Photo by Whitehorse Star
Liz-Hanson and Sandy-Silver
Photo by Whitehorse Star
Liz-Hanson and Sandy-Silver
The Yukon Party government isn't giving away any hints about its legislative agenda for the upcoming spring sitting, scheduled to begin March 21.
The Yukon Party government isn't giving away any hints about its legislative agenda for the upcoming spring sitting, scheduled to begin March 21.
The first bill tabled, and the priority for the sitting, will be the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget.
Yukoners can also expect to see amendments to the Education Act addressing changes to the times the school year covers.
They can also look for new legislation mandating the use of carbon monoxide detectors and regulating oil-fired appliance mechanics.
The majority Yukon Party government has the first five days of the sitting to table legislation it wants passed by the end of the spring session.
"We're a year and a half into the mandate, and we continue to address the needs of Yukoners and address the commitments we made during the election,” Premier Darrell Pasloski said during an interview Friday.
But he wouldn't provide any specifics as to which "needs” or "commitments” the government will choose to address this spring.
The premier did hint that an interim supply bill is likely. That would provide the government with funds for the first quarter of the new fiscal year while debate on the annual budget continues throughout the sitting.
"We've been working hard, and we're excited about moving ahead with the spring session and being able to continue to move forward on the path that we have laid before us, continuing to address those concerns for Yukoners and delivering on our platform,” said Pasloski.
Liz Hanson, the leader of the NDP official Opposition, said this morning she's been out travelling from Watson Lake to Dawson City, listening to the concerns of Yukoners.
The number one issue she's encountered? The state of democracy.
During the coming sitting, the NDP will continue to raise the issues that are of concern to people, she said.
"The key one is that people don't believe this government listens,” she said.
In a statement last week, Hanson named five priorities for the NDP moving into the spring session: finding affordable housing solutions, protecting the Peel watershed and caring for the environment, creating a high-quality public health care system, moving toward "a prosperous economy that leaves no one behind,” and a government that is open and accountable.
"In this legislative sitting, we'd like to see real action on oil-fired appliance safety, off-road vehicle regulations and affordable housing, to name but a few issues.
Full debate on the territorial budget instead of stalling and filibustering from government ministers would also be a welcome change,” she added.
"We frankly don't expect much from the Yukon Party government. It's a tired, old government that's out of ideas. They've had 10 years to solve serious problems like the housing crisis and have failed.
"They're creating conflict and division and turning back the clock on relations with Yukon First Nations.
"They want to pursue reckless industrial development at the expense of our environment.
"They're selling off the Yukon, building a fly-in, fly-out economy and exporting the benefits of our growth. And they insult Yukoners with their phony consultations and bullying behaviour,” she said.
"We unfortunately expect more of the same from a government that has lost its way.”
Sandy Silver, the interim leader of the Liberal party, is frustrated that the government is still withholding the majority of its legislative agenda as the start of the spring sitting inches closer.
"It's no way to run a business and it's no way for us to prepare to represent the people of the Yukon when really we go in there blind,” he said.
With the budget likely to monopolize a significant amount of debate during the spring sitting, the Liberals are keen to see where the reconstruction of F.H. Collins Secondary School fits in.
Department of Highways and Public Works officials planned a media briefing this afternoon to discuss the project further after the lowest contractor's bid came in $9 million above what's been budgeted.
Outside of the budget, key priorities for the Liberal party moving into the sitting include economic development and First Nations relationships.
The territory would only prosper from a better rapport with First Nations communities, said Silver.
With the 40th anniversary of Together Today For Our Children Tomorrow, the document which precipitated Yukon land claims negotiations, just passed, Silver said it's time for "pause and reflection.
"Where are we currently in all things resources and all things First Nations relations?
"I firmly believe there's a better way of doing things than what this current government is rolling out.”
Availability of power in the territory will be another key focus for the third party – both short-term and long-term solutions, Silver noted.
And the Grits continue to call for Yukon Energy and the Yukon Hospital Corp. to come before the legislature, the latter to discuss the auditor-general's criticisms of the way the new Dawson City and Watson Lake hospital projects have been managed.
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Comments (4)
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Arn Anderson on Mar 13, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Theres the problem, can't have politics without money, and money without politics. GDP baby, its all about the GDP.
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flyingfur on Mar 13, 2013 at 6:00 am
Pssst: He's not telling us what he is doing because he has no idea what he is doing.
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Stan Hollway on Mar 13, 2013 at 4:05 am
"We're a year and a half into the mandate, and we continue to address the needs of Yukoners and address the commitments we made during the election,” Premier Darrell Pasloski said during an interview Friday.
You can bet Premier Darrell Pasloski will address and pander to the needs of the mining industry with respect to the Peel because of their political contributions. Lets put changing the way political campaign contributions are made on the agenda. Lets have the legislature explore non partisan politics for the Yukon.
Lets have people like Brad Cathers honestly answer questions in the legislature. Lets have fact bases answers and not non-answers.
We pay our good tax dollars to support the legislature- we demand more.
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Arn Anderson on Mar 11, 2013 at 11:58 pm
Political entertainment! Watch nothing get done by both sides, Yukon's cream of the crop pushing those tax dollars to new bounds.