The premier and three government ministers are planning to take part in a Yukon Party fund-raiser aboard a luxury yacht while on a taxpayer-funded trip to Vancouver, the Star has learned.

The “scenic cruise” slated for Jan. 25 recalls last January’s floating meet-and-greet.

Both cost passengers $300 a plate for an “opportunity to connect with Premier Darrell Pasloski” and ministers Scott Kent, Currie Dixon, and — this year — Wade Istchenko, according to the invitation.

The “Yukon Party ‘Party’” is scheduled for the Sunday evening before the annual Mining Roundup conference, a four-day event hosted by B.C.’s Association of Mineral Exploration.

The evening cruise around Burrard Inlet will include a dinner, live music and live auction, the invitation states.

The Magic Charm yacht has seating for 150 diners. At $300 a head, that adds up to $45,000 in Yukon Party accounts.

“Here we go again,” Liberal Leader Sandy Silver said an interview this morning. “The next round is coming, and they’re doing the same thing.

“Do you guys really think this is a good use of your time when you’re supposed to be at ... promoting the industry as opposed to promoting your political party?” he asked.

“You wonder how their methodology in these important factors is affecting their engagement with industry and trying to drum up investment as opposed to money for the coffers of their election campaign.”

A government spokesperson said the four cabinet members were headed south “to promote Yukon’s strong mineral exploration potential to investors and to support the mining and exploration industry which already operates here and provides so many benefits to Yukon’s economy and Yukon families.

“All parties raise money. Party politics is the basis of our democracy in Canada,” said Elaine Schiman.

Pat McInroy, the president of the Yukon Party, sees nothing “below board” in the affair.

The charter cruise is not paid for by taxpayers, and takes place the Sunday before the conference begins, he pointed out today.

“The MLAs and ministers that will be attending that are going down for the roundup, their per diems and allowances do not start until Monday,” he told the Star.

“They won’t be charging the taxpayer anything.”

McInroy acknowledged the flight to and from Vancouver was on the public dime.

“It’s a nice social event to get together, talk and share some ideas,” he added.

Magic Yacht Charters charges $6,500 for a four-hour voyage, including food and beverage service, plus a $50-per-hour fuel surcharge.

The fund-raiser is scheduled to run from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

For the upcoming fund-raiser, the word “exclusive” was deleted from the phrase, “an opportunity to meet Premier Darrell Pasloski,” which the last invitation included.

Silver fired his opening shot in the legislature’s spring sitting this year using ammunition from the fund-raiser two months earlier.

“Our exploration industry is in a tailspin. The premier and his ministers were supposed to be spending their time trying to reverse this trend,” he told the house on March 25.

He added that the government appeared to be selling access unavailable to many constituents.

McInroy said today of the guests: “It was a pretty broad spectrum last time, it’s not just mining companies ... but many people that have a stake in the Yukon.”

The event is organized by the Yukon Party, not the government. The party invited the cabinet members to attend, the government stated.

Kent is the minister of Energy, Mines and Resources.

Dixon serves as the minister of both Economic Development and the Environment.

Istchenko is the Highways and Public Works minister.

The annual Mineral Roundup is the mining association’s “flagship event,” with dozens of speakers, technical sessions and discussion forums.