More than $50 million will be coming to the Yukon for affordable housing after the federal government tables its budget next week.

'I think it's a very positive step by the federal government to move forward so quickly to address gaps in housing which are very obvious,' Premier Dennis Fentie said Tuesday.

Fentie announced the federal government will provide the Yukon with $52.6 million in funding over three years.

The bulk will go toward housing. Approximately $2.6 million will go toward post-secondary infrastructure and public transit.

Fentie said he has already contacted several first nation chiefs to call a Yukon Forum and begin discussing where to use the money and create an investment plan.

Using the funds in conjunction with other tools, such as the Northern Strategy and the former Northern Economic Development Fund may also be an option, said Fentie.

The goal will be to create a 'critical mass' around housing manufacturing, said Fentie, which will hopefully include training in skills and trades.

'The objective here would be having Yukoners building houses for Yukon communities,' he said.

With the Yukon having one of the worst housing stocks in Canada, the money is good news for the territory, said NDP Leader Todd Hardy.

However, he questioned the Yukon Party government's commitment to building affordable housing.

'Their actions to date have been dismal in this area,' he said. 'Having an announcement of money is fine; what we need to see is some real affordable housing being built and being made available to those that need housing.'

The funding is not solely directed at first nations, but Fentie said he does not yet have many details on the program. He also doesn't expect to until after the new Conservative government tables its first budget on May 2.

'Before I start announcing in detailed terms, I want to understand clearly what the terms and conditions will be for this investment. I'm sure the federal government will be requiring some measures of accountability and targets that must be met,' he said.

The Yukon government has known about the money for some time, said the premier, but had been advised to be sensitive with the information and not pre-empt the federal budget.

The Globe and Mail, however, published a story on Tuesday which stated the federal government would be dipping into Canada's surplus and using $3.3 billion to establish five separate trust funds.

The money is expected to be accessible as capital for public transit, low-income housing, post-secondary education and aboriginals, The Globe and Mail quotes 'provincial sources' as saying.

Fentie said he honoured the government's request not to preclude the budget until he saw the article.

'We adhered to that until (Tuesday) morning when The Globe and Mail leaked this or announced it,' he said.

'I feel it's my responsibility, it's incumbent on me, now to go public on this and address it through the media.'

There is no mention of the territories, or specifically the Yukon, in the newspaper.

Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell said the premier is playing politics with the announcement.

'If (Fentie) waited until the prime minister (Stephen Harper) announced it with all of its details in the budget, then it's the prime minister's announcement. Now it's Fentie's announcement,' said Mitchell.

'It's certainly playing politics when you start announcing other people's announcements.'

Hardy said he is concerned the money may be coming out instead of the Kelowna Accord.

'Mr. Fentie makes this announcement, but he has no details,' said Hardy.

The $5-billion Kelowna agreements were reached late last year between aboriginal leaders and the then-Liberal federal government.

The accord aims to close the gap between first nations and non-aboriginal Canadians in the areas of health care, housing, education and economic development opportunities over the next five years.

'I sure hope to see that money from the Kelowna agreement and see that money flow through,' said Hardy.

The announcement, however, does seem to be broader than just first nations, said Mitchell.

'If it's actually a downgrade of a previous commitment to first nations people in Canada, then that's a concern,' said Mitchell.

'I'm actually not concerned,' said Fentie. 'I see this as a tremendous opportunity to the Yukon to immediately move toward addressing housing needs in the territory.'

The gaps highlighted in the Kelowna Accord were presented to the federal government well before the summit that saw the conception of the agreement in B.C. last November, said Fentie.

'Kelowna was just another venue where these issues were brought to the table with the federal government present,' he said. 'I don't think we should confuse Kelowna with this.'

Jim Prentice, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, stated last week the Conservative government is interested in the 'targets and objectives' highlighted in Kelowna.

'We know that important work has to be undertaken relative to housing, social services, education, the building of capacity, infrastructure amongst aboriginal Canadians,' said Prentice.

The minister, however, did not provide any sort of indication or timeline on how the new Conservative government intends to proceed on Kelowna.

'I hope that this federal government is not piecemealing it to death,' said Hardy.

The Star was unable to reach any of the chiefs of the six first nations Fentie said he has already spoken with regarding the funding.