Newsletter: November 1, 2025
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- Nov 19
- 9 min read
City of Whitehorse Public Hearing
The City of Whitehorse is undertaking a Public Hearing attached for Bylaw 2025-41 to amend the zoning of 25 Rhine Way and 468 Range Road from RCM2 – Comprehensive Residential Multiple Family 2, and CM1 – Mixed Use Commercial to CM1x(b) – Mixed Use Commercial (Modified), to allow for the extension of a housing development for seniors with related commercial services. The Public Hearing is scheduled for November 24, 2025, and you can find more information at https://www.whitehorse.ca/business-in-whitehorse/zoning/current-amendments/
Yukon Election 2025: Candidates Q&A
Candidates:
Abdullah Khalid (Liberal Party)
Kate White (NDP)
Logan Freese (Yukon Party)
Topic 1: Chasan Chua Territorial Park
Background and questions provided to candidates
Takhini residents have identified protection of neighbourhood green space as a priority. To this end, we have been delighted with the announcement to create Chasan Chua (McIntyre Creek) Park. However, we are concerned that the level of protection for the park has not yet been established, to our knowledge. We would also like to see the boundary changed such that the park includes the section of land between Takhini North and the Alaska Highway opposite Kopper King, which is presently excluded. (This includes the area sometimes known as the gravel pit and extends to the University Pumphouse area.) Beyond the neighbourhood, we are also concerned about the exclusions of significant chunks of land adjacent to the creek, including near Raven's Ridge, the ATCO Pumphouse Pond and near the Copper Haul Road
What level of environmental protection do you support for the Park? Would you support or oppose mining within the Park?
Would you support expanding the Park boundaries, including the section of land described above and possibly other areas adjacent to the Creek? If not, why not?
Responses
Abdullah Khalid, Liberal Party
Earlier this year, the Yukon Liberal Government established Chasàn Chùa as a territorial park — a major milestone that protects approximately 36 square kilometres of forest, wetlands, and trails within Whitehorse. Creating this park was the result of years of collaboration among Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, the City of Whitehorse, and the Government of Yukon. The establishment of Chasàn Chùa is one of Yukon’s most significant conservation achievements in recent decades.
We support ongoing work to strengthen protection for Chasàn Chùa and recognize the area’s importance as both a wildlife corridor and a recreation hub central to Whitehorse’s identity. Any future changes to the park’s boundaries — including potential refinements must be guided by close collaboration with Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, and the City of Whitehorse as the primary governments responsible for the region. This process must also be informed by input from community stakeholders, including the Takhini Neighborhood Association.
The creation of Chasàn Chùa Park demonstrated that Yukon can protect critical landscapes in a way that respects Indigenous rights, supports community growth, and reflects diverse values. We are proud of that achievement and remain committed to building on it through transparent, inclusive management planning that ensures the long-term protection and enjoyment of this important area.
Specific to mining, we signed a Letter of Intent with Gladiator Metals and H. Coyne & Sons Ltd. (June 2025), providing a cooperative framework for the voluntary relinquishment of mineral claims within Chasàn Chùa. We are committed to fulfilling that agreement and to ensuring the long-term integrity of the park and surrounding recreation areas, while maintaining respect for legal rights and existing tenure.
We would also note that some of the boundaries you reference as wanting to see modified, such as directly across from the Kopper King, include Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council Settlement Land.
Kate White, NDP
We do not support mining within municipal boundaries. If elected, we will ban mining within municipalities. We would be very pleased to work with affected First Nations and the City of Whitehorse to extend the boundaries of the Chasan Chua Park to its earlier, larger suggested boundary. We would be very happy to work with the associations of affected neighbourhoods (including Takhini, Raven’s Ridge, and Copper Ridge), the Whitehorse Nordic Society, and others to determine what the precise boundaries of the park should be.
Logan Freese, Yukon Party
The Chasàn Chùa Territorial Park was just announced this summer. Changes to the boundaries would involve further consultations with First Nations governments and the City of Whitehorse. Future conversations will take place between the Yukon government, Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council and the City of Whitehorse in order to develop a long-term management plan for the park. This will identify how decisions are made on future management of activities within the park. It is possible to include changes to the current boundaries within these discussions, however it will have to be a decision made in partnership with those governments. We have heard from others about the topic of relinquishing mining claims in the area.
We would need to speak with the proponent to understand their interest and plans in order to explore the possibility of relinquishing mining claims. We commit to having these conversations should the Yukon Party form government.
Topic 2: Underpass on Alaska Highway
Background and questions provided to candidates
A feasibility study has been conducted at the instigation of local citizens to explore the idea of an Alaska Highway underpass between the Takhini neighbourhood and the trail system, CGC and neighbourhoods on the opposite side of the highway. The study found positive reasons for building an underpass for reasons of safety, social equity, improving active transportation options and connecting neighbourhoods and destinations.
Do you support construction of an Alaska Highway underpass?
Would you advocate for Yukon Government funds to be spent on construction of such an underpass?
Responses
Abdullah Khalid, Liberal Party
The Department of Highways and Public Works has reviewed the feasibility study for the underpass, and the results will be factored into future planning for that highway corridor. However, the current priority for the Yukon Liberal Party will be the completion of a separated multi-use pathway along that corridor, with planning for that project now underway. If re-elected, we will ensure that this critical safety measure moves forward.
Kate White, NDP
We are committed to a safe highway crossing between the Takhini neighborhood and the opposite side of the Alaska Highway. We will work to ensure that funding exists for this important safety project. We imagine this will require funding from multiple sources.
Logan Freese, Yukon Party
Due to the uncertain fiscal situation, the construction of an Alaska Highway underpass is not a priority of the Yukon Party at this time.
Topic 3: Whitehorse Elementary School Relocation to Takhini
Background and questions provided to candidates
The location that is currently proposed for the WES relocation is not compliant with the city's official community plan. In addition, the selection criteria for a new school was unnecessarily restricted to "educational reserve land" which does not represent all available locations that should be considered when building a school. As well, the traffic assessment indicates that if 50% of the students for the new WES take the bus, there will be an additional 669 trips during the morning peak. Range Road already experiences daily congestion during peak times.
If you form government, do you commit to reviewing all possible school locations, and ensuring that the proposed school location is compliant with the city's official community plan?
Will your government commit to funding the city's improvements to Range Road?
Responses
Abdullah Khalid, Liberal Party
We understand the position of the Takhini Neighbourhood Association with regards to the relocation of EWES. We recently released a summary of public feedback from the engagement sessions which took place last spring.
There was a wide range of feedback including both enthusiasm and concern. While many respondents recognized potential benefits—such as new sport and recreation facilities and opportunities to support active transportation—significant concerns were raised about traffic congestion on Range Road, the capacity of current infrastructure, and the potential impacts on the Takhini neighbourhood, its residents, and existing school community. Those concerns will continue to be important factors in the planning of the project going forward.
We remain committed to this project, because we feel that the benefits to the community are strong. As this project benefits students across Whitehorse, we must consider the needs of the community as a whole. However, we are committed to mitigating all of the concerns highlighted above as much as possible. This includes working with the City to implement the traffic mitigation measures identified in the traffic study.
Kate White, NDP
The Yukon NDP has advocated extremely hard to get the previous Liberal government to provide some transparency about possible locations for a new elementary school, to carry out authentic engagement with the Takhini Neighbourhood Association and the Takhini Elementary School Council, the City of Whitehorse, and with residents who will be affected by the move.
We do not support having Ecole Whitehorse Elementary right next to Takhini Elementary because the community of Takhini was never meaningfully consulted on the issue. We recognize that Takhini Elementary itself needs to be replaced, and this is where our priority lies for educational planning for the neighbourhood of Takhini.
We absolutely commit to reviewing all possible locations and ensuring that the school will be compliant with the city’s official community plan. We will also work with the City of Whitehorse to fund improvements to Range Road, which is an essential artery for traffic and certainly needs improvements for safety as well as increased traffic flow.
Logan Freese, Yukon Party
The Yukon Party has committed to cancelling the planned construction of a replacement for Ecole Whitehorse Elementary School on the Takhini Education Reserve and consult with the school community to consider alternative locations or options for the next new school in Whitehorse.
With respect to Range Road improvements, if we are successful in forming government, we will commit to meeting with municipalities to discuss their priorities for infrastructure projects.
Topic 4: Range Road Lot Development
Background and questions provided to candidates
Currently, Range Road divides and separates the Takhini neighbourhood. The City's Official Community Plan identifies Range Road as one of six urban centres in Whitehorse. The vision is for Range Road to become a vibrant commercial and transit hub, providing much needed amenities to residents of Takhini and Whitehorse alike. YG owns several under-utilized lots along Range Road including the Core Library, the Transportation Engineering Branch and the Coroner's Office.
If elected, how would you ensure these lots are developed to realize the vision for Range Road as a vibrant community hub, stitching Takhini neighbourhood back together?
Responses
Abdullah Khalid, Liberal Party
We agree with the vision of transforming Range Road into a vibrant community hub, though the
responsibility for that ultimately lies with the City of Whitehorse. If re-elected, we would support conversations between the Yukon Government and the City of Whitehorse about how under-utilized Yukon Government lots could be used towards that goal.
In our platform we have several relevant commitments related to creating a vibrant community. This includes creating an incentive program to bring brownfield and abandoned lots to market and continuing to advocate for the Government of Canada to release their Range Road parcel for affordable housing purposes.
Kate White, NDP
Part of our housing plan involves reviewing underutilized lots owned by the Yukon Government, to find better uses, especially uses that fulfill the objectives of the community plan. We would work with the City of Whitehorse to realize the vision of Range Road as a vibrant community hub and urban centre in the city.
Logan Freese, Yukon Party
The Yukon Party has committed to a plan that will improve how land is developed in the Yukon. This includes facilitating the development of underutilized land. By acquiring vacant or abandoned lots, particularly in Whitehorse, we can prepare them for vibrant mixed-use development. This includes negotiating transfers from the federal government, partnering with the City of Whitehorse on municipal lots and considering fair market buyouts for private lots to consolidate parcels for housing and other projects.
This plan also includes preparing sites for development and working with the private sector to demolish derelict structures, remediate contaminated sites, and rezone lots in coordination with the City of Whitehorse and other communities for higher density residential and commercial uses to revitalize neighbourhoods.
Topic 5: HART Intersection
Background and questions provided to candidates
A new intersection is being designed in collaboration with the City of Whitehorse at Hamilton Boulevard, Alaska Highway, Range Road and 2 Mile Hill (HART intersection).
Does your party commit to selecting a design that prioritizes safety and efficiency of pedestrians and active commuters, such as grade separation? If so, how do you propose to do that? If not, why not?
Responses
Abdullah Khalid, Liberal Party
As you note, this project is a collaboration between the Yukon Government and the City of Whitehorse. The final design will be chosen together as well. However, through the length of this project we are committed to a design that makes walking, biking, transit, and driving through these intersections easier, safer, and more enjoyable.
Kate White, NDP
The Yukon NDP commits to a design that prioritizes the safety and efficiency of pedestrians and active commuters, such as grade separation. To do so, we will work with the City of Whitehorse and use the official community plan. Safety of Range Road, and the Range Road and 2 Mile Hill intersection must be at the heart of any action.
Logan Freese, Yukon Party
The Yukon Party is committed to working in collaboration with the City of Whitehorse to identify and help see through their priority projects. We will review work that has been done to date, and see what steps and further consultations and planning need to be done before determining what this project will look like. I can commit that safety and efficiency are two priorities for these upgrades, and must be incorporated into any final work.