Coun. Dan Boyd’s motion calling for a review of the Yukon government’s new land titles policy was passed unanimously by city council at its meeting Tuesday.

The motion notes the government changed its requirement to obtain a land title from a residence being clad to weather to a residence requiring an occupancy permit issued by the City of Whitehorse.

“This requirement may create unnecessary delays in the transfer of homes from builder to buyer, and increased costs to homeownership,” says Boyd’s motion.

It calls on the city’s new Housing and Land Development Advisory Committee to review the government’s change in policy and make recommendations regarding the requirement to obtain a occupancy permit to receive title to a property.

The motion received unanimous support, though Mayor Laura Cabott did express some reservations.

Cabott noted the advisory committee just received approval from council of its work plan going forward.

The volunteer committee, she said, has been asked to make recommendations to council in time for a major housing summit this fall.

Putting more on the committee’s plate could prove a burden and have an impact on its members, she suggested.

The advisory committee has been charged with looking at city policies that may affect the supply of housing and make recommendations to council, she explained.

Cabott said the change in the government’s title policy is outside of the city’s jurisdiction.

The mayor said she would support the motion, but she won’t be endorsing any motions in the future directing a city committee to look at matters outside it’s jurisdiction.

Boyd told council the advisory committee has a mandate to examine housing policies and report to council.

Reviewing the government’s change in policy does fit within its mandate, he said.

Boyd said the community would be well served by learning more about the overall intent of the policy change.

The government has moved away from a longstanding policy in place for decades for reasons that are not perfectly clear, he told his colleagues.

He said they’ve heard from industry, the Yukon Contractors Association and the Yukon Real Estate Association.

“They are pretty concerned about it,” he said.

Marc Perreault, president of the real estate association, sent Boyd a letter this week expressing support for his motion to have the advisory committee review the change in policy and report back to council.

“We feel this policy and other recent policies introduced by the Yukon government are contributing to the increased costs and delays to new home construction,” Perreault writes in his letter.

Murray Arsenault, president of the contractors association, also wrote Boyd this week expressing support for his motion.

“While we assume the Government of Yukon’s goal through this policy change was to find ways to improve the housing industry, we are worried that this policy will actually add red tape and negatively impact the housing market,” Arsenault writes.

“For example, these changes will result in an additional period of time of up to 30 days between receipt of the occupancy permit and the request for transfer of title.”

In the legislative assembly Wednesday, Yukon Party MLA Scott Kent challenged Energy, Mines and Resources (EMR) Minister John Streicker’s decision to make the policy change without consulting industry.

Kent cited the letters of concern from the contractors and real estate associations.

“So will the minister now acknowledge that the policy change is raising serious concerns about its impact in the housing industry?” Kent asked.

Streicker said he has been in contact with the city this week.

EMR staff and land development branch employees work with the city’s advisory committee, so the department is happy to get the feedback, the minister said.

He said they’ve worked to reach out to the building sector, but they also want to talk with homeowners to make sure the policy is as good as it can be.

“Too bad that hadn’t happened, Mr. Speaker, before the policy was introduced....” Kent retorted.

He asked Streicker, given the concerns being raised, if he would consider cancelling the policy until after he has consulted with the housing industry about its impact before imposing the policy.

Streicker explained that prior to the policy, title could be raised when a home was clad to weather, without any inspection by the building inspector at the clad-to-weather stage.

“We are happy to continue to look at the policy, and the deputy minister has reached out to the contractors association and has reached out to the City of Whitehorse,” he said.

Streicker emphazied, however, that he has no intention of cancelling the next land lottery in Whistle Bend scheduled for later this year while the policy is reviewed.