“Currie Dixon and the conservative Yukon Party have failed sporting advocates across the territory, preferring to get their hands dirty on the political playing field rather than an actual playing field.”

That’s the assessment the Liberal caucus offered last Thursday.

It said the government “is proud” to provide Sport Yukon with more than $1 million from the 2023-24 fiscal year budget.

The organization acts as a hub for Yukon sport organizations across the territory, working – in its words – “to elevate sport and create a vibrant, supportive, inclusive, and co-ordinated sport community.”

Budget 2023-24 also provides more than $6 million for sports and recreation across the Yukon, as well as funding to maintain infrastructure like community centres, pools and playground equipment.

“The Yukon Liberal government is providing sporting organizations with the resources they need to provide excellent programming to Yukoners, and is actively engaging with Sport Yukon and Softball Yukon, as well as parents and families and Takhini residents to determine a location for the new École Whitehorse Elementary School on the Takhini Education Reserve,” the caucus said.

“Rather than positively adding to the conversation or proposing ideas that meet the needs of students, parents, and sporting advocates alike, Currie Dixon’s conservative Yukon Party Caucus attempted to cut the legs out from under sporting advocates, voting against Budget 2023-24 and its allocation of more than $1 million to Sport Yukon and $6 million for sports and recreation across the territory,” said Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn.

“When asked why every member of his caucus said ‘no’ to sports and recreation enthusiasts and voted against the budget, Currie Dixon told CHON-FM that sitting in the legislative assembly ‘does get a little tiring,’ and outed himself and his caucus colleagues as possibly the only Yukoners who would prefer an election in 2023,” the minister added.

“If Currie Dixon is tired and needs to take a break, he absolutely should take the time he needs to rest and recover,” counselled Mostyn.

“In fact, he can rest easy in the knowledge the Yukon Liberal team continues to work hard each and every day to provide Yukoners with the resources they need to live healthy, active lives.”

Tim Kucharek, the Yukon Party’s press secretary, said last Thursday the remarks “just show the Yukon Liberal caucus is so desperate and unfocused, they are resorting to attacks, instead of governing.

“The Yukon Party is focused on providing solutions for Yukoners, such as making suggestions on how to ensure a smooth start to the 2023-24 school year, which we provided on the same day the Liberals chose to attack us.”

A story on the official Opposition’s ideas for ensuring the best start to the coming school year was published in last Friday’s Star.