FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 15, 2023
WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Party Official Opposition is asking the Liberal government to update Yukoners on the status and cost of the Whitehorse Airport Main Runway Reconstruction Project. The 2023/2024 Five-Year Capital Plan budgets $115 to $130 million work at the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport and work to be completed in 2025/2026 fiscal year.
“In the spring sitting, I asked the Minister to confirm whether the costs and timelines shown in this year’s budget documents were still accurate, and he would not answer,” said Highways and Public Works Critic Stacey Hassard. “The contracting community has shared that subcontractors and suppliers have been signing contracts with the successful company, so the government should inform Yukoners about the winning bid on one of the Yukon’s most expensive capital projects.”
Contractors have indicated that Flatiron Construction has been awarded the contract and the company is advertising to hire employees for the job. However, the Yukon government has not publicly announced who is getting the contract, when work will begin after delays in awarding the tender, or the successful bid price.
“This is another example of the Liberals showing a lack of transparency when it comes to procurement,” Hassard added. “I recently expressed concern about viewing documents on the Bids and Tenders website, in addition to our previous concern of tenders being opened behind closed doors. Now with one of the biggest capital projects in the Yukon’s history set to break ground, the Liberals need to tell Yukoners how much it is going to cost and who will be doing the work.”
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Contact:
Tim Kucharuk
Press Secretary
(867) 393-7026