Yukon Liberals must provide more detail on runway project: Emily Tredger

August 11, 2022

Whitehorse, YT — Whitehorse Centre MLA Emily Tredger is calling on the Yukon Liberals to release more details about their plan for Puckett’s Gulch ahead of a public hearing slated for mid-September.

The Liberal government has requested that the City of Whitehorse rezone a parcel of land on the Eastern edge of the Whitehorse airport to accommodate the extension of a runway to comply with new Transport Canada regulations.

“The Liberals haven’t not done their homework. Expecting citizens to speak to a project at a public hearing when so little detail has been provided is unreasonable,” Emily Tredger, MLA for Whitehorse Centre, said Tuesday, Aug. 11.

The airport trail near Puckett’s Gulch is a treasured recreational trail for downtown residents, tourists, and commuters from across Whitehorse. The information provided to the public only shows a two-dimensional overhead view of the area to be rezoned.

It makes no mention of what rerouting the Whitehorse Airport Trail would look like, or what would happen to the two commuter trails up and down the clay cliffs.

“Downtown residents have been coming to me, asking what will happen to the trail, to the gulch and to the stairs? YG needs to be clear with citizens and with Whitehorse City Council about what they intend to do with the area before coming to council with a zoning request. Show us the plan,” Tredger added.

The City of Whitehorse will hold a public hearing on Monday, Sept. 12, as part of their rezoning process.

MLA Tredger is calling on the Yukon Government to release more details before the hearing so residents can ask informed questions.

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