs to be done, especially as our population continues to grow.”

The Liberals’ news conference was held on the land parcel at Fifth Avenue and Rogers Street.

“This land behind me is just over two hectares of prime real estate in our downtown core,” Silver said.

“We started work on this lot during our mandate. We worked hand-in-hand with the City of Whitehorse over the last two years to get to a point where we could put forward a public expression of interest to potential developers.

“That went out last fall. We will continue to work with those companies to have a development agreement in place very quickly.”

Silver took a moment to criticize the Yukon NDP and some of its campaign promises on housing.

“The NDP are only committing to the construction of 250 affordable housing units over the next four years,” the Liberal leader said.

“Our commitment to more accessible and affordable housing is a great example of the choice Yukon voters have in this election.”

It didn’t take long for White to respond.

“What I wanted to hear from the Liberals today was that they were going to step up to protect renters who are struggling with housing prices, help mobile home owners save money by protecting them from huge pad rent increases, and deliver more affordable housing units,” she said.

“I think a lot of people are going to feel let down by today’s announcement. I really don’t understand why they would choose to stand on a lot they left empty for four years, just to announce no new protections for the people who are hurting most from this housing crisis,” said the NDP leader.

“We’re going to protect renters and build more affordable housing that’s accessible to everyone in the Yukon.”

Liberal MLA Ranj Pillai added to Silver’s comments.

“Our team will keep this work going,” he said.

“A re-elected Liberal government will ramp up action to increase housing availability by developing and releasing 1,000 new lots in the next five years and establish a land bank for housing lots, to get ahead of the demand.

“We recognize that we need to look for new, creative solutions to the housing situation.” the deputy premier added.

“That is why we are committing to work with the private sector and the City of Whitehorse to consider relocating the grader station in the Marwell area of Whitehorse, and remediating the land to enable future development for housing.”

Pillai also promised a new “Community Land Trust through a land parcel grant. This concept will create permanently affordable housing through a rent-to-own or facilitated ownership model,” he explained.