Premier Darrell Pasloski spent some time Tuesday marketing the territory’s potential infrastructure projects to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“We talked about the priorities for Yukon, and how they fit into the priorities with the federal government,” Pasloski said in a telephone interview this morning.

“What’s good for Yukon, is also good for Canada.”

The premier’s focus was proposals that could see both jobs created for Yukoners and a return on investment for the Government of Canada – enhancing resource access roads, for example.

With federal investment to upgrade or create new roads, Pasloski said, there’s a greater chance that mining projects or other economic opportunities could progress.

Another project Pasloski touted was the fibre optic link on the Dempster Highway.

During the fall session in legislature, it was said that partnerships with the Northwest Territories and federal government could possibly be made for funding the project into the N.W.T., ball-parked at costing about $32 million.

It was said at the time that because both the N.W.T. and federal governments are both fairly new, the Yukon government would take its time to speak with them and discuss options going forward.

“This is a project that would be a win-win for Yukoners and residents of Northwest Territories,” Pasloski said.

He also raised with Trudeau the opportunity to upgrade the fibre line from Stewart Crossing to Keno City in relation to green energy.

“You could see some mining projects that could use renewable hydro for energy ... to produce their power.

“It’s also a cheaper form of energy.”

While not committing to any specific projects, Trudeau reiterated his government’s commitment to advanced infrastructure spending.

“He certainly listened intently,” Pasloski said.

To both Trudeau and federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Pasloski took the opportunity to reiterate the territory’s concern over the proposed $23-million decrease in federal transfer payments to the territory.

In late 2015, Finance Canada informed the three territories of impending transfer payment cuts due to changes to territorial formula financing – the agreement which provides substantial funds for Canada’s territories.

“There is a political solution to this, and that is to see that we get the funding as per our agreement,” Pasloski said today.

“There’s an opportunity to renegotiate the contract as we get closer.”

He also noted the Yukon is only in the second year of the original five-year agreement.

While neither the prime minister nor minister gave Pasloski any commitments to this end, they did offer assurance that the issue is being addressed.

Pasloski was told he would be given an answer in a “short amount of time.”

Five Yukon ministers were in Ottawa as well for meetings with their federal counterparts and for Yukon Days, part of Ottawa’s Winterlude festival (see coverage).