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The Government of Canada and the City of Whitehorse announced $11 million accelerator fund agreement

Friday, 1 March 2024 10:38

By Panebi Wilson @panebiwilson

Brendan Hanley - Member of Parliament for Yukon (Photo by Panebi Wilson for Chon- FM)

The City of Whitehorse will receive $11 million to effect changes that will take away housing development barriers.

The Government of Canada and the City of Whitehorse has announced the Housing Accelerator Fund agreement to help spur the construction of more affordable houses.
As the number of residents in the City of Whitehorse increase, so does the need for affordable housing. Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon while speaking to the press Wednesday morning, said this fund will help municipalities change how house are been built in other to overcome the housing crisis faced in the territory’s capital.
According to Hanley, the City of Whitehorse will receive $11 million to effect changes that will take away housing development barriers.

Through the Accelerator Fund, actions of eliminating barriers will be taken to help build over 190 new homes which will boost the construction of more than 3,900 homes over the next decade, and 650,000 new homes over the next ten years, Hanley Said.

The Accelerator Fund action plan will improve the permitting process and encourage the construction of medium-density and multi-family homes such as townhouses and multiplexes. They will also develop a long-term climate change risk policy. The city will also incentivize developing homes on underutilized, residential, commercial, and vacant lands.

Laura Cabott, Mayor for the City of Whitehorse, said it is exciting to hear that the federal government is interested in housing as it is not typically what they get involved in. The Accelerator Fund is an exciting initiative which has not been seen before. It will help shape new housing development, create more affordable, diverse, and climate resilient housing in the City of Whitehorse.

According Mayor Cabott, with the fund, vacant and underutilized lots in the city will be focused on by completing studies and researches in other to present bylaw for the consideration of Council to create opportunities for the quick development of either commercial or multi-residential buildings.

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