If he’s elected premier, a Brad Cathers-led government would work with the private sector to create the conditions for success that would support economic revival and the growth of a stronger, more diversified local economy.

The MLA for Lake Laberge is a candidate for the leadership of the Yukon Party, to be decided May 23.

“The recent disruptions to our supply chains are serving as a wake-up call to Canadians,” Cathers said last Thursday.

“It is time to increase local production of food, local manufacturing, and local supply of goods we depend on in our daily lives.

“The economic impacts of the pandemic are already serious, and we have not seen the full effects yet,” added Cathers.

“We need to work together to support economic revival of our private sector, and take the right steps to create the conditions for a decade of opportunity for Yukon businesses.”

He said his vision for the Yukon includes “increasing our ability to be self-sufficient, and meet our own needs,” said Cathers.

“In addition to growing our agricultural sector, we have the potential to produce more goods locally, make it easier to build log homes, grow our knowledge economy, and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels for heating by using biomass as an alternative.”

As part of supporting development of the Yukon Grown and Yukon Made sectors, Cathers is committed to working with the business community on actionsm including:

• implement a Yukonmade tax credit to encourage local manufacturing and production of goods, including food, log homes, wood pellets and chips, furniture, clothing, and traditional and cultural products;

• reduce the wildfire risk by working with First Nation and municipal governments, local advisory councils, the Yukon Wood Products Association, local businesses, First Nation development corporations, FireSmart Whitehorse, and other stakeholders to do targeted cutting in and near communities and make use of the raw material;

• expand the use of biomass and wood for government, commercial, and home heating purposes to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels;

• develop a tax credit to encourage construction of log homes built using Yukon timber;

• support northern research including cold climate innovation, improving agricultural production, and recognizing habitat enhancement due to excellence in placer mining reclamation; and

• reduce the regulatory burden and paperwork for Yukon companies, especially small businesses, after working with the business community to set priorities.

Former cabinet minister Currie Dixon and longtime party worker Linda Benoit are also seeking the leadership, which, since late 2016, has been handled on an interim basis by MLA Stacey Hassard.