The NDP is calling on Premier Ranj Pillai to release the details of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on housing development and investment sectors he has signed with Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

But Pillai’s staff say the information has already been made publicly available in several ways.

Since last week’s signing in Toronto, the NDP said Tuesday, “no details have been released about what this MOU is supposed to do for Yukoners,” the NDP said.

“Looking at Doug Ford’s track record in his province about affordability and housing, Yukoners are concerned that the Liberals are asking Ford’s conservative government for best practices,” said NDP Leader Kate White.

“This MOU should be made public immediately. Yukoners deserve to know what kind of secret deal the premier is making with Ford’s conservative government.”

The Yukon government’s release about the MOU also mentions further “opportunities for collaboration” in the field of health care or the labour force, White noted.

“Doug Ford’s conservative government has made life more difficult for many Ontarians – he’s privatizing health care, selling off green space to private investors, giving millions of public dollars to luxury spas instead of investing in school and public health care,” said White.

“Under his government, hundreds of seniors died of COVID, dehydration, starvation and neglect in private, for-profit senior homes.

“Doug Ford’s track record should be avoided at all costs, not imported to the Yukon.”

A recently released survey from public opinion experts Angus Reid showed more than 83 per cent of Ontarians feel Ford is doing a poor or very poor job of dealing with housing affordability, White noted.

The numbers were similar when asked how they felt about Ford’s handling of cost of living and health care.

“Premier Pillai needs to release the details of the memorandum of understanding to the public and reassure Yukoners that this government is not intending on selling off the Yukon piece by piece to Ontario investors,” added White.

“Yukoners expect accountability and transparency from their government,” the NDP said.

“A secret MOU with Doug Ford is anything but that.”

Cabinet communications staff noted in a statement Wednesday that Pillai held a media availability on the MOU and his Toronto engagements on May 2.

Copies of the MOU were provided to members of the media who inquired on May 2, staff pointed out.

“The agreement between premiers will help exchange best practices for creating investment-ready housing development and encourage trade and commerce in the housing sector between the Yukon and Ontario,” the statement said.

“The knowledge, skills and connections obtained through this partnership are among the several approaches taken to enhance the market housing inventory in the Yukon.”

The MOU has been uploaded to yukon.ca: https://yukon.ca/en/news/premier-pillai-wraps-yukon-economic-development-focused-trip-toronto-signs-memorandum