Yukon Party Urges Action for Log Home Builders as Layoffs Loom

WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Party Official Opposition calls on the Liberal government to follow up on promises made by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources during the Spring Sitting of the Legislative Assembly to source Yukon logs for Yukon log home builders.

The outgoing premier stated during the sitting that he wants to see logs shipped to log home builders from southeast Yukon, rather than from British Columbia. The Minister backed up the Premier and promised he would personally follow up with these local builders. However, over two months later, builders are waiting for action from the government, and the Minister has not even accepted an invitation to visit local builders to better understand the problem.

Yukon Party MLAs Currie Dixon, Scott Kent, and Brad Cathers recently visited the operations of log home builders north of Whitehorse. One operator informed MLAs that they are out of usable logs and will have to lay off their remaining staff as early as Friday. The minister incorrectly claims there are no supply restrictions for saw logs, but local businesses are at risk of closing due to the saw log shortage crisis caused by the Liberal government’s inaction.

“The Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources and the Liberal government have been aware of this issue for many months,” said Lake Laberge MLA Brad Cathers. “The Minister needs to start treating this issue seriously and meet with log home builders, instead of brushing them off, which he has been doing for months. Jobs and local businesses depend on the Minister actually taking action to allow Yukon log home builders to source suitable logs from southeast Yukon.”

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Tim Kucharuk
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