Dear Yukoners,
Thank you for sharing your ideas and concerns with us at the door and at events throughout the spring 2021 election.
In May an all-party committee on electoral reform was established to find out what Yukoners want when it comes to our electoral system and how to make it better. This is an important commitment we made to Yukoners and we look forward to engaging with you about electoral reform.
The Yukon Liberal Caucus is committed to working collaboratively for the benefit of all Yukoners. Together with our partners across the territory, we will continue to grow Yukon’s economy as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and get our territory on the path to recovery.
Budget 2021–22 highlights
This year’s budget sets us on the path to recovery and makes life more affordable for Yukoners.
A record $434 million in capital spending will advance critical infrastructure projects across the territory while keeping Yukoners working and creating economic opportunities for local businesses. The budget includes money for affordable housing, residential lot development, construction of the Dempster Fibre Line, Resource Gateway infrastructure projects and a new elementary school in Whistle Bend.
More than $25 million is included for a new universal childcare program that will make life more affordable for Yukon families by saving parents up to $700 per month, per child. This is a landmark investment in Yukon’s families that will grow Yukon’s early learning and child care sector while supporting parents to re-enter the workforce.
More than $50 million will help address climate change and grow the Yukon’s green economy as we implement Our Clean Future. In addition to $10 million for the Atlin hydro expansion project, there is funding for energy retrofits, electric vehicle charging stations and clean transportation programs to help reduce the territory’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The budget includes a $15 million COVID-19 contingency to ensure Yukoners and Yukon businesses continue to receive support as we get on the path to recovery. Industry has noted that the Yukon has the best COVID-19 support programs in the world and we will continue to provide them for as long as they are needed.
“This budget builds on the strong foundation we have developed over the past four years and continues on the path toward a brighter future for the Yukon. Having returned the territory’s finances to a sustainable path, we are taking significant steps to build a healthier, more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive territory for the benefit of all Yukoners.”
– Premier Sandy Silver
You can learn more at yukon.ca/budget.
Improving school zone safety
Improving traffic safety, especially on our buses and around schools, is a priority for the Liberal Caucus.
City of Whitehorse Mayor Dan Curtis, Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn and Member of Parliament for Yukon Larry Bagnell at Jack Hulland Elementary.
We have heard from many Yukoners about how important this issue is and we continue to work with our partners to make our roads and crosswalks safer.
In June, Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn, Member of Parliament for Yukon Larry Bagnell and City of Whitehorse Mayor Dan Curtis announced $820,000 for safety improvements in school zones across Whitehorse. This will help improve pedestrian safety and calm traffic near several elementary schools in Whitehorse with a variety of measures.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
- A new sidewalk, curb extensions and traffic calming measures at Jack Hulland Elementary School
- Enhanced zebra crosswalk markings at Elijah Smith Elementary School
- Better lighting, curb extensions and a mini-roundabout to calm traffic at Holy Family Elementary School
- Enhanced zebra crosswalk markings and curb extensions at Takhini Elementary School
- Enhanced zebra crosswalk markings and pedestrian-activated LED pedestrian signs along Lewes Boulevard in Riverdale
- Enhanced zebra crosswalk markings along Wann Road in Porter Creek
Porter Creek South MLA Ranj Pillai and former Porter Creek Centre MLA Paolo Gallina have been working with school councils and communities for years to support safety improvements in Porter Creek. Our MLAs have heard great ideas for improving school safety from parents and others in our school communities. We thank them for their strong voices and all their hard work and dedication. We also want to give a big shout out to the school council at Jack Hulland Elementary and the Porter Creek Community Association for all their advocacy work on this issue.
The Yukon Liberal Caucus will continue to work with our partners to improve traffic safety around our schools so that our students, families and communities remain healthy, vibrant places to play and learn.
Dawson Regional Land Use Commission releases draft plan
The Dawson Regional Planning Commission released a Draft Land Use Plan on June 15.
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker in Dawson City with Debbie Nagano, chair of the Commission, for the release of the draft plan.
The draft plan, On the Land We Walk Together/Nän käk ndä tr’ädäl, identifies key potential conservation areas within the planning region along with Integrated Stewardship areas to incorporate sustainable economic activity. The draft plan provides the basis for an informed conversation about the future of the Dawson region.
Land use planning is vital for the future of our territory. It is important for environmental, cultural and economic reasons. Successful plans take into consideration the interests and values of the people in the area and provide certainty for those who work and live there.
At the event in Dawson City, Minister John Streicker announced that the Yukon government has temporarily withdrawn the remainder of high conservation value areas identified in the draft plan. The total amount of land withdrawn accounts for 44.7 per cent of the planning area.
The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in, the Yukon government and the Planning Commission all agreed that there should be an interim withdrawal of mineral staking in high conservation value areas identified in the draft plan.
The next step in the Commission’s planning process is to develop a recommended plan. The Commission will engage the public on the draft plan over the summer and early fall of 2021. All Yukoners are encouraged to read the draft plan and provide feedback at engagedawson.planyukon.ca. This is how you can make your voices heard.
“These interim withdrawals will help ensure that wildlife, wetlands and key conservation areas remain protected during the land use planning process, and will minimize land use conflicts in conservation areas identified by the Commission during the planning process.”
– Minister John Streicker
Download the Summer Newsletter 2021 PDF.
Hearing from you is what works.
Questions, comments or concerns? Contact our offices at 867-667-5800.
