Forum for Whitehorse Mayoral Candidates Held Yesterday

Friday, 5 October 2018 13:04

A picture of the four candidates who spoke yesterday.

The event got underway at the Gold Rush Inn at 6 pm.

The mayoral candidate forum got underway yesterday at 6pm at the Gold Rush Inn in Whitehorse and the candidates included current mayor Dan Curtis, Wilf Carter, Colin LaForme and Rick Karp.

Approximately 100 people attended the event and questions ranging from budget expenses to affordable housing to transit services were answered between all candidates at the event which ran until 9 pm.

Two rounds of debate were included with the forum, and respondents had two minutes to answer questions posed by the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce.

Dan Curtis commented on a project the city is currently doing to help address affordable housing and the current situation of those who are homeless.

"We talk briefly about the Cornerstone Development on Main Street. Right now we have 195 people that are precariously housed in our community that are essentially homeless and living on couches. With that building with which the City of Whitehorse was able to find a million dollars through lacking of development permits, not to mention the leverage they had with the crown corporation of Yukon Housing, that unit alone is going to have 46 homes, 23 of which are going be of assisted living and seven of which are going to be condos that are going to help pay for it".

Colin LaForme also proposed the city change the height restriction bylaw to allow for increased density in the downtown core, which he says would help fix transit issues for low-income housed residents living in the suburbs.

Rick Karp suggests working with land developers and involving more with First Nations in regards to land development in the city.

Porter Creek D, a narrowing of a wildlife corridor in the Official Community Plan and an important place for area First Nations, was opposed by the majority of the candidates.

Wilf Carter also mentioned a problem facing the city and a proposed solution.

"Right now we have ten lots available in the city, we should have 200. (One) thing that I would do that would be smart right now is to start build a cooperative type of program for our city development."

The City of Whitehorse will elect their next mayor and six counselors on October 18th.

More from CHON-FM Northern News

Whitehorse Emergency Shelter Sees Another Tragic Death, Family Demands Answers

Bailey's biological father also died at the shelter in 2021, and she claims that the shelter's staff provided conflicting accounts of the circumstances surrounding the death of her Step father.
Yukon Risks Blackouts This Winter as Hydro Power Plant Undergoes Repairs

The Aishihik turbine was critically damaged in October, and repair work is not expected to be completed until spring.
Yukon government accused of budgeting interference

Letters from three independent officers of the assembly question Management Board for changing budgets after approval.
Liard First Nation chief has lost confidence, been suspended by his community

LFN citizens who attended a public meeting Tuesday in Watson Lake overwhelmingly sided with the Deputy Chief and Council members who drafted a resolution to have Chief Stephen Charlie suspended from his duties
Liard First Nation Employees Fired After Advocating for Change

Emeral Poppe and Diana Lee Jimmy have been vocal advocates for change within Liard First Nation, raising concerns over transparency.
YFNED kicks off fifth-annual winter hamper program

"We try to support local as much as we can." - YFNED Acting Director of First Nation Initiatives Kim Rumley
Broken generator at Aishihik Generating Station puts pressure on the Yukon's electricity grid

The 12-megawatt generator failed due to a part malfunction, according to the Yukon Energy Corporation
Intergovernmental Forum takes place in Ottawa - not Yukon - for second year running

Forum discussed collaborative approaches to funding the implementation of Final and Self-Government Agreements.
Suspected contamination at the abandoned Wolverine Mine: Yukon government

The Yukon government has been addressing water treatment issues at the site since the mine's abandonment in 2015
Food For Fines Campaign Returns to Whitehors

Eligible tickets include: Expired parking meter fines, and Two-hour zone fines.
Yukon First Nations leadership and Yukon government leadership meet for 30th Yukon Forum

This was the third Yukon Forum of 2024. The last will be the Intergovernmental Forum in Ottawa in December.
Shot in the Dark Productions premiered two films at the Yukon Arts Centre

Shot in the Dark Productions believes puppets can captivate both children and adults, conveying important environmental science themes through entertainment.
Former Connective staff acquitted of sexual assault and exploitation charges

Judge Gurmail Gill found Omale not guilty due to inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony and lack of forensic evidence.
Whitehorse RCMP officers to start using body-worn cameras

The Yukon RCMP adopts body-worn cameras to bolster trust, accountability, and transparency in its community services
Whitehorse Community Thrift Store volunteers stop work following store manager's termination by its board of directors.

Thrift store society founder Karen Weinberg says the manager was fired for raising safety concerns.
Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin, Yukon NDP blast Yukon government for delays in Dawson Regional Land Use Plan

“Every day this plan doesn’t get done is another day of status quo for the mining industry. It’s starting to feel like this is by design.” - Yukon NDP Leader Kate White
Newly elected Whitehorse Mayor and Council sworn into office

Mayor Kirk Cameron and Councillors Anne Middler, Dan Boyd, Lenore Morris, Eileen Melynchuk, Jenny Hamilton, and Paolo Gallina have taken their oaths of office.
2024 Yukon River fall chum salmon run records dismal numbers

The Porcupine River revealed alarmingly low numbers, with 16,275 and 8,368 fish recorded
Trial of Former Connective residential support worker accused of sexually assaulting a vulnerable client commenced in Whitehorse territorial court on Monday.

Omale, 38 has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a person with a disability stemming from September 2023.
Whitehorse residents join Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition's Actions for Accountability Rally

Dozens of people marked Poverty and Homelessness Accountability week with a walk to the Jim Smith building, where the mother of a homeless man spent the night camping in the parking lot.