Teslin residents to benefit from four local infrastructure projects

Joint news release with the Government of Canada.

Strategic investments in local infrastructure play a key role in ensuring Yukoners and their families have access to modern, reliable infrastructure that meets their unique needs.

Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon, Minister of Community Services John Streicker, and Mayor of Teslin Gord Curran today announced funding for four local infrastructure projects in Teslin.

The Teslin Tlingit Council will benefit from energy retrofits to their Administration, Justice and Finance buildings. The Village of Teslin will see the construction of a new public works storage facility, as well as energy retrofits to the Teslin Municipal Centre. Funding will also go towards a new fire hall which will help provide emergency services to residents.

The Government of Canada is investing over $9.3 million in these projects through the Small Communities Fund. The Government of Yukon is contributing over $3.1 million to these projects.

Investments in public works and local infrastructure helps our communities provide efficient and reliable services for Yukoners. The projects will provide the residents of Teslin with modern facilities to provide a safer and more secure community. This is an excellent example of what Yukoners can do when we work together at all levels of government to build stronger, more self-sustaining communities.

Member of Parliament for Yukon Larry Bagnell

Teslin is a great example of the First Nation and the Village working together to serve the community. I’m very excited to see that the buildings that offer some of the town’s core public services are being upgraded for energy efficiency. Retrofits to both the Village of Teslin and the Teslin Tlingit Council public buildings will bring down energy costs, and a new fire hall and public works storage facility will help Teslin offer better public services to their citizens.

Minister of Community Services John Streicker

We, the Teslin Tlingit Council, believe in making our infrastructure as efficient and as green as possible. This funding contributes to our vision of governments working together for our future generations. 

Naa Sháade Háni Richard Sidney

The Small Communities Fund is an essential source of funds for small, rural communities like Teslin that lack the tax base to meet infrastructure demands. Our new fire hall is needed to meet additional regional responsibilities, and relocating the public works storage yard is a long-standing item from our Official Community Plan. We are also constantly trying to be more energy efficient; therefore, the funding for an energy retrofit to our municipal building is welcome. 

Mayor of the Village of Teslin Gord Curran

Quick facts 
  • Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada 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.

    • $28.7 billion of this funding is supporting public transit projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
    • $2 billion of this funding is supporting infrastructure projects that meet the unique needs of rural and northern communities like facilities to support food security, local access roads and enhanced broadband connectivity. In addition, $400 million is being delivered through the Arctic Energy Fund to advance energy security in the territories.
    • $4 billion of this funding is supporting infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities.
  • On June 27, 2019, the Government of Canada launched two new strategies: Canada’s Connectivity Strategy, which commits to connect all Canadians to high-speed internet, and Canada’s first Rural Economic Development Strategy, which will spur economic growth and create good, middle class jobs for rural Canadians across the country.

  • The Rural Economic Development Strategy leverages ongoing federal investments and provides a vision for the future, identifying practical steps to take in the short term, and serving as a foundation to guide further work.

  • Central to Canada’s Connectivity Strategy are historic new investments that are mobilizing up to $6 billion toward universal connectivity. They include a top-up to the Connect to Innovate Program, a new Universal Broadband Fund, and investments from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Backgrounder 

Project Information:

Project Name

Project Details

Federal Funding

Territorial Funding

Teslin Municipal Centre Green Energy Building Retrofits

Building energy retrofits to the Village of Teslin Municipal Building, including envelope, mechanical and electrical systems.

$975,000

$325,000

Teslin Fire Hall

New fire hall and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) facility for Teslin

$4,125,000

$1,375,000

Teslin Public Works Facilities

Upgrades to Village of Teslin Public Works facilities, including construction of new Public Works storage facility and site works.

$300,000

$100,000

Teslin Tlingit Council Public Building Green Energy Retrofits

Building energy retrofits to Teslin Tlingit Council’s Administration, Justice, Finance, Longhouse and Lands Buildings, including envelope, mechanical and electrical systems.

$3,922,500

$1,307,500

Media contact 

Ann-Clara Vaillancourt
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-697-3778
ann-clara.vaillancourt@canada.ca

Media Relations
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: infc.media.infc@canada.ca
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Web: Infrastructure Canada

Kathleen Smith 
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7472
kathleen.smith@gov.yk.ca

Kara Johancsik
Communications, Community Services
867-332-1237
kara.johancsik@gov.yk.ca

News release #: 
19-172