Federal Dollars Could Double Yukon Power as City Budgets Stall

Whitehorse tables four-year budget of nearly $386 million

The City of Whitehorse has tabled a proposed four-year budget totalling nearly $386 million through 2030, which Mayor Kirk Cameron presented to council on Nov. 9. The city plans to spend $85.8 million in 2027, but only about $28.5 million of that is confirmed, with the rest dependent on federal and territorial funding not yet secured. The budget includes an $18 million firehall for Whistle Bend, a project that also lacks confirmed funding. Cameron warned of significant financial headwinds, which matters to residents because the city's infrastructure and emergency services plans depend on outside money.

Source: Yukon News Read →

Federal budget commitments could double Yukon electricity generation

The federal budget commits to energy projects that could roughly double Yukon's electricity generation capacity, including a $1.6 billion, 10-year allocation for northern energy reliability. Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Ted Laking said the first 15 megawatts from the proposed Whitehorse Power Centres are targeted for 2028, though contribution agreements with Ottawa still need to be negotiated. Laking said the territory's roughly 24,000 ratepayers cannot absorb the full cost alone, and warned that without federal support, electricity rates could rise by an additional 53 per cent. The outcome directly affects residents' power costs and the territory's energy security.

Source: Yukon News Read →

Parks Canada to close three northern warden detachments, centralize in Yellowknife

Parks Canada will close the warden detachments at three northern national parks and centralize these operations in Yellowknife. The affected parks are Kluane National Park and Reserve in Yukon, Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories, and Wood Buffalo National Park, which spans the N.W.T. and Alberta. Closing these detachments means fewer local park staff stationed in the communities nearest these parks. The available information does not yet detail the timeline or reasons behind the decision.

Source: CBC North Read →

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