My name is Gary Pettifor and I joined the Marsh Lake LAC (Local Advisory Council) and I am the Councillor for Ward #4 (Army Beach and South McClintock areas). When we had a 100 year flood in 2007, CEO of Yukon Energy (YE) asked the Yukon Government Executive Committee (YGEC) for permission to lower the Schwatka Lake reservoir one meter lower to the lower limit of their water licence. The YGEC said no. Fast forward to the 500 year flood in 2021. YE lowered the Schwatka Lake reservoir one metre before the flood. Minister John Streicker and Mr. Travis Richie (YE’s Engineer) state that they just found out that lowering Schwatka reservoir knocked 18 inches off of the high water flood in 2021. This means in 2007 the YG Executive Committee caused 18 inches of higher water which put 10.5 inches of water in my garage and caused a lot of unnecessary damage to local resident’s properties.
In 2021 (when we got the 500 year flood), the Liberals do a drone elevation study of every square foot of our properties. In 2022, Minister Streicker stated that YG would do a study on the flooding. We point out that we have had five YG studies done already, but were told the studies had to be updated. Next Minister Streicker stated YG had to do a study on the ground water. 2021-2023 then Minister Streicker stated that YG is trying to get federal funding for flood proofing. 2022 Minister Streicker stated YG was doing a Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) study because there were two types of willows on the South McClintock road which needs raising. Note: YG slashed a clearance of willows on Army Beach Drive in 2019 with no YESAB study. 2022-2024 Minister Streicker ignores the LAC and forms a Water Committee to communicate Ward 4’s concerns. This Water Committee has done a professional job in how to proceed and basically do YG’s job. This was to get more people involved so YG could muddy the waters more and justify doing nothing. 2024 next Minister Streicker tells the LAC that YG is doing flood mapping. 2023 Nov. 8 Minister Streicker admits at the LAC meeting that YG has allocated zero dollars for doing any flood prevention. Minister Streicker states “there is no point in anyone protecting their property frontages unless everyone does”. I am in total agreement with his statement. I told him I had the worst neighbour ever as YG is my neighbour which is an easement used for vehicle access to the beach. YG has not put one penny into permanent flood protection in this or any of the YG easements. 2024 we thought we would get some actual flood prevention done, but no, the Liberals have commissioned two more studies costing $50,000 each. The first to study ground water, ditch options and pumping. The second to look at the idea of a continuous lake front berm. Really, a study to study an idea.
I have heard people say why we should care about you, you built on a flood plain. First we checked all of the historical records and built accordingly. Since 2007, we have literally put $300,000 of our own money into flood protection. We put a 200-foot concrete wall down our lot line next to YG’s easement as the government said that the 2007 was a one in a hundred year flood. My wall is built for the 100-year flood not for the 2021-year flood. Talking to the local contractor, all four easements could be protected for less than $30,000. We need 0.7 of a kilometre of South McClintock road raised about a foot. You do not need a study or to be an intellectual giant to know a road needs elevating when you see 700 feet of super sand bags wrapped in poly to keep the interior of our peninsula from flooding. We need the pump station at the south end of Army Beach Drive made workable which would cost less than $25,000. To recap: six studies, one water committee and still not one penny spent by YG on permanent flood protection. In 2023, Minister Streicker told the Marsh Lake LAC that the Lewes Dam would be repaired and updated in 2024. This August the LAC inquired why nothing has been done to fix the Lewes Dam and Minister Streicker says now it is up to the brand new CEO of Yukon Energy. Three years after the dam is damaged, YG has just now started the YESAB process and the engineering. Total incompetence!
In 2008, when the Yukon Party was in power, Army Beach Drive was raised three feet. South McClintock Road was raised and both roads were chip sealed. Some low properties were bought by YG. Some repayable money was made available at zero per cent interest for 15 years. I have talked to the Yukon Party leader who has stated that it would be a priority to do this flood prevention. Common sense, a little money now verses a huge unnecessary amount of money later.
What I am hearing is we do not believe anything a YG Liberal says or promises. I am disappointed in the Liberal government’s lack of action on recommendations provided to them. Unless the Liberals actually do flood prevention we are voting Yukon Party.
Gary Pettifor
Marsh Lake
