The Yukon government has completed a call for public submissions to address the

need for affordable rental housing in the territory.

The government is looking for private sector solutions to address the need.

Suggestions, due this past Wednesday, were made by members of the general public as well as private companies, both within the Yukon and Outside.

In total, 12 submissions were received.

"There seemed to be an interest,” Colin McDowell, the director of the territory's land management branch, said Thursday.

The initiative was planned to honour Yukon Party election campaign promises to involve the private sector in addressing the territory's mounting need for affordable housing.

"Currently, the market is great for higher-end developments,” said McDowell.

"What we are looking for right now is providing housing to fill the gap, looking at the range above social and below market value.

"It's for the people who may not qualify for a mortgage or social assistance who are forced either to accept unsuitable accommodation or paying far too much for housing.”

Most submissions focused on housing in Whitehorse, others on Dawson City.

"Essentially, we met and wanted to identify what role the private sector, the government and other organizations such as NGOs could play in the development of housing in the territory.”

There is still no word as to what the submissions entail, but McDowell has said they represented a "mix” of potential housing solutions for the territory.

Housing remains a top priority for the new government, with the private sector providing the most enticing opportunities said McDowell.

"There are skills, ability and creativity in the private sector and also a sense of flexibility, which the government is interested in exploring,” said McDowell.

The government is very serious about this issue. It was the very first public action they took, and the desire is still to look toward the private sector, as opposed to a potentially more bureaucratized solution.”

A major proposed development area is lot 262, a nine-acre parcel of development land at the corner of Range Road and Mountainview Drive.

"It was identified in the expression of interest because the land is close to transit and infrastructure. It's owned by the territorial government, it's deemed eligible under the OCP (Official Community Plan) for development,” said McDowell.

Now that submissions are in, the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources will "synthesize the findings,” and consult the Yukon Housing Corp. and a representative from the Department of Highways and Public Works, before sending the ideas to the cabinet for review.