The Yukon’s opposition parties are chomping at the bit to reconvene in the legislative assembly on Thursday.

MLAs have not sat for half a year. Each party has a long list of issues it plans to bring to the floor of the assembly during the coming question periods.

“We’re happy to see the legislature come back,” Currie Dixon, the leader of the Yukon Party, told the Star earlier this month.

“We’ve obviously been pushing throughout the summer for the legislature to return and the Liberal government has refused to do so.”

The legislative assembly adjourned the spring session early on March 19 due to COVID-19, after quickly passing the budget.

Since that time, both the Yukon Party and Yukon NDP have advocated for MLAs to return to session and discuss the many initiatives implemented since a public health emergency was declared.

Dixon told the Star that his party will focus on schools, the proposed changes to the Fish and Wildlife Management process and the Yukon government’s increased debt limit.

The return to school has resulted in a number of concerns issued from constituents, the party leader said.

“We know that a lot of teachers, parents and students have expressed considerable concern about some of the actions the government has taken,” Dixon said.

“We think that we need to raise some of those issues.”

Earlier this month, the federal government announced that the Yukon would receive approximately $4 million to support the safe return to schools.

“We haven’t heard a single thing about where that money is going to go, so we have concerns about that,” Dixon said.

He said his party will be pushing for that money to be spent on Grades 10 to 12 students who are currently attending school for half-days to enable physical distancing.

“The priority needs to be supporting the return to full-time school for all Yukon students,” Dixon said.

The second priority for the Yukon Party will be proposed changes to fish and game regulations.

“There’s a range of proposals that have been put forward by the minister of Environment (Pauline Frost) in the regulatory change process that have caused a great deal of angst amongst the hunting community,” Dixon said.

“We want to hear from the minister about why those proposals have been put forward and why she refuses to meet with the Yukon Fish and Game Association.”

Those proposals include changes to the adaptive management of moose, Dixon explained.

“Hunters understand the importance of responsible wildlife management, but we want to see it done in a transparent and clear way,” Dixon said.

The last priority this session will be the Yukon’s debt limit, which doubled to $800 million in June.

Premier Sandy Silver said June 12 that the increased debt limit could help fund more green energy projects.

Dixon called the increased debt limit “very concerning” because the Yukon is such a small jurisdiction.

“We want to know what we’re planning to borrow that money for, we want to know if we’re borrowing already, and we want to know how we plan on paying it back,” Dixon said.

NDP Leader Kate White said her party will be focusing on the sick leave program, education, childcare and Inter net accessibility.

“That paid sick leave program that’s available right now is temporary,” White said.

“I think it should be permanent … everyone should have access to that.”

White is advocating for paid sick leave to work similarly to vacation pay, where a percentage is removed from payroll to account for a number of sick days every year.

White will also be seeking answers to concerns associated with school reconvening.

“Right now, we know that it’s the teachers and educators and administrators that are working so hard right now because of lack of planning and communication from the government over the summer months,” White said.

She said she is looking for a specific expenditure commitment from government on the $4 million promised to schools.

She will also pursue follow-through on the government’s commitment to provide universal early childcare programming. The premier announced that programming was imminent earlier this spring.

Internet access is another concern for the NDP, as an estimated 400 to 600 Yukon connections could be lost when Xplornet ends service on one of its satellites in 2021.

“So, right now we’re going backwards in the terms of connectivity, and we need to be going forward,” White said.

“(We’ll be) finding out what the government’s plan is to support people in rural communities and their access to information.”

White will also be looking for implementation of midwifery regulations, a boost to the minimum wage to reflect living wage standards, updates on school bus routes and support for front-line workers.

“Really, I’m just looking forward to getting back to work, because people need support,” White said.

“I feel right now what they’re getting from government is talking points and photo-ops.”

Earlier this month, the Star asked cabinet communications staff for a statement on the Liberals’ plans, including potential legislation, for the upcoming session.

Nothing was made available for this story.

An emailed response said, “We will hold a media conference in the coming days and House Leader (Tracy-Anne) McPhee will speak to the government’s plans and goals for this fall.”

The Liberals, elected in November 2016, must call an election by late 2021.

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