Yukon Liberals and NDP reach deal to postpone controversial energy retrofit bill
CBC
The Yukon Liberals and NDP reached a deal in the Legislature this week to delay controversial legislation that would create an energy retrofit program until the government does more consultation with municipalities on it.
The government hoped to pass a short seven-page bill with amendments to the Municipal and Taxation Act before the end of the fall session, setting the stage for the creation of the retrofit program.
While there is non-partisan support for retrofits, some municipalities expressed concern that they would be tasked with the burden of the program's administration, at a time when they are juggling COVID-19 responses with staff shortages.
That's why NDP Leader Kate White reached out to the Liberals with a proposition: the NDP would vote the bill through second reading, so long as the government takes time during the winter months to do more consultation with municipalities.
That way, the bill could be passed on third reading during the spring session with no contention.
"There has been a compromise," White said in the Legislature Wednesday.
"I did not want to see this bill die today … so I did everything in my power to make sure that didn't happen. So I am grateful that my pleas were heard."
In a statement, the Yukon Liberals said they will "establish a working group" with municipalities this winter to discuss the program in more detail.
The Liberals promised to put in place the Building Better Buildings energy retrofit program in their 2019 Throne Speech, but got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Once the amendments pass in the spring session, the government aims to retrofit 2,000 homes and commercial businesses by 2030, with things like insulation and sealing, energy recovery ventilators or new windows and doors.
The program relies heavily on whether incorporated municipalities will support it. If not, Yukoners in those communities won't be able to access the rebates.
As it stands right now, the amendments mean that municipalities will have to collect a levy or loan through a local improvement charge (LIC). The legislation suggests charging the taxpayer a flat fee of $500 per month to cover that added cost.
Gord Curran, president of the Yukon Association of Communities and mayor of the the Village of Teslin, said that fee won't cover the long term responsibilities that municipalities will have to take on if they opt into the retrofit program.
"Once it becomes an LIC, it becomes the municipality's problem," Curran told CBC News earlier this month.