Photo by CP
LIBERALS MEET – Premier Sandy Silver (left) meets with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last Thursday in Montreal. The first ministers’ meeting occurred the following day. Photo by The Canadian Press/PAUL CHIASSON
Meeting well worth-while, Silver says
Friday’s meetings with Canada’s first ministers represented “a valuable opportunity,” says Premier Sandy Silver.
Friday’s meetings with Canada’s first ministers represented “a valuable opportunity,” says Premier Sandy Silver.
He participated in the Montreal meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the other premiers, and Dominic LeBlanc, the federal Minister of Intergovernmental and Northern Affairs and Internal Trade.
The meeting heard from LeBlanc; Ambassador David MacNaughton; Katherine McKenna, the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change; and federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau.
Many of the topics discussed linked closely to the Yukon government’s priorities, Silver said in a statement. Those include growing and diversifying the economy and reducing the impacts of climate change.
First ministers also met with leaders of national Indigenous organizations. They included Chief Perry Bellegarde of the Assembly of First Nations; Natan Obed, the National Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president; and president Clement Chartier and vice-president David Chartrand of the Metis National Council.
“This was a valuable opportunity to advocate for Yukoners at the national table and to participate in decisions that affect Yukon,” Silver said.
“A major theme of today’s meeting was the improvement of economic competitiveness both at home and abroad, as well as ways that provinces and territories can collaborate on initiatives for the benefit of Yukoners, and indeed all Canadians.
“I look forward to the ongoing conversations that will stem from today’s meeting, including a broad conversation about electricity, a utility corridor, getting remote communities off diesel and a commitment to collaborate on clean growth.”
These are of specific interest to his government, Silver said.
“Just as we stand behind the value of respectful relations with First Nations, we stand by the value of co-operation between all regions in Canada,” he said.
“As first ministers, when we gather, it is an opportunity to put our collective strength toward discussions that benefit all Canadians.
“I was very pleased see my colleagues put aside partisan differences in favour of a mature conversation about issues that matter to Canadians and will help continue to build a strong future for our nation.”
The focus of this year’s annual meeting was economic growth and competitiveness.
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Comments (15)
Up 0 Down 0
Moose on Dec 16, 2018 at 10:19 pm
@Neil
Good point about the deficit Neil. In order to balance the budget you have two options, either raise revenues through a tax increase or cut spending. Which would you like to see? The Yukon Party says it opposes raising taxes and also opposes any spending cuts. Therefore they want us to continue on the path to deficits. Thank the good lord they aren't in power anymore! Plus they sold us out to Harper even more than the Liberals are to Trudeau!
Up 10 Down 3
NeilAlexGeddy on Dec 14, 2018 at 1:38 pm
@Moose
No doubt the government has grown under the Yukon Party and will continue to grow under the Liberal Party. We get the added bonus of 3 years of anticipated Liberal deficits. This parallels the story federally and the "myth" is really fitting well. It's a real shame that we have party politics in such a small territory. It's increasingly apparent that we have lost our sovereignty under this territorial government.
Up 9 Down 4
Liberals R Dangerous on Dec 14, 2018 at 7:29 am
Things should slow down at the Federal level as we move into an election year.
Unfortunately the Liberal devastation has another 2 year reign in the Territory. Many of our friends and families have fallen victim to the fascist persecution of liberalism to date. May the odds be ever in your favour.
Up 3 Down 4
Moose on Dec 13, 2018 at 10:23 pm
@Neil You are just jumping all over the place now talking about other stuff. I'm talking about the growth of government.
Do you think it was good that the Yukon Party voted to have another politician (MLA) in Yukon when the Liberals voted not to? Do you think it was good that they literally blew up the size of government over the past 15 years? Maybe these were good moves - but they sure as heck ain't conservative that's for sure!
Up 2 Down 5
NeilAlexGeddy on Dec 12, 2018 at 5:07 pm
@Moose
Here's another for you Moose.
Lots of Silver fiscal responsibility shown in this news piece.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-budget-introduced-2017-surplus-1.4088928
Up 17 Down 6
NeilAlexGeddy on Dec 12, 2018 at 4:12 pm
@Moose
Cudos for Silver looking to reduce operating costs. Now my question is are these cuts in response to an improperly estimated Territorial budget? We know Liberals aren't very good managing a budget.
How much are we going to pay to administer this carbon tax?
At an estimated cost of about 750 a year for a Yukon family, the territorial Liberals are adopting a sin tax policy that in the grand scheme will have no impact on climate other than giving some a dose of false moral fuzziness.
One term premier guaranteed.
Up 22 Down 2
Yukoner on Dec 12, 2018 at 9:01 am
So the oil manufacturing business is exempt from carbon tax. Yukon mining is exempt from the carbon tax... NWT home heating fuel is exempt from carbon tax... among many others.
How about the rest of us Yukoners, Sandy? You going to go to bat for us at all? Or is this just more pandering? Nice groupie shot with Justin.
Up 15 Down 3
Juniper Jackson on Dec 11, 2018 at 9:29 pm
Thank you YtoK for your concern about my health. You are right, I should get out more, and I tried, but, not possible at the moment.
This is not the right topic to say this, but, the right topic may never come along... despite our differences of opinion in the forums.. People in Whitehorse, and probably the communities too, are the kindest people in the world.. to everyone that stopped..to everyone that helped me up, to everyone that yelled out their door, 'are you ok'? Ready to jump out of their car, to everyone that telephoned to see if I made it home safe.. oh my God, I am so grateful to all of you..thank you thank you thank you.
Up 9 Down 7
Moose on Dec 11, 2018 at 8:54 pm
@Neil Just a quick point. You said "Liberals love big bureaucracy". Well right now the Yukon Liberals have asked departments to cut spending one way or another by 2%. Normal conservatives would support this move I would think, but the Yukon Party who are supposedly conservative keep attacking them for this reduction in spending! They are demanding that the government not cut! But this actually makes sense if you look at their record. I mean the size of government actually blew up over the past 15 years under their watch. For the cherry on top of it all, the Yukon Party (minus Cathers) just voted to add another politician to the Yukon Legislature. I mean who the heck wants another politician for our little jurisdiction? Conservatives being for small government is simply a myth that people like yourself keep perpetuating. If you doubt any of the facts I've laid out, please by all means research them yourself.
Up 19 Down 8
Wilf Carter on Dec 11, 2018 at 3:08 pm
It is interesting there are only 2 liberal premiers left in Canada and they were not happy with the meeting and most thought it was a waste of time. So how many millions did you get in cash for housing over the next five years? New program has $7 million in it for affordable housing. After pushing our MP he finally did something. How much for land development so we are not behind the 8 ball again!
The $40 million carbon tax to Yukon will cost Yukon at least 700 to 1,000 jobs and cost each house hold $2,888 per year.
Where is the 500 rental units Yukon needs ASAP?
Up 35 Down 3
Groucho d'North on Dec 11, 2018 at 10:11 am
So, did Sandy bring home any more info on the yet to be disclosed Carbon Tax terms and how they will impact Yukoners?
Up 12 Down 26
YtotheK on Dec 11, 2018 at 7:39 am
Juniper, you need to get out more: get a hobby, go for a walk....
Up 31 Down 9
NeilAlexGeddy on Dec 10, 2018 at 11:37 pm
Sandy is another one of those new age virtue signaling tax and spend Liberals.
Fully aligned with the federal Liberal agenda even at the expense of those he represents. No surprise to me that he will politely nod in agreement with Supreme Idealogue Leader on every issue. Guarantee you we will not be fully reimbursed when the carbon tax hits. Liberals love big bureaucracy and that is where the bulk of it will go. I think the man is out of touch with Yukoners living outside Whitehorse City limits. He did cut his placer buddies in Dawson a break but that was about all. Shafted by liberals yet again.
Up 31 Down 6
Gringo on Dec 10, 2018 at 5:44 pm
Bottom line nothing was accomplished outside of photo ops and the like. Useless!
Up 43 Down 9
Juniper Jackson on Dec 10, 2018 at 4:08 pm
OOOOOOOH.. silver got a nice photo there with Trudeau.. I noticed he threw around a lot of 'matters to Yukoners and all Canadian's' he's met all Canadians and speaks for everyone? How interesting,
“I was very pleased see my colleagues put aside partisan differences in favour of a mature conversation about issues that matter to Canadians and will help continue to build a strong future for our nation.” Really?
https://www.ponokanews.com/news/first-ministers-meeting-shaping-up-to-be-most-acrimonious-in-years/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mywnxwUewOs
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/video/walkout-threat-hangs-over-first-ministers-meeting~1559012
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-opens-first-ministers-meeting-with-many-conflicting-issues/
https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/little-results-from-first-ministers-meeting-but-at-least-nobody-stormed-out/
Should I paste in a few hundred more? Oct' 19 is coming.