Dear Editor:

Despite promises, plans and money from Ottawa, there is another winter’s snow, but no new affordable rental housing, on the ground in Whitehorse.

For eight years, the Cathers/Pasloski government sat on millions of federal housing dollars while residents faced high rents and limited options.

This summer, in the face of pressure from special interests closely linked to the Yukon Party, Brad Cathers cancelled plans for 75 new affordable rental units.

Mr. Silver:   I have a question for the Premier.

Many Yukoners no longer trust the government when it comes to affordable housing, and with good reason. They have been burned by this government too often and now they have no confidence in the minister. Over the last three years, we have seen this government’s lack of action result in criticism from housing advocates, the Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Yukon Communities, and several businesses as well.

We also saw the City of Whitehorse take the extraordinary step of asking for the removal of the current minister because of his unwillingness to work with them on affordable housing. In a statement yesterday, the Premier carefully avoided directly backing the minister, so I will ask him this question: Does the Premier have confidence in the housing minister?

Mr. Silver:   I rise on behalf of the Yukon Liberal Party to also acknowledge A Safe Place.

Since last December, A Safe Place, a program run in conjunction with the Yukon Status of Women Council, Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre and the Second Opinion Society, has been helping women and children with a warm meal and a roof over their heads. What had started as a pilot project had quickly grown into a necessity for the communities. A Safe Place provides a drop-in program, after-hours and on weekends where other services are not available, and it is targeted toward women who lack stable housing, have mental health issues, or are just having a hard time providing enough food for their children and for themselves.