The Yukon is growing fast. Between 2013 and 2024, our population climbed 27.7%, adding 10,104 people. As aformer Whitehorse City Councillor, I’ve watched the territorial Liberals squander that potential by cramming nearly half that growth—4,694 new residents—into just two neighbourhoods: Whistle Bend and Porter Creek.

Those areas ballooned from 3,824 to 8,518 people, a 122.8% spike, while the rest of the Yukon barely felt a ripple in comparison. The
result? Overburdened communities, gridlocked roads, and a worsening housing crisis.

Take Mountain View Drive. Built decades ago, when Porter Creek was a sleepy suburb and Whistle Bend didn’t exist, it was never meant to handle this load. Now, traffic’s a mess and residents are paying the price with longer commutes and soaring costs. Worse, the territorial government has left municipalities like Whitehorse without adequate resources or a strategy to cope.

The fact of the matter is that the Liberals burdened the north end of Whitehorse with being 100% responsible for absorbing the territory’s growth without making commensurate investments in its supportive infrastructure. It’s shortsighted and unfair.

Looking ahead, the stakes get higher. Canada’s aiming to welcome 395,000 new immigrants this year, and if trends hold, Yukon could see another 11,000 residents by 2035. Without a real plan, the Liberals’ approach threatens more gridlock and unaffordable homes. I saw this coming three years ago on council, pushing for answers and action.

One fix seemed obvious: unlock federal lands for housing so that other areas of the Yukon can absorb some of the population growth. Since 2018, Ottawa’s Liberals have promised to release vacant properties, but nothing moved until I pressed the issue in 2023. Late last year, both the Yukon and Ottawa touted Range Road lands—space for hundreds of homes that could ease the pressure on Whistle Bend and Porter Creek.

I thought we’d turned a corner.

But it’s smoke and mirrors. As of February 25, 2025, Public Services and Procurement Canada admits those lots are stuck in a “market-sounding phase”—no timeline, no progress. Just more of the same.

By forcing all growth into one corner of Whitehorse, the Yukon Liberals have overwhelmed municipal services. Meanwhile, their poor planning has done little to diversify development or hold the feds accountable. Crown land sits unused while our constituents suffer.

This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people. Yukon deserves sustainable growth shared across every neighbourhood. We need real action, not photo-ops. We need land unlocked, infrastructure funded, and a territorial government that stops pointing fingers at Ottawa and starts leading. Without it, Yukoners will keep paying the price: in traffic jams, rent hikes, and lost opportunities.

It’s time for better.