This is a joint news release between the governments of Canada and Yukon and the City of Whitehorse.
Today, Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn, Member of Parliament for Yukon Dr. Brendan Hanley and Mayor of the City of Whitehorse Laura Cabott announced $4.2 million in joint funding for the purchase of two 40-foot accessible buses and for upgrades to the Whitehorse Waste Management Facility Transfer Station.
The new buses will be added to the fleet to better accommodate Whitehorse’s growing population. Their accessibility features will improve the experience of people with disabilities or who use mobility aids, as well as those travelling with strollers and young children. With these additional buses, residents will be able to continue to rely on the City’s transit system to help them get to work or school on time and back home safely at the end of the day.
Funding will also support upgrades to the Whitehorse waste management facility. Through this project, the waste collection area will be expanded and surfaces will be paved for better management of litter and snow removal. It will include the purchase of additional waste bins to allow for enhanced waste separation areas – for items such as clean wood, organic waste, construction waste, mixed waste and recycling – to help reduce the impacts of unsorted waste on the environment.
Once complete, the improved waste transfer station will be more prepared to help residents manage their personal waste and accommodate the community’s growing needs while reducing the amount of waste going into landfills.
The Government of Yukon is pleased to partner with the Government of Canada to support these essential infrastructure projects, which provide improved access to the City of Whitehorse transit system and upgraded waste management services for Whitehorse residents. We are committed to continued collaboration with the federal government, municipalities and First Nations to address core infrastructure priorities that achieve our goal of building healthy, vibrant and resilient communities.
Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn
Our Government is committed to building environmentally responsible and inclusive communities. Today’s announcement will support the City of Whitehorse in making important upgrades needed to the waste management infrastructure and improve existing public transit options. Through these projects, we are making our community stronger, more inclusive and supporting a healthy environment for future generations.
Member of Parliament for Yukon Dr. Brendan Hanley on behalf of the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities Dominic LeBlanc
The City of Whitehorse is focused on strategic investments that reduce our environmental footprint and provide residents with the municipal services they expect. This funding from the Government of Canada and the Government of Yukon for improved transit services and wastewater upgrades is one of the many ways we are working together to build a sustainable and healthy community.
Mayor of the City of Whitehorse Laura Cabott
The Government of Canada is investing $937,500 for the purchase of the new transit buses in Whitehorse through the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Yukon is contributing $312,500.
The Government of Canada is investing $2,212,500 for the Whitehorse Waste Management Facility Upgrades through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Yukon is contributing $737,500.
Under the Investing in Canada Plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
Since 2016, Infrastructure Canada has invested over $1.34 billion in 149 projects in communities across the Yukon.
During that period, over $50 billion has been invested in communities by Infrastructure Canada across the country to support world-class infrastructure projects, including more than $11 million for public transit infrastructure projects.
Over the past six years, Infrastructure Canada has invested more than $86 million towards 56 green infrastructure projects across the Yukon under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
Infrastructure Canada helps address complex challenges that Canadians face every day – ranging from the rapid growth of our cities to climate change and environmental threats to our water and land.
Renée Francoeur
Cabinet Communications
867-334-9194
renee.francoeur@yukon.ca
Echo Ross
Communications, Community Services
867-332-1237
echo.ross@yukon.ca
Jean-Sébastien Comeau
Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
343-574-8116
Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca
Media Relations
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
media-medias@infc.gc.ca
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Jordan Lutz
Acting Manager- Strategic Communications
City of Whitehorse
Jordan.Lutz@whitehorse.ca