Dawson City municipal candidates talk waste, housing at forum
5 people vying for 4 council seats in Thursday's election
A housing shortage and waste management were the big topics as Dawson City's municipal candidates met to debate Tuesday evening.
A little more than a dozen people gathered in council chambers to hear from the five people vying to fill four council seats. Jay Farr and incumbents Bill Kendrick and Kyla MacArthur took part in person, while challenger Driss Adrao and incumbent Stephen Johnson participated by phone.
Both Johnson and Adrao called for more waste to be diverted from the town's landfill, which is nearing capacity.
"We should have more blue boxes and more incentive for the citizens to actually recycle," Adrao said.
But MacArthur argued that incentives are less important than facilities right now.
"If we don't have a place to store and deal with that recycling, it doesn't do us much good," MacArthur said.
On housing, the incumbent councilors touted new lots in town, but Farr said seasonal hotels should house people during the winter.
Bill Kendrick suggested creating a zone for "tiny homes," and said the town needs tax incentives to spur new construction.
"The idea here is to have a series of carrots and sticks to get people moving," Kendrick said.
The five candidates also heard questions about food security, crime, small business, and taxes.
Dawsonites will vote tomorrow as municipal elections are held across the territory.
Dawson City mayor Wayne Potoroka has already been acclaimed to another term.