Photo by Vince Fedoroff
MAJOR MONEY ANNOUNCED – Community Services Minister John Streicker (centre) discusses the planned projects during Friday afternoon’s news conference. On the left is Yukon MP Larry Bagnell, while Mayor Dan Curtis stands at the right.
Whitehorse city hall, the city’s new services building and asphalt overlay work all received a nod from the federal government Friday afternoon.
Whitehorse city hall, the city’s new services building and asphalt overlay work all received a nod from the federal government Friday afternoon.
Ottawa will be forking over up to $17.4 million for the three projects, the city, YG and feds announced Friday afternoon.
The territory will be pitching in more than $5.8 million and the city an added $300,000 for the works.
Repaving of more than 22 kilometres of road surface and repainting road markings will take place over the next four years or so thanks to the money, which is expected to reduce the need for repairs down the road.
The services building, under construction off of Range Road, will see the money used to increase energy efficiency.
City hall will see its heating, ventilation, electrical and mechanical systems upgraded to make it more energy efficient as well.
Yukon MP Larry Bagnell, Community Services Minister John Streicker and Mayor Dan Curtis were on hand for the announcement, along with some members of council and city staff.
“What could be more timely to be doing energy efficient projects when Yukoners just learned last week that climate change is hurting us three times more than the world in general?” Bagnell asked.
That was in reference to a federal report released earlier this month. It shows the country is warming at twice the global rate and has resulted in calls for reducing CO2 emissions even further.
Curtis noted it was a long-time coming for work on the city’s downtown-area roads, with Second Avenue being a focus over the years.
“The infrastructure gets pounded down – we have more and more people coming, more and more visitors,” the mayor said, noting that includes domestic traffic too, with buses.
While announcements will be coming down the pike for other projects in Yukon communities, Streicker added, it was important the first one was made about the city’s downtown area, given the level of traffic the streets see.
“It’s nice to see that that first set of dollars is going towards this critical piece of infrastructure,” the minister said, adding the impending carbon tax also makes it a timely investment.
“As we get into carbon pricing and the carbon rebate comes in, this is an advantage for our municipality because they’ll be spending less on energy and that way they get a leg up,” Streicker said.
The tax is set to hit the territory on July 1.
Friday’s news conference came just over six months out from the next federal election.
It will see Bagnell challenged by the NDP’s Justin Lemphers and Tory Jonas Smith in the hunt for the sole seat to be Yukon’s MP.
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Comments (21)
Up 3 Down 7
Wilf on Apr 19, 2019 at 2:06 am
Yukoners you got to love it when people call you out when they don't know the facts. I was in the hospital fighting for my life at the banning of the municipal election and could not go out on the campaign trail. So people who know it all get your facts in order unless you don't see the future of bad management by this mayor over the last 7 years.
Up 5 Down 3
Martin on Apr 18, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Wilf, I am impress with your CV. You're so good and great. Please run for the Liberal Party next Fall
Up 5 Down 9
Wilf on Apr 18, 2019 at 3:31 pm
Well folks, I have been municipal management and with all the municipalities n the Yukon in the past so I've learned a thing or two. I have worked for First Nations on land development, municipal services. Land Claims on infrastructure, housing, etc. I have worked in the private sector on land development, housing, commercial buildings, shipping centers, light industrial projects. I have worked on projects across Canada and in the Yukon going back to 1986. I have also worked for Middle East people from Saudi and Iran. I have learned a few things over the years.
If you don't like what I say, just don't read it or tell me where I am wrong, otherwise have a good Easter week and don't eat too much Bird!
Up 8 Down 1
Groucho d'North on Apr 18, 2019 at 2:44 pm
Its nice to see our tax dollars being returned to the Yukon rather than some third world global warming project. I wonder if the same money would have flowed here if the PM was not in it up to his neck right now?
Up 8 Down 3
CT on Apr 18, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Oh, come on Wilf.
Your resume is all over the map. Have you ever had a job that lasted more than a month?
Pretty clear from your runs at public office that you are waaay out there on the edge of the bell curve, drawing almost zero votes.
Up 0 Down 12
Wilf on Apr 18, 2019 at 2:17 am
Hi Will, who are you and what background do you have? At least I have some background.
Up 7 Down 4
Josey Wales on Apr 16, 2019 at 10:22 pm
First...Wilf you are getting better, I give ya credit for it even though we are very, very different in our participation.
Second...MO, resign you say? That infers a sense of responsibility, personal, professional and credibility, nary a spore of those qualities are in the civic blowholes elected or “appointed”.
Your points MO are so spot on, Robin-hooded the target ya did.
Good job, both Wilf and MO.
Bloat, tax, spend, bloat some more and debt of fetuses decades away from being formed is how this CoW feeds. What we get in return is heaps of CoW farts and piles of CoW shit on our boots, tracked into our life.
Sigh...yet another dead horse, folks please do not underestimate a mere civic governance and its ability to rail up ...costs of living, construction, wealth redistribution Ponzi schemes, greenwashing and yes ESPECIALLY
social engineering along with its nasty cousin the PC Crusade/ SJW delusion.
Selfish morons many, but not all our team consists of.
Shameful really that we are so okay with it getting so milked by the CoW
Seems a bad case of MAD CoW has infected us for a long time now.
Bad ideas are not like haircuts, they do not merely grow out but take root.
We need a cull of our MAD CoW administration...bigus timus.
OJW full stop
Up 15 Down 4
Josey Wales on Apr 16, 2019 at 5:35 pm
Larry your “leader” will either go back to rolling around in its trust fund cash, or teaching drama class part time after the October election...not further destroying our country.
Folks I know many think/feel I am a nutbar, but these type of authoritarian government blowholes have done our communities a great disservice... with their service.
Time we reciprocate the clear disdain they have for us lowly peasants each and every opportunity we can, exercise your CCoR&F whilst you can before they legislate it away...FURTHER.
King Dan, your civic compelled speech codes do not...REPEAT DO NOT, supersede the CCoR&F.
Change things up...chew that down, have an apple and go for a walk.
Up 11 Down 12
Will on Apr 16, 2019 at 2:20 pm
Wilf Carter, Josey Wales, and My Opinion - these are the three amigos of the Whitehorse Star comments! They sure do enjoy their rants! At least My Opinions comments are actually understandable, Wilf's comments are usually indecipherable and Josey's are somewhere in the middle.
@Joe - "As for climate change, we're human, we adapt, like we've done for millions of years" - Yes you're right, although in this case the carbon tax is the adaptation. Are you suggesting that burying your head in the sand and pretending everything if fine is a form of adaptation? How has that been working out for you?
Up 5 Down 21
DG on Apr 16, 2019 at 1:59 pm
This is good news. It's about time we had a carbon tax, BC's had one for years and it's proven to reduce emissions and hasn't hurt the economy.
Up 15 Down 5
Wilf on Apr 16, 2019 at 1:09 pm
If it going to get that warm in Yukon they need to invest in air conditioning units not heat. Hot air ever where.
Up 17 Down 15
Wilf on Apr 16, 2019 at 1:07 pm
Read Dr Timothy Ball & Tom Harris report on biggest lie ever told - man made global warming. Climate Depot. It was warmer 10,000 years ago than now.
Up 29 Down 6
My Opinion on Apr 16, 2019 at 12:17 am
Carbon Taxes will be paid over and over. Right now we are being charged for Carbon Taxes being put on in Alberta. Check out your freight bills they have a Carbon Tax on them. Already, as they have had increases in their costs while operating down south to get here.
Carbon taxes will be put on at all levels. Production, Refining, Transportation, Wholesale, Retail. Unlike the GST there are no input credits along the way. It is a cumulative Tax. Also the GST will be on that Tax as well. Tax on a Tax.
Remember when Trudeau said the Budget would Balance itself. Now we know how.
Bye Bye Liberals.
Up 26 Down 5
My Opinion on Apr 16, 2019 at 12:10 am
“As we get into carbon pricing and the carbon rebate comes in, this is an advantage for our municipality because they’ll be spending less on energy and that way they get a leg up,” Streicker said.
So if we are getting it back how will that change our habits? Nonsense is what it is. Just another Liberal Tax.
Up 24 Down 5
My Opinion on Apr 16, 2019 at 12:07 am
When this City Municipal Services building was being planned it was said to be because the other little weeee one was too inefficient. I want to see an energy audit after all of this. Bet you it is triple or even way more.
They better show us where this was a good idea or resign.
Up 33 Down 3
My Opinion on Apr 16, 2019 at 12:04 am
Try buying some paint that doesn't wear off right away. Make it out of the same paint you used for the gay crosswalks. They are the only ones in town you can see, and not even worn a bit. We have no lines to follow at all. Causes accidents.
Up 26 Down 4
My Opinion on Apr 16, 2019 at 12:01 am
"The services building, under construction off of Range Road, will see the money used to increase energy efficiency."
The building is New. What are you improving? What a bunch of CLOWNS.
Why did you put in about twenty MASSIVE roll up doors if you are concerned about heat loss?
Why would you bring in all of that frozen equipment every night. There isn't a transportation company in the world that brings in their rolling stock. It will cost a fortune, the furnaces will never stop, NEVER.
Up 19 Down 3
My Opinion on Apr 15, 2019 at 11:56 pm
The Thee Amigos. Hahaha. OMG.
Up 21 Down 7
Joe on Apr 15, 2019 at 8:02 pm
Liberals still spewing the carbon tax bs. It's just another tax to support their overspending and lack of experience. As for climate change, we're human, we adapt, like we've done for millions of years.
Up 20 Down 6
Josey Wales on Apr 15, 2019 at 3:37 pm
Three blind mice
Up 10 Down 10
Wilf Carter on Apr 15, 2019 at 3:24 pm
Larry Bagnell report is not true because it was paid for by government. Over 30,000 accredited science say our climate is changing but not because of carbon. Why is the Federal Government giving the city of Whitehorse public funding to buy fossil fuel buses, when the climate has changed so much? Why not move electric driven buses like other cities are doing and countries around the world.