Photo by Whitehorse Star
MLA Yvonne Clarke
YG inconsistent on federal housing funds, YP says
The Liberal government and the Yukon Party official Opposition are back to sniping at each other this week.
The Liberal government and the Yukon Party official Opposition are back to sniping at each other this week.
The Yukon Party issued a statement on housing Tuesday. It quotes MLA Yvonne Clarke questioning the government’s “inconsistency regarding federal funding for housing.
“In response to her April 14 question in the legislative assembly about the fact that the Northwest Territories and Nunavut each received double the amount of money for housing in the federal budget, the premier told the legislature that federal housing money had been diverted to the Atlin Hydro Expansion Project,” the party recalled.
“This was notable because it meant that funding intended for housing in the Yukon instead went to a project without any Yukon ownership, and based outside of the territory.
“The premier fuelled this inconsistency earlier this month at the Northern Premiers Conference,” the statement said.
“He criticized the federal government for not providing enough housing support and called for a renewed partnership with consistent and adequate funding.”
Clarke added, “When asked about why the Yukon was short-changed on housing money in the federal budget, the premier said that they had requested federal housing money be redirected to another priority.
“Now the premier is claiming that housing will continue to be an issue ‘without consistent and adequate funding’ from the federal government.”
While the Atlin hydro project will partially address the energy supply gaps in the Yukon, the party added, “Yukoners deserve to know why the Liberal government decided to direct funding meant for much-needed housing to a hydro project in B.C., especially when the premier is criticizing the federal government for inadequate funding for housing.”
Clarke stated, “We have been proposing solutions such as immediately identifying unused government land to release for private sector development, creating tax incentives to encourage rental developments, and to stop delaying the release of lots in Whistle Bend.”
The government fired back Tuesday with a statement of its own from cabinet communications.
“It is disappointing but it’s not a surprise to see the Yukon Party is opposed to the Atlin Hydro Project moving forward,” the statement said.
“They have a long history of refusing to work co-operatively with First Nation governments.
“It is, however, interesting to see the Yukon Party is now supporting affordable housing. The MLA for Lake Laberge (Brad Cathers) cancelled crucial affordable housing projects during the Yukon Party’s time in government and left millions of federal money for housing in the Yukon sitting on the table before he was removed from the Yukon Housing portfolio.”
The cabinet’s statement went on to read, “By working with our federal and local partners, we are providing more affordable homes for Yukoners across the territory.
“Less than two weeks ago, we announced the grand opening of a new affordable triplex housing development in Watson Lake, as just one example.
“Our government remains committed to continuing to advocate for all Yukoners, and we will continue this important dialogue on housing priorities with our federal partners.”
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Comments (7)
Up 4 Down 1
AdmiralA$$ on May 24, 2022 at 2:15 pm
This is what happens when we pay for government with inflation. No housing, no idea where all the money went or where it is going, rising CPI and rising rates.
I see they "allowed" the rentier to rise rent but a whopping 3.3% this year. Funny when 5 year fixed is now 4% and national inflation is now 6.7%. Loving this freefixed market, it is almost like a money laundering cartel.
Just remember, the cost of government will be payed for and we have a large bill coming due.
Up 6 Down 3
Mitch Holder on May 20, 2022 at 11:16 am
Back around circa 2011, the feds gave the YTG 18 million for affordable housing development. It sat in the bank until the YTG was called on it. Empty lots all over downtown, Hoge St. is a good example. So is the former ESSO (it needs milliosn in soil remediation-here's a tip, build a damn parkade and skip the red tape). If the FN can try to build a hotel by Shipyards over top of buried toxic waste and fuel, you can make the empty lot a parkade, kids won't be sledding there.
The municipal and territorial government should be shamed publicly by our communities for their inexcusable and woefully inept handling of a housing crisis going on 30 years. Audit every single department involved, I want all relevant documentation audited by in an independent public inquiry! Anyone else feeling that? It is your patience expiring.
Up 13 Down 4
Dallas Schaber on May 19, 2022 at 4:41 pm
Here’s a news flash to a whole lotta you people out there, most of us know that housing is expensive and it’s gonna take a big chunk outa your take home pay and I’m sorry but if your tryin to live up in Whitehorse or anywhere north of the 60th and do it by slinging hash or coffee or some menial but still important job and still not able to save money perhaps you should take a second look at where you want to live verses what you make, you may want to lower your expectations and move south where your dollar goes further.
Up 19 Down 4
How to Solve the Homeless Problem on May 19, 2022 at 10:31 am
1)Stop giving housing to drug addicts, sober check at the door or some other monitoring system that's not too invasive. Public resources should not be used to help people indulge their addictions. It should be used to help the people who are ready to make the transition out of that lifestyle and into a life of sobriety or at the very least moderation. Make it an ultimatum, you have no money, get off of the drugs and the drinking or you're sleeping outside in the cold. They deserve help and compassion but it's time for a bit of tough love.
2)Give everyone a mailing address. Set up a community mailing address for the homeless. PO boxes are too limited and too expensive. In order to get a job and a license, everyone needs an address.
3)Gym membership and laundry vouchers. Maybe give a voucher for the CGC so people can go have a shower, and also a laundromat voucher so they're clothes can get cleaned. If given a free shower, you're more likely to take one and showering sobers you up and makes you look more presentable.
4)Show them compassion, try and ignite a spark in them, remind them that they all matter and that they all have a purpose here on Earth. It can be so hard when you're struggling with addiction, you become nihilistic and begin to lose hope so you turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with the trauma, the end result is homelessness. The root cause I'm trying to address is a sort of pervasive sickness that is causing a whole generation to feel completely at odds with the world. We can't afford a home. The problem is much more complex than simply, 'that person is homeless', so please do not look down on the homeless, show them compassion and show them kindness, but also try and set a good example of what to strive for.
That's how I got on my feet when I first came up to the Yukon. I lived in a tent in Dawson, and had the Post Office general delivery as my mailing address. Thank you so much Canada Post in Dawson City for giving me somewhere that I could get mail. Thank you so much Yukon Motor Vehicles Office up in Dawson, for letting me get a driver's license using this address. 10 years later, I'm still here and that little bit of kindness and understanding regarding my predicament is one of the reasons I've stayed. It showed me that the true Yukon spirit is that we're in it together and we need to find ways to help one another, I'm just not sure the public housing model in it's current form is the right way to do it.
Up 18 Down 7
Groucho d'North on May 19, 2022 at 8:58 am
So have the federal housing funds been consistent over this term? I recall going into the 2015 election the Trudeau Liberals were promising the earth, moon & stars for housing that did not materialize unless another election was pending. What funding was promised was not delivered. Rather we recieved a number of new immigrant Canadians to live here and further confound the Yukon housing market. Trudeau speaks and Silver obeys.
Up 13 Down 9
Wilf Carter on May 18, 2022 at 9:51 pm
What a mess liberals and NDP are doing to housing. CMHC has put up $80 million for housing in the north. Does anyone know about that? I talked to them today. When we don't service lots where are you going to build new housing?
Up 17 Down 3
Alonzo on May 18, 2022 at 5:32 pm
Well, all I can say is I won't be attending anymore public meetings looking for public input and seeming organizational direction. What a disappointment, a veritable farce of people's time.