So-called green streets in Whitehorse’s Whistle Bend neighbourhood are an evergreen issue for the MLA who represents people who live there.
Recently, unseasonable temperatures that melted snow piles into large puddles and formed potholes throughout the city last month drove Yvonne Clarke, Yukon Party MLA for Porter Creek Centre, to address a letter dated Jan. 31 to Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn about the area and home flooding ahead of the spring thaw.
“This is completely unacceptable for these homeowners,” she writes.
Clarke notes that residents of green streets who previously saw flooding in their new homes were having issues again amid the abnormally warm January weather.
Clarke acknowledges that some work has been done to fix the cause of the flooding, but the problem hasn’t been fixed.
One resident on Iditarod Lane who has been experiencing issues with water entering their home starting in spring 2023 has been in contact with the city, the Yukon government and Northwestel, according to Clarke. Other neighbours are going through the same thing.
Clarke says people who live on green streets are majorly concerned about more flooding to come this spring.
Clarke wants to know if the problems will be solved before the weather warms up next season and what redress residents can expect from the Yukon government. She demands that the Yukon government commits to not passing the buck of costs to fix damage and deficiencies onto area residents.
On Feb. 8, cabinet communications confirmed by email that the minister’s office has received the letter.
The News requested an interview with the minister but, “respectfully, and out of common courtesy” Mostyn’s office will respond directly to the MLA who sent the letter.
As of press time, Clarke has not gotten a response.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
