The Yukon government needs to do a better job of involving the public in the public engagement on changes to the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA), says the NDP caucus.

“There hasn’t been enough notice of the in-person meetings, and the online sessions were mostly about handing out information and directing participants to the online survey,” NDP Leader Kate White said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the government says the NDP is “well aware” of its plans to add more public meetings.

“It’s perplexing to us that, despite informing them of our intent several days ago, they are now (publicly) urging us to take action they know we’ve already initiated,” cabinet communications staff said in an email to the Star on Wednesday.

The RLTA engagement is running Feb. 1-29, with six public meetings in English and one in French. Feedback is sought on a range of topics, including:

• Reasons to end a tenancy, by either a landlord or a tenant;

• Rent control considerations;

• Mobile home site tenancies; and

• Short-term rentals.

500 surveys in

As of Wednesday, more than 500 surveys have been submitted, according to the Department of Community Services, which is running the engagement.

“There must be meaningful engagement here,” White said.

“I’m saying that as a landlord and as someone who cares deeply about tenants’ rights.

“The feedback Yukoners give now will set the tone for changes to the legislation coming in spring 2025.”

White encourages Yukoners to fill out the online survey at engageyukon.ca before the end of the month.

“Fill out the survey, and if you’re able, attend a public meeting,” she said.

CASA conflict

Meanwhile, the Yukon Party caucus says the lack-of-notice problem is another example of the government ignoring its obligations in the NDP-Liberal Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA).

They disapprove of the decision to ban evictions without cause and impose rent control measures.

“The continued tinkering by the Liberals and NDP with rental policy only further destabilizes the housing rental market and increases the difficulty of anyone in the Yukon who is looking for a home,” the Yukon Party caucus said in an email Tuesday.

The NDP caucus says they have heard from several Yukoners who said the engagement sessions weren’t well advertised or that they were announced too late to arrange for time off work or childcare.

White noted that Haines Junction residents were only given a few days’ notice of their Feb. 5 meeting.

Watson Lake residents found out at the very last minute about their Feb. 12 meeting, she said.

A second Whitehorse meeting, on Feb. 20, was added to the schedule on Monday.

(The Star is running one Yukon government ad a week, for three weeks, to promote the engagement. Ads are also appearing on Facebook.)

Say the Liberals: “Public servants have put considerable effort into the RLTA review, working hard to actively engage a range of diverse voices. We urge Kate White and the NDP to respect the work that they have done.

“We are seeing great turnout in person and online, and encourage all interested Yukoners to participate and share their views.”

Details about the remaining two public meetings, as well as a link to the survey, are at https://engageyukon.ca. The survey is run by the Yukon Bureau of Statistics.

“Yukoners need to know the survey’s results will have a very real, lasting impact on housing in the territory,” White said. “Please have your say now.”