Yukoners benefit from Gas Tax Fund projects

Today in Whitehorse Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and the Honourable John Streicker, Minister of Community Services, Government of Yukon announced a total of $2.79 million in funding from the federal Gas Tax Fund for 11 newly approved and nine completed projects.

City of Whitehorse Mayor Dan Curtis, Village of Teslin Mayor Gord Curran and Village of Carmacks Mayor Lee Bodie joined them for the announcement.

Funding for the 11 projects supports upgrades to water treatment plants for Tagish and Deep Creek, an expansion of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations potlatch house, updating of the Village of Teslin’s Official Community Plan and improvements to curling rinks in Whitehorse and Mayo. Completed projects include a sewer main in Whitehorse, a new water truck for the Kluane First Nation, and a septic system for the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation administration building.

These projects are providing job opportunities, supporting local economies and improving the quality of life for Yukoners.  
 

Quotes

The Gas Tax Fund provides employment opportunities, promotes economic development and improves the quality of life of all Yukoners. The flexibility of this funding helps Yukon municipalities, First Nations and unincorporated communities build and improve infrastructure to meet local needs.

- John Streicker, Minister of Community Services
 

These projects will provide a better quality life for residents and help connect communities, allowing traditions to be passed on to future generations. This extensive work will address local infrastructure priorities, and support safe and inclusive communities for northerners.

- Larry Bagnell, Member of Parliament for Yukon,


Champagne and Aishihik First Nations is pleased to have received Gas Tax Funding for several projects including the Champagne Potlatch House Expansion. This support enables Champagne and Aishihik First Nation Citizens to gather to celebrate our Culture and Heritage.

- Chief Steve Smith, Champagne and Aishihik First Nations


The City of Whitehorse is very appreciative of the funding it receives via the Gas Tax Fund, which goes towards improving our ageing infrastructure. We are thankful for the ease of access to the fund, its smooth process, and the benefits our improvements will have to facilities and infrastructure used by residents and visitors alike.

- Dan Curtis, Mayor of the City of Whitehorse


The Gas Tax Fund continues to help the City of Dawson invest in essential infrastructure and sustain strong, healthy communities. The vactor truck purchase allows us to consistently and cost effectively perform cleaning and maintenance of our waste water system. Renovations to the swimming pool wall and floor will extend the life of a vital recreational facility and ensure its ongoing use by a wide variety of Dawson residents.

- Molly Shore, Deputy Mayor of the City of Dawson


The Village of Mayo Council is thankful to have Gas Tax Funds available to allow the municipality to pursue some of their priority projects that are listed on their infrastructure development plan, and since Gas Tax Fund approvals do not take very much time, projects can go ahead in a timely manner.

- Scott Bolton, Mayor of the Village of Mayo  


The Gas Tax Fund is important for our community projects. We are pleased to be receiving funding this year that allows us to undertake a comprehensive public engagement with the community to rewrite our Official Community Plan and Zoning By-Law. The OCP is a critical planning document for our council, and public engagement is key to its success.

- Gord Curran, Mayor of the Village of Teslin  

Quick facts 
  • Communities can invest across 18 different project categories. They can also use the funds immediately for priority projects, bank them for later use, pool the dollars with other communities for shared infrastructure projects or use them to finance major infrastructure expenditures.

  • Through its Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s northern and rural communities.

  • Infrastructure projects around Yukon are providing clean drinking water, sound wastewater systems, recreation and green energy upgrades and supporting community planning.

Backgrounder 

New projects funding

Municipality/First Nation

Category

Description

GTF Allocation

Unincorporated Yukon - Tagish

Drinking Water

Upgrade to the Tagish Water Treatment Plant to safely and efficiently provide drinking water at a large facility

$320,000

Unincorporated Yukon – Deep Creek

Drinking Water

Upgrade to the Deep Creek Water Treatment Plant to safely and efficiently provide drinking water at a large facility

$53,800

Unincorporated Yukon – Marsh Lake, Carcross, Ross River, Old Crow

Drinking Water

Upgrades to the YG's SCADA system to ensure improved communication between different plants across the territory

$118,000

Champagne & Aishihik First Nations

Cultural Infrastructure

Upgrades to the potlatch house include wrap of exterior, insulation & siding, expand building size, fire alarm system, ventilation system, increase washroom capacity, and upgrade kitchen.

$425,000

Champagne & Aishihik First Nations

Capacity Building

Develop Community Land Use Plans for Haines Junction, Takhini, and Champagne

$160,000

Village of Teslin

Capacity Building

Review and update 10-year old OCP for Teslin.

$110,000

City of Dawson

Wastewater

Purchase Vactor Truck to maintain and clean sewer lines, catch basins, lift stations, and storm sewers.

$30,561

City of Dawson

Recreation Infrastructure

Renovation of the swimming pool's wall and floor to ensure continued use of the facility

$541,831

Village of Carmacks

Community Energy Systems

Increase the energy efficiency of a Duplex owned by the Village.

$37,629

Village of Mayo

Recreation Infrastructure

Mayo's Curling Rink ice compressor needs replacement for continued use of the facility

$22,450

City of Whitehorse

Recreation Infrastructure

Mt. McIntyre Curling Rink condenser needs to be replaced needs replacement for continued use of the facility

$259,000

TOTAL

 

 

$2,078,271

 

Completed projects funding

Municipality/First Nation

Category

Description

Project Costs

City of Whitehorse

Wastewater

Replace Sewer Main at Wilson and Thompson (Granger)

$187,446

City of Whitehorse

Capacity Building

Solid Waste Management plan for the transfer station

$49,999

City of Whitehorse

Local Roads and Trails

850 m of asphalt resurfacing

$10,664

Village of Carmacks

Community Energy Systems

A full cleaning of the Recreation Centre ventilation system and replace filters.

$30,105

Champagne-Aishihik FN

Public Transit

Purchase of a 12-person passenger van to transport citizens

$55,968

Champagne-Aishihik FN

Capacity building

Develop an Asset Management plan for the Da Kų Cultural Centre

$48,500

Kluane FN

Drinking water

Purchase of new water truck to haul drinking water to residents

$225,082

Little Salmon/
Carmacks FN

Wastewater

Install septic system for administration building.

$137,540

Village of Mayo

Capacity Building

Structural assessment of hockey arena and change room to determine if the building can handle a renovation to extend the life of the infrastructure

$30,000

TOTAL

 

 

$719,336

 

Media contact 

Janine Workman
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7449
janine.workman@gov.yk.ca

Bonnie Venton Ross
Communications, Community Services
867-332-5513
bonnie.ventonross@gov.yk.ca

News release #: 
#19-031