That’s a wrap! Yesterday, the Yukon Legislative Assembly rose for the summer and the Yukon Liberal government was able to accomplish a lot during the Spring Sitting. Foremost, we were able to pass the surplus $1.97 million 2022-23 Budget that includes a record capital budget of $547 million in investments. The 2022-23 Budge includes funding to advance early learning and childcare initiatives, develop land and create homes across the territory, meet our initiatives under Our Clean Future and transition to more renewable energy, increase mental wellness supports and substance-use programs, and build infrastructure projects across the territory.
The Yukon Liberal government was also able to pass all of the legislation tabled by Liberal MLAs in the Legislative Assembly this sitting, including:
- Amendments to the Assessment and Taxation Act and Municipal Act that pave the way to create the Better Building Program which will provide Yukoners with loans up to $50,000 for home energy retrofits and up to $100,000 for business energy retrofits. Loans will be offered at the lowest lending rate in the country.
- Amendments to the Child and Family Services Act that will reduce the over-representation of Indigenous children in care and improve outcomes for all children, youth and families involved with the child welfare system. This legislation was co-developed with Yukon First Nations – a first in the territory.
- Amendments that align the Yukon’s Income Tax Act with its federal equivalent and modernizes it to continue to meet the needs of Yukoners. The changes to the Act do not involve any new or increased taxes for Yukoners.
- An amendment to support the 2023 review of the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act (SCAN). SCAN bolsters community safety to ensure communities have tools to curb drug dealing, gang activity and identify child predators.
- Amendments to the Legal Profession Act that will allow the Law Society of Yukon to permit out-of-territory corporations to practice law in the Yukon and help Yukoners access legal professionals. This will increase access to justice for Yukoners.
In addition, over the past two weeks our government updated Yukoners on:
- The progress on the reconstruction of the North Klondike Highway. So far, almost 30 kilometres of road has been rebuilt and a number of culverts have been replaced, upgraded and repaired.
- The work to complete energy retrofits in government-owned buildings. As of now, 38 energy retrofit projects are under way in Government of Yukon buildings across 11 Yukon
- The new gymnastics and climbing gym in Whitehorse, which is scheduled to be open in
- The Cornerstone project that will be the new home of Opportunities Yukon, a not-for-profit organization that provides employment, housing and inclusive programming to people with diverse needs and abilities.
- Infrastructure projects being built across the territory, including the new fire hall projects in Faro, Teslin and Carmacks, the new Pelly Crossing pool, the Carmacks arena replacement project, and recreation projects in communities across the Yukon.
- Lot developments happening across the territory. In the last year alone, municipalities across the territory have issued almost 1,300 permits for residential construction.
- The Great Yukon Summer and Great Yukon Summer Freeze programs that 2,375 Yukoners accessed, accounting for over $1.5 million spent on tourism packages in the Yukon and $383,000 issued in rebate payments.
Yukon Liberal MLAs also paid tribute to World Heritage Day, Earth Day, the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, Mickey Fisher, Agnes Seitz, Adeline Webber, Anne Lewis, Sunnyside Farm Yukon, AirNorth’s new direct flight to Toronto, National Day of Mourning, and the Special Olympics.
Catch up on updates from the Spring Sitting and other work of the Yukon Liberal Caucus at yukonliberalcaucus.ca
