A substantial increase in the capital budget for the upcoming 2020-21 fiscal year is spread across most territorial government departments.

There’s $11.6 million for completion of the new French-language high school in Riverdale and $4.6 million for remediation of the Ross River School while discussions continue with the Ross River Dena Council around building a new school for the community.

Another $1.75 million has been identified to continue planning for the new school in Whistle Bend, with the first major expenditures of $5 million to $10 million expected to begin next year.

While the proposed fibre-optic line up the Dempster Highway has been talked about for years as a means of providing Internet redundancy, there’s $23 million identified to put shovels in the ground this year, year one of three construction seasons.

The total cost is estimated at $80 million, with Ottawa kicking in $60 million, Northwestel Inc. $15 million and the Yukon government $5 million.

The most significant jump in spending is expected to be by the Department of Community Services.

Last year at this time, the government was estimating the department would spend $71 million on capital projects in this fiscal year ending March 31.

The most recent figures show expenditures are actually in the neighbourhood of $113 million. And the government has bumped up Community Services capital spending estimate for the 2020-21 fiscal year to $117.3 million, representing an increase of $46.3 million or 65 per cent over the 2019-20 estimate.

Most noticeable is the increase in funding coming from the federal infrastructure program.

For the current fiscal year, spending under the program was estimated to be $7.7 million. It’s ending up closer to $19 million.

Spending under the federal program for 2020-21 is estimated at $43 million, or six times the estimate at this time last year.

There’s $19 million identified for continued expansion of the Whistle Bend subdivision.

It’s estimated $2 million to $3 million will be spent this fiscal year to get going on the replacement of the Nisutlin Bay Bridge in Teslin, which is expected to cost somewhere between $62 million and $83 million over the next five years.

The big year is expected to be in 2022-23, when expenditures are forecast to hit $30 million to $35 million.

Premier Sandy Silver delivered a record capital budget on Thursday.

It’s estimated capital spending in the 2020-21 fiscal year will be $370 million, an increase of $81.7 million or 28 per cent from the estimate for the current fiscal year ending at the end of this month.

“We have included money in this year’s budget for new pools in Pelly Crossing and Ross River,” Silver told the legislature in his budget address.

“In Dawson City, we are planning a new recreation centre and supporting a new Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Youth Centre that will promote traditional activities and provide programs for youth.”

The premier highlighted several community projects in his address, including $3.5 million to complete construction of the new arena in Carmacks, and $2 million for upgrades to Mayo’s arena.

Several housing projects were noted by the premier, including $750,000 to continue with planning for a new 10-plex in Old Crow, with the major portion of the construction work to be next year.

“We have budgeted $9 million this year for the 47-unit mixed housing project in downtown Whitehorse,” Silver told the legislature Thursday.

“This innovative project will increase the availability of affordable housing while promoting social inclusion.”

The premier highlighted his government’s commitment to address climate change through several initiatives, such as the $120 million they expect to spend over four years on energy retrofits.

There is, for example, $10 million to $15 million budgeted in 2020-21 for upgrading energy efficiency in government buildings.

Tens of millions will go into highway construction work, including $10.6 million for the Alaska Highway reconstruction in front of the airport and Hillcrest. There’s $13.3 million for work on the Klondike Highway.

The government has budgeted $500,000 to $1 million to plan for reconstruction of the main runway at the Whitehorse airport. The project is expected to cost somewhere between $26 million and $37 million, with the bulk of expenditures occurring in 2022 and 2023.

“We committed to improving the lives of all Yukoners, and we continue to deliver on that commitment with this budget,” Silver told the legislature.