Contractors employing Yukoners on the city’s operations building could be eligible for rebates under the territory’s business incentive program.

Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai and Mayor Dan Curtis announced Friday the program would apply to the city’s proposed operations building to be built off Range Road towards Two Mile Hill, estimated to cost $54.9 million.

The program provides rebates to general and subcontractors who hire a minimum of 80 per cent Yukon labour on eligible Yukon government construction contracts. The rebates are only eligible on contracts worth $100,000 or more.

In this case, the city and territory worked together to have the program apply to a city project.

Rebates are also available for hiring registered Yukon apprentices and youth on eligible construction contracts.

Curtis praised Pillai during an interview this morning.

He highlighted the significant effort to have the incentive apply to the city project after the Yukon Contractors Association highlighted its desire to have the project made eligible.

“We’ve been working on this for several months,” Curtis said.

He added he was pleased to have the announcement made prior to the request for proposals (RFP) going out on the building.

That RFP was released this morning on the city’s website at http://www.whitehorse.ca/Home/Components/RFP/RFP/2634/1952 A deadline for proposals has been set for July 6 at 3 p.m.

As stated on the city website: “The new operations building will serve as the new home for several city departments.

“It will replace old, energy-inefficient, poorly located buildings and will meet the growing community needs for efficient and improved municipal services.

“The building project consists of the following approximate quantities:

• Site development: grading; gravel and paved parking lots; and paved access road.

• Energized parking spaces.

• New building area of 10,900 sq. m. including:

• Admin area of 1,600 sq. metres

• Operations main floor area of 8,120 sq. metres

Operations upper floor area of 1,180 sq. metres

• Separate wash bay of 575 sq. metres

• Energy efficiency equipment including 300 kw photo-voltaics.”

Curtis said he’s not expecting the program eligibility will mean more proposals coming in for the work.

However, he said it could mean more Yukon tradespeople and apprentices working on the building.

“It’s a real incentive (to hire local),” he said, once again pointing out he’s pleased that the work has been done to offer the rebate program.

It’s wonderful to have partnerships with all levels of government, Curtis said.

The territory is planning to budget about $1.2 million over two years for the rebates that contractors would apply for after the building is complete in 2019.