Yukon’s opposition parties are only telling half of the story in their bid to criticize.
On May 21, Liberal Government House Leader Tracy-Anne McPhee offered the opposition parties an opportunity to meet with her and Community Services Minister John Streicker to answer any questions they have about the Orders in Council that have been passed under Yukon’s Civil Emergency Measures Act in response to COVID-19. There has been no response.
The silence from the opposition parties follows their refusal to attend meetings on the 2020-21Budget that were scheduled to take place for five days starting on May 20.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that the opposition parties have no actual interest in meeting with our government, despite many public calls for such opportunities. We offered to meet to discuss the 2020-21 Budget in response to their request in March, and they refused. We have now offered meetings to discuss Ministerial Orders passed in response to COVID-19, and they have not responded. Our focus remains protecting the health and safety of Yukoners and supporting them through these challenging times.
Tracy-Anne McPhee
To keep them informed about the response to COVID-19 in Yukon, the opposition parties receive the Government of Yukon’s Emergency Measures Organization COVID-19 daily update. They also receive weekly briefings from Yukon’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. Additionally, they have been provided briefings on various COVID-19 response programs, including paid sick leave support, the Yukon Business Relief Program, and the COVID-19 Rent Assist program.
