A new seniors housing complex and replacement of the F.H. Collins Secondary School are among the key projects identified in the 2014-15 capital budget released this afternoon.

The budget for the next fiscal year beginning next week is set at $293.4 million, up 16 per cent from the $252.7 million and the largest capital budget on record.

Premier Darrell Pasloski delivered the record $1.3 billion territorial budget today in the legislature.

The operation and maintenance portion of the budget is estimated at $1.02 billion.

"Mr. Speaker, there is a reason this is the largest capital budget in Yukon's history,” Pasloski said in his lengthy budget address.

"At a time when the private sector is facing economic challenges, this is the time for the Yukon government to step up to the plate and invest in infrastructure that will facilitate and stimulate the private sector.

"The specific infrastructure projects will be outlined later in this address.

"We are confident that the capital projects we are investing in will provide a strong foundation for continued economic growth,” the premier continued.

"In view of the impact the government's capital projects have on Yukon business and industry we will be tendering some major capital projects in the fall in order to give contractors certainty about upcoming work, as well as ensuring that government gets the best available pricing.”

While the 2013-14 capital budget was estimated a year ago at $252.7 million, the newest forecast released this afternoon puts capital spending for this fiscal year at $213.3 billion.

Approximately $44 million is being carried over to the upcoming fiscal year, such as $7 million for the replacement of McDonald Lodge in Dawson City, $6.7 million left over from the Shakwak Highway Project and $5.5 million for the Tatchun Creek Bridge replacement.

The increase in the capital budget from $12.4 million to $30.4 million for the Department of Health and Social Services represents the single greatest increase among departments.

There is, for instance, a total of $10.4 million to complete the McDonald Lodge.

As is the case in most years, however, Highways and Public Works has the largest capital budget for 2014-15, totalling $110.5 million, up more than $30 million from the current fiscal budget.

The $10 million set aside for improvements to the Robert Campbell Highway is the largest expenditure forecast by the department, though there's $8.1 million for improvements to airport aprons at the Whitehorse airport.

The Yukon Housing Corp. has also seen a whopping increase in its capital budget, up to $42.9 million or more than double the $20.7 million for the current fiscal year.

Included in Yukon Housing's budget is $12 million for a brand new senior's housing project, a site for which has yet to be identified, and $4.7 million to complete the senior's complex on Alexander Street.

The end to the Build Canada Fund is largely responsible in the decrease of the capital budget for Community Services, down to $48.8 million from the $88.7 million in the current capital budget.

But the estimate for land development in Whitehorse has also fallen sharply, from $25.6 million estimated in the current budget to $4.8 million for the upcoming capital budget.

Replacement of the F.H. Collins Secondary School is the largest capital project planned for this year, with a construction budget of $27.7 million of the total $51 million required for building replacement, furniture replacement, equipment and future improvements to the technical wing.

The capital budget also identifies $2 million for the Yukon Development Corporation to begin exploring potential sites for new hydro generation.

The following explains the capital budget estimated for the largest departments. It compares the capital expenditures estimated last spring and the most recent forecast for what actual capital spending will be by department over the last year.

• capital spending for 2014-15 by the Department of Highways and Public Works is estimated at $110.5 million, up from $78.4 million estimated last spring and above the current year-end forecast of $82.6 million.

• capital spending for 2014-15 by the Yukon Housing Corporation is estimated at $42.9 million, up from $20.7 million estimated last spring and above the year-end forecast of $24.8 million.

• capital spending for 2014-15 by the Community Services is estimated at $48.8 million, down from $88.7 million estimated last spring and below the year-end forecast of $65.8 million.

• capital spending for 2014-15 by the Department of Education is estimated at $37 million, up from $34.5 million estimated last spring and above the year-end forecast of $14.5 million. Almost all the money identified for F.H. Collins last year went unspent.

• capital spending for 2014-15 by Health and Social Services is estimated at $30.3 million, up from $12.4 million estimated last spring and above the year-end forecast of $9 million.

• capital spending for 2014-15 by Environment Yukon is estimated at $4.5 million, up from $3.4 million estimated last spring and above the year-end forecast of $1.8 million.

• capital spending for 2014-15 by Energy, Mines and Resources is estimated at $6 million, up slightly from $5.9 million estimated last spring and double the current year-end forecast of $3 million.

• capital spending for 2014-15 by the Department of Justice is estimated at $3.4 million, down from $3.9 million estimated last spring and below the year-end forecast of $6.3 million.

• capital spending for 2014-15 by Tourism and Culture is estimated at $3.1 million, up from $1.9 million estimated last spring and above the current year-end forecast of $2.1 million.