WHITEHORSE – A deep dive on Statistics Canada data shows that under the Yukon Liberal government, monthly investment in residential building construction has trended upwards, correcting a downward trend seen during the Yukon Party government’s time in office. This upward trend, combined with recent efforts by Premier Ranj Pillai and the Yukon Liberal government to attract outside investment in housing development to the Yukon through an MOU with the Government of Ontario, echoes the promising start to the 2023 construction season also seen in Yukon Bureau of Statistics data released today.
Despite poor performance on the housing file while in government, Yukon Party MLAs – including party leader Currie Dixon and Housing Critic Yvonne Clarke – all voted against investments in housing included in Budget 2023, including:
- $25.9 million for land development;
- $22.4 million for housing projects in Dawson City, Watson Lake, and Teslin;
- $8.7 million in funding to build affordable housing and support development of community housing;
- $8.2 million in loans to assist with land and housing development and home ownership;
- $3.9 million in subsidies and supports for renters across the territory; and,
- $1.6 million for seniors supportive housing in Whitehorse.
“When given the opportunity to show leadership on the housing file, Currie Dixon and Yvonne Clarke prefer to criticize Yukon Government efforts to attract outside investment in housing development, vote repeatedly against the most vulnerable Yukoners, and oppose policies intended to protect renters,” said Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn. “I’m not surprised to see this kind of casual disregard for underhoused, unhoused, and housing-vulnerable Yukoners from a party leader who openly says that it’s a ‘distraction’ to talk about housing as a human right,” the Minister concluded.
