Photo by Whitehorse Star
Ron Billingham
Sixty people applied for 19 remote lots
More than 60 applications came in for 19 remote access lots being opened in the Carcross and Tagish areas.
More than 60 applications came in for 19 remote access lots being opened in the Carcross and Tagish areas.
The Yukon government held its land lottery Wednesday afternoon, pulling the names of 19 applicants to determine who will be able to purchase the properties.
The number of applicants was more than three times the number of lots available.
However, as noted by Ron Billingham, a spokesman for the Department of Energy, Mines and Resource, for many lots, more than one family member applied to bolster the chances of securing the lot they wanted.
“There were a lot of duplications,” he said.
There are few building conditions on the one-acre properties, outside of a maximum cottage size of 100 square metres, and there are no timelines for building on the property.
The lots were created as a result of a memorandum of understanding signed last year between the Yukon government and Carcross-Tagish First Nation.
Six of the lots are on Tagish Lake and priced at $50,000 each.
The remaining 13 lots on Bennett Lake range from $45,000 to $55,000.
Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Scott Kent said Thursday he wasn’t sure what to expect with the lottery because the government has never before made remote recreational waterfront lots available through a public lottery.
For a number of years, including the 2011 election campaign, Kent said, he heard from many Yukoners wanting access to titled waterfront properties.
It’s thanks to a good working relationship with the First Nation that the government has been able to provide that opportunity, Kent stressed.
Already, he said, he’s heard from a couple of people successful in Wednesday’s lottery who are excited about their plans for the lots.
The government has already started looking at making more land in the territory available for recreational lots, he said.
While talks are underway with one First Nation, the government has also identified a number of potential areas for such lots, Kent said. It’s too early to get into details such as where those lots might be, he added.
“We’re exploring other opportunities,” he said.
The government would like to make such lots available on an annual basis, but that will depend largely on a number of factors.
Those include discussions with First Nations and the type of access available, such as boat launches and the like.
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Comments (4)
Up 2 Down 2
Salar on Sep 24, 2014 at 9:25 am
To back BnR.......lets be clear.....the original poster (great project) was accurate that FN Govs get the income tax paid by folks who live on their Category A&B lands......but in this case the land up for grabs is not FN Land....BnR accurately described it as Yukon Territorial land, within the CTFN Traditional Territory (TT)......to be clear.....TT is not Settlement Land.....CTFN are looking to partner with YG on other land, etc. initiatives and this is a quid pro quo.
If YG could find a more wind swept location for the waterfront properties they seem bent on providing to Yukoners (60 applicants hardly defines an overwhelming interest) I'll be impressed.....not surprising CTFN agreed to this development......they have never and would never use that area anyway.
Up 3 Down 38
keeping more money in the Yukon is a smart move on Sep 22, 2014 at 10:29 pm
If the Carcross First Nation can retain more of the taxes we pay to the Federal Government in the Yukon from Canada and comes back to the Yukon for the Yukon is a great benefit for all Yukoner's. That means more of our tax dollars stay here in the Yukon to benefit and support our life style and standard of living. I see that 7 people do not agree with this situation. This means they do not understand the truth of how land claims can benefit all of us in the Yukon or are just against the First Nation wanting to be successful for all all of us. I am not a Yukon First Nations person but understand the principals of land claims and how it can gain great opportunity for first nations and all of Yukoner's.
I do not understand anyone against progress but only anti First Nation progress. The Yukon progress and wealth is 80% government. We are all live of the progress of Canadians. Some think the First Nations are total government driven. Our country has always been the driver of our wealth distribution or driver of our economy in other regions and supporting regions of Canada over the last 150 years. The Yukon is no different. Think about the success of land claims and what it means to all of us.
Up 6 Down 16
BnR on Sep 22, 2014 at 3:16 pm
While the economic initiatives that the CTFN have undertaken are very worthwile and show great promise for their members, the article above concerns recreation lots located on crown land, and are not located on any CTFN settlement blocks. The lots are located within CTFN traditional territory.
Up 12 Down 10
Great Project Carcross Great Idea First Nations on Sep 20, 2014 at 4:08 pm
Carcross First Nation using their opportunities to build their wealth and create jobs for their people. Very smart move. Anyone living on these lots the Carcross First Nation will receive part of their income taxes. More people living in the area means more revenues for the First Nations and non First Nations businesses. The whole community wins. First Nations are starting to build their own future and Carcross is a great example. You are building the positive future for all Yukoner's.