Workers wrap up clearing piles of dead trees in Whistle Bend after clearing the lots for future development. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – The Yukon Party and NDP are taking aim at the Liberal government’s land policies, saying they are driving up the cost of housing.
Yukon Party candidate Ted Laking says the use of a blind-bid tender system, where developers submit offers without knowing what others are bidding, has inflated land prices that are passed on to buyers.
“Land represents a significant portion of home construction expenses, and these increases to prices, which are directly as a result of government policy, end up directly affecting final housing prices significantly,” Laking stated in a press release.
The government recently released lots in Whistle Bend for tender. NDP Leader Kate White says the process has pushed land prices up 35 per cent compared with last year and is calling for tenders to be paused while the system is reviewed.
The Liberals defended the process, saying lot prices reflect independent appraisals and higher post-pandemic development costs. Cabinet Communications said the government absorbed $14 million in costs to keep Whistle Bend prices lower.
