Brendan Hanley

Federal government invests in new transit service to connect rural areas from Dawson City and Watson Lake to Whitehorse

August 23, 2024

Whitehorse, Yukon, August 21, 2024 — There will be new transit service to connect communities in and around Dawson City and Watson Lake to Whitehorse after a joint investment of more than $3.3 million from the federal government and First Kaska GP Ltd, the economic development corporation of the Liard First Nation. Announced by Member of Parliament Dr. Brendan Hanley, CEO of First Kaska GP Ltd., Jasper Lamourelle, and Chief of Liard First Nation, Stephen Charlie, the project includes two new stops, the purchase of seven transit vehicles, and two transit garages. The transit service will expand daily routes and connections between Whitehorse and surrounding rural communities for years to come.

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“Improving transit service in the Yukon to connect rural communities is helping northern regions strengthen, thrive, and become more self-sustaining. It also brings people together, connecting our territory. With the new transit service from Watson Lake and Dawson City to Whitehorse, northerners will be better connected and able to travel more easily and safely.” Dr. Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

“Northern and Indigenous communities rely on transit routes to help them get to where they need to go and travel more efficiently and reliably. We appreciate this investment to expand on the existing transit service in Watson Lake, Dawson City and Whitehorse and will help improve quality of life for people by enabling quicker access to other communities for what they need.” Jasper Lamourelle, Chief Executive Office, First Kaska GP, Ltd.

Quick facts

The federal government is investing $3,000,000 in this project through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF), and First Kaska GP Ltd is contributing $303,000.
The RTSF helps Canadians living in rural and remote areas get around their communities more easily. It supports the development of rural transit solutions, including new transit service models that could be replicated or scaled up.
The RTSF’s Capital Projects stream helps cover capital costs like the purchase of vehicles or digital platforms, as well as support for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles. Eligible applicants were able to seek contributions of up to $3 million to help cover the capital costs of a new or expanded transit solution (e.g., purchase of vehicles or digital platforms), and up to $5 million to support zero-emission transit solutions (e.g., for the purchase of a zero-emission vehicle(s)). This stream closed on February 28, 2024.
The RTSF’s Planning and Design Projects continuous intake remains open. Through this stream, eligible applicants can receive a grant up to $50,000 in support of a communities’ projects to plan and design a new or expanded transit solution for their communities. Some examples of eligible Planning and Design Projects activities are assessment of routes and modes of travel, feasibility studies, public and stakeholder engagement and surveys.
A minimum of 10% of RTSF’s funding is allocated to projects that benefit Indigenous populations and communities.
One in five Canadians live in rural communities. Rural communities in Canada account for nearly 30% of the nation’s gross domestic product.
The RTSF complements Canada’s strengthened climate plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. Through the plan the federal government has committed to providing federal funding for public transit in support of making clean and affordable transportation available in every community.
The new Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF) will provide an average of $3 billion a year of permanent funding to respond to local transit needs by enhancing integrated planning, improving access to public transit and active transportation, and supporting the development of more affordable, sustainable, and inclusive communities.
The CPTF meets the needs of communities of all sizes, from large metropolitan areas, to mid-size and smaller communities, including rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities.
Since 2015, the federal government has committed over $30 billion for public transit and active transportation projects. These historic investments have resulted in close to 2000 projects across the country.

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