Government of Yukon introduces interim reforms to the land lottery process to better serve Yukoners

Press Release

November 21, 2024

The Government of Yukon is introducing interim reforms to the land lottery process to improve fairness and transparency.

As part of the 2023 Confidence and Supply Agreement with the Yukon NDP Caucus, the Government of Yukon is implementing a series of changes to improve the lottery process for individual applicants and help address the needs of the commercial building sector. This is part of the commitment to increasing land and housing availability while supporting business growth.

These updates will simplify the land lottery process, reduce the use of proxies and improve measures for people to return lots when they are unable to meet requirements.

These interim changes will be in place in time for the spring 2025 land lotteries. The Government of Yukon is continuing to develop new public land legislation in partnership with First Nations through the Successor Resource Legislation Working Group. This collaboration will include further analysis of the land lottery system.

These proposed changes were developed from feedback from Yukoners. Over the summer, the Government of Yukon conducted public engagement on the Public Lands Act legislation and invited Yukoners to share their thoughts on interim improvements to the land lottery process.

Yukoners’ feedback informed the following changes.

• Successful land lottery candidates can only re-apply after five years.
• Conditional lot sales will be allowed, e.g., forego interest payments until applicants who have signed an Agreement for Sale are able to access their lots.
• Increased flexibility in Agreement for Sale terms so that applicants can receive more of their 20 per cent down payment back in case of unforeseen issues, e.g., health emergency.
• Processes will be streamlined for collecting and returning deposits for lottery applications, e.g., application entry fee goes from $25 to $50 per entry while removing the $300 deposit to enter the lottery.

In addition to these changes, work will begin to explore the possibility of creating a separate lottery for commercial builders in parallel with the homeowner residential land lottery. Input will be sought from both the City of Whitehorse and the Yukon Contractors Association.

Land lotteries help Yukoners have more opportunities to buy property, build houses and have a place to call home. Thanks to the feedback from Yukoners, we are making improvements to increase fairness, certainty and transparency to this process. As our territory continues to grow, our government is committed to working in partnership with industry and local governments to manage land in a way that benefits all Yukoners.

Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker

I am glad to see these changes to the land lottery system. These changes will ensure a more equitable and accessible process so that Yukoners are able to purchase lots and build homes for their families. They have long been asked for by Yukoners and I am proud that the CASA could action them. I look forward to further changes under new lands legislation.

Leader of the Yukon NDP and MLA for Takhini-Kopper King Kate White

Quick facts

• The sale of public land is administered through the Lands Act via the Financial Administration Act.
• Under the Lands Act, the Lands Regulation speaks to how residential land lotteries are implemented with the intention that each lot would be purchased by individuals for the purpose of developing their own home.

Media contact

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca

Alison Callaghan
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-334-3460
alison.callaghan@yukon.ca

Laurie Tritschler
Yukon NDP
867-687-0284
laurie.tritschler@yla.gov.yk.ca

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