The Yukon Liberal Party unveiled its platform today and it’s one that, by the leader’s own admission, makes “no grandiose promises.”

“We’re basing our decisions upon needs assessment, we’re basing our decisions upon research,” said Liberal Leader Sandy Silver during a press conference this morning at Liberal Party headquarters.

With two weeks to go until voting day, the Liberals are the only major party to have released a complete platform this election cycle.

The platform is divided into five categories and lays out in broad terms the party’s ideas for improving the economy, relations with Yukon First Nations, life in the communities, health care, justice, education and government transparency and accountability.

There are more than 130 commitments in the Liberal Party’s 19-page platform booklet, but few have dollar figures attached to them.

The Liberal plan, said Silver, is “about realism, not grandiose promises made in the 11th hour to win an election.”

“When you stand in front of a bridge and talk about expanding a bridge that the city itself has said that you can’t ... that’s what hurts our economy,” he said, making a not-so-subtle jab at the Yukon Party’s promise to plan for a second bridge across the Yukon River in Whitehorse.

The other parties have made some ambitious commitments that draw clear lines to their individual ideologies: the Yukon Party resists carbon pricing and says it would spend $100 million on energy-efficient retrofits to buildings without raising taxes. The NDP would scrap the first year of tuition for Yukon College students and build a $50 million green energy fund over the next five years.

The Liberals are campaigning on “positivity” and “inclusivity,” said the party leader.

“We have people in this party that come from the left and come from the right,” said Silver. “We want to work together and not polarize Yukoners.”

Will the Liberals be hurt for not championing a single cause above the rest?

Silver doesn’t think so.

From going door-to-door, he said, he’s confident Yukoners “can see past the spin and see past the fear mongering,” of the other two major parties.

“The Yukon Party has tried to incite fear on carbon pricing and the New Democrats have tried to incite fear on fracking. Fear is used as a strategy by political parties to divide the electorate in situations where they are not confident in their own positions,” he said.

Below are some highlights from the Liberal Party platform:

Economy and environment

• Make environmental protection a key consideration in all government decisions.

• Eliminate the small business tax and reduce the corporate tax from 15 per cent to 12 per cent.

• Develop a five-year capital spending plan with a list of ready-to-go projects.

• Invest $30 million per year in energy-efficient retrofits for residential and commercial buildings.

• Return 100 per cent of carbon tax revenues to Yukoners.

• Support mining and work with the industry to “establish strong environmental stewardship.”

• Support oil and gas development on Eagle Plains but put a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) across the Yukon.

• Support local procurement.

• Diversify the economy by investing in renewable energy projects and the tourism industry.

• Protect 80 per cent of the Peel Watershed from development.

Government-to-government relations with First Nations

• The premier and cabinet would meet with First Nations chiefs within first 30 days of forming government.

• The premier would meet with individual chiefs upon request and will hold Yukon Forums up to four times a year.

• Help to repeal Bill S-6.

• Assist First Nations in developing land registries and support administration of justice negotiations.

• Uphold self-governing agreements.

• Work with First Nations to determine how the Yukon government can fulfill responsibilities highlighted in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report.

• Make money in the Prevention of Violence Against Aboriginal Women Fund more accessible in the communities and participate in the national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.

• Make National Aboriginal Day on June 21 a statutory holiday.

Communities

• Invest in basic community infrastructure in a predictable manner and make long-term funding commitments.

• Reduce dependency on diesel fuel.

• Make affordable housing in the communities a priority when allocating federal funds.

Health care, education and justice

• Regulate and fund midwifery.

• Enhance mental health and addictions services in the communities.

• Implement a “Housing First Strategy” for Yukoners experiencing poverty, addictions and mental health issues.

• Keep the continuing care facility in Whistle Bend, but limit it to 150 beds.

• Make services available to allow seniors to age in their communities and at home.

• Develop a “Yukon Early Childhood Strategy” in consultation with parents, educators, health care providers and First Nation governments to improve outcomes for Yukon children.

• Expand the options for practical skills training and experiential learning in the Yukon kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum.

• Create incentives to retain teachers in the communities.

• Support First Nations Education Commission’s goals for education in the Yukon.

• Draw up a plan with Yukon College for its transition to a university.

• With the RCMP, First Nations and Yukon Police Council, develop a list of priorities and a plan to address them.

• Create alternatives to incarceration for people with mental health issues, addictions and disabilities.

Government

• Establish a Commission on Electoral Reform that would consult Yukoners on possible changes to the Yukon’s electoral system.

• Cut bureaucratic red tape to make it easier for businesses seeking government contracts and for people looking to access government services.

• Review hiring and promotion practices in the public sector.