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WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Party Official Opposition would like to thank the Yukon Contractors Association, (YCA) and the Yukon Real Estate Association (YREA) for first identifying the change made by the Liberal government’s Land Title Transfer Policy that happened last year. That change was increasing costs and delaying sales of newly built homes, and our efforts successfully pressured the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources to reverse his policy decision.
The Minister announced in the media on July 6 that the government was indeed backtracking on the policy.
Since last fall, the Yukon Party has heard from the home building industry about how the change was affecting construction costs. The change had the land title transferred to the owner of a new home after a City of Whitehorse occupancy permit was in place, instead of earlier in the construction process when the home was clad to weather.
After consulting with representatives of the home building industry, the Yukon Party wrote letters to the Minister over the winter regarding the policy change and asked questions during the spring sitting of the Legislative Assembly. On April 11, Whitehorse City Council unanimously passed a motion tabled by Councilor Dan Boyd, urging the government to review the change. The YCA and YREA wrote letters in support of that motion.
“We are pleased to have supported the home building industry’s efforts to prevent increased costs and delays in the sector,” said Energy, Mines and Resources Critic Scott Kent. “We have been pressing the Liberals to ease some of the red tape when it comes to home building and lot development to get more houses on the market. We are happy to do our part to help address the housing crisis in the Yukon by suggesting this and other changes to the government.”
The Yukon Party looks forward to hearing further details from the Minister about the process and timing of the policy reversal.
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Contact:
Tim Kucharuk
Media Director
(867) 689-7874
