July 22, 2024 – I am proud to announce a pivotal step forward in addressing the housing crisis in the Yukon through more funding for additional communities through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).
Through the HAF, we are investing over $7.2 million to remove barriers that have historically slowed housing development. The fund support bold local initiatives that support the development of affordable, inclusive, equitable communities.
Joined by the Government of Canada, Kwanlin Dün First Nation, and Ta'an Kwäch'än Council, plans to accelerate the construction of 107 housing units over the next three years, and 1,519 homes over the next decade was announced. Each government submitted their innovative action plans.
Kwanlin Dün First Nation’s Action Plan outlines several key local initiatives:
- A new home buyer incentive program designed to assist residents with down payments,
- A state-of-the-art data management system will improve infrastructure tracking, tax management and life cycle costs, and agreements with both Whitehorse and Yukon Governments to connect more infrastructure for future developments.
Ta'an Kwäch'än Council’s Action Plan commits to:
- an updated inventory management system to streamline the construction of multiple units simultaneously,
- Diversifying community developments to build more centralized and dense housing with access to amenities,
- and housing policy changes that permit different approaches to residential land use.
TKC and KDFN join the City of Whitehorse, the Town of Watson Lake, the City of Dawson, the Village of Carmacks and the Village of Haines Junction as recipients of HAF funding in the Yukon, totalling almost $25 million total.
Across Canada, the HAF initiative aims to expedite the approval of 100,000 new homes within the initial three-year period, potentially leading to the creation of over 750,000 new homes across towns, cities, and Indigenous communities in Canada over the next decade. Local governments are encouraged to propose innovative action plans, leveraging upfront funding to ensure timely project execution, with additional financial support upon achieving specified milestones. This approach empowers municipalities to adopt ambitious strategies such as accelerated project timelines, increased housing density, and enhanced affordability measures.
In the latest Budget 2024, the federal government has earmarked an additional $400 million to incentivize further local governments to accelerate home construction, anticipating an additional 12,000 new homes permitted over the subsequent four years.
This initiative underscores our commitment to making housing more affordable for Canadians. Together with provincial, territorial, municipal governments, and Indigenous partners, we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that all Canadians have access to safe and affordable housing.