Whitehorse mayor presents 4-year, $58M capital plan
CBC
The mayor of Whitehorse has announced the city's proposed capital plan, which includes $58 million in spending over the next four years on new snow-removal equipment, transportation improvements and other infrastructure.
Mayor Laura Cabott, speaking at Monday's city council meeting, said the plan is to meet "the demands of a growing community while making sensible and sustainable decisions."
"Over the next four years, the city will focus on maintaining and replacing aging infrastructure and will make substantial improvements to city services," Cabott added.
The plan would see almost $4 million go toward new equipment to support snow-clearing operations. That would include the purchase of two new graders with snow blades on the side to better clear snow on roadways, two dump trucks with underbody plows and two loaders.
The city is also looking at expanding a snow storage facility north of the city, in the Kulan industrial area.
Cabott said the city is also working on the Transportation Master Plan.
"This work includes exploring a second river crossing in the city, and further study of how we can improve traffic flow on Quartz Road and Mountain View Drive for traffic in and out of Porter Creek and Whistle Bend," said Cabott.
The proposed capital budget also has money set aside for accessible bus shelters with seating and a new handibus. The city has also allocated $2 million for "active transportation" improvements on Chilkoot Way.
The plan would also see $350,000 set aside to design the busy intersection at Range Road and Two Mile Hill, to make it safer for all modes of transportation.
There is also money set aside for the Canada Games Centre. Later this year, the city will be spending $500,000 for maintenance at the aquatic centre, including repair work to the deck, change rooms and pools.
Cabott also said the city needs to purchase spare parts for water and wastewater infrastructure "to make sure we can keep things running and limit service disruptions."
The city wants to contract maintenance work on its 1,100 fire hydrants, and maintain the city storm collection system.
There is also $22 million to be spent over four years for the Hillcrest Reconstruction Project. Most water, sewer and road infrastructure in the Hillcrest neighbourhood has reached the end of its service life and needs to be upgraded.
The plan would also see money go toward city buildings.
A single northbound lane on the long-awaited Pattullo Bridge replacement has opened to traffic, marking the first step in a phased opening process.
The Yukon has been grappling with an extreme cold weather system that's pushing the power grid to the brink because it can't keep up with demand.
The days leading up to Christmas day can be the most stressful time of the holidays. Especially if those days are spent travelling to the post office hoping to pick up that special, last minute gift you ordered online, just in time to put it under the tree.
The Yukon's energy provider says Whitehorse is not at imminent risk of blackouts, but with very cold weather forecasted through the holidays, residents are still being asked to conserve power.
A pedestrian is dead after a vehicle crashed into a building in Toronto, said police.
RCMP in Inuvik, N.W.T., say two youth have been arrested after officers found suspected cocaine and a loaded firearm at a home in the community.
Canada and 13 other countries issued a joint statement Wednesday condemning the Israeli security cabinet's approval of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Alberta health officials are flagging the circulation of a rare bacteria known as Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) among homeless adults living in Calgary.
The future of a prominent building in London's Old East Village (OEV), once home to the London Food Incubator, is looking uncertain following the relocation of its anchor tenant and the planned departure of another.
As Yukon continues to deal with a prolonged spell of extreme cold, emergency officials are advising people to be prepared in case of a power outage.
Police say they have found and arrested 47-year-old Douglas Yetman, a man wanted for murder.
Confirmed flu cases in northeastern Ontario are much higher now than they were at the same period last year.
The organization that represents some of America's largest spirits producers is calling for the NSLC to remove a policy that gives preferential markup to Nova Scotian spirit products.