Yukon and federal governments announce funding for community infrastructure projects
Almost $19M in federal funding is available to Yukon communities for 2025-26
The Yukon and federal governments announced $18.75 million in funding for community infrastructure projects in the territory at a news conference Friday morning.
The federal funds are from the Canada Community-Building Fund and support local infrastructure projects like recreation facilities, roads and airports. Municipalities, communities and First Nations receive a designated amount of money each year and it is up to them to decide how they want to use it.
“Communities get to choose their own priorities,” said Yukon Premier Mike Pemberton.
This year, Yukon communities have already used more than $5 million from the fund for various infrastructure projects. These include water and sanitation upgrades for Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, landfill upgrades for Dawson City, and improvements to Two Mile Hill in Whitehorse.
“These funds help Yukon First Nations, municipalities and unincorporated communities undertake projects that address local infrastructure priorities now and in the future,” said Yukon MP Brendan Hanley.
The City of Whitehorse previously used funding from the same program to resurface the track at the Canada Games Centre this winter and Watson Lake is using the fund to improve its Wye Lake recreation trail.
The territory will receive money from the Canada Community-Building Fund annually over the next decade, said Yukon Minster of Community Services Richard Mostyn.
“The reason we’re here today is [that] the Yukon signed an agreement with Ottawa that solidified the Canada Community-Building Fund commitment … and it will continue for the next 10 years.”
The agreement between Yukon and federal governments lasts until 2034.
Hanley said the funding will help address the need for housing in the territory by supporting infrastructure development that is needed alongside housing.
“We can’t have housing without the infrastructure to support it,” said Hanley. “We need all orders of government to work together to get homes built at a scale and a speed that we have not seen since the Second World War.”
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: N.W.T. officials provide update on major infrastructure projects, some rising costs, CBC News
Norway: Norway, UK team up to protect subsea infrastructure against Russian hybrid attacks, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Putin in Arkhangelsk: Arctic industry and infrastructure on agenda, The Independent Barents Observer
