There is only two weeks left of the 2022 fall sitting in the Yukon Legislative Assembly!
This week the Yukon Liberal government released Charting the Course: Living with and managing COVID-19. This set of strategic goals and actions will guide the Yukon’s ongoing response to the pandemic. In addition, today the Yukon Liberal government announced that Xplore will extend satellite service to Yukoners into 2023. These services are critical for Yukoners living in rural locations to stay connected online. The Yukon Liberal government, the Carcross/Tagish First Nation and the government of Canada signed a final management plan for the Tagish River Habitat Protection Area, which fulfills one of the commitments under the Carcross/Tagish First Nation Final agreement and will protect wildlife in the area. In addition, this week the Canadian Open Data Summit was held in Whitehorse, marking the first time the summit has been held in Canada’s North. The summit brought together open data practitioners and advocates from across the country to share perspectives and learn more about how open data can continue to benefit all of our communities.
Yukon Liberal MLAs also updated Yukoners on important work including:
- The public consultation on the Dawson Regional Land Use Planning Commission’s Draft Plan for the Dawson region. The vision for the plan emphasizes shared responsibilities that centre on a diverse economy, protecting a cultural legacy, maintaining a healthy environment and the respectful use of natural resources. We encourage all Yukoners to review the Commission’s recommended plan at onthelandwewalktogether.ca and to submit their feedback by filling out the survey or attending one of our community meetings.
- The supports and resources available to the Yukon’s creative and cultural sector. Investing in the future of the Yukon’s creative and cultural industries has been a commitment that our government continues to prioritize and we are happy to play a part in growing the Yukon’s creative economy.
- The results of the First Nation School Board Congratulations to all the trustees elected and to everyone who put their name forward. This board is a historic step in advancing reconciliation and honours Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow, the seminal document presented by Yukon First Nations Chiefs to then Prime Minster Pierre Elliot Trudeau nearly 50 years ago.
In addition, Statistics Canada released new data that shows the Yukon is leading the country in GDP growth for 2021! The territory leads the country with 10% GDP growth, double Canada’s average GDP growth for the year.
On Wednesday, our Liberal Caucus was not able to support Bill 306, the NDP’s proposed Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Act, at that time. We agree with the intention of this Bill. We do not think that the requirement for consent from First Nations without Final Agreements should have been removed from the Yukon’s Oil and Gas Act, and do not agree with the unilateral approach taken by the Yukon Party in 2012 to remove it. The Yukon NDP has provided letters of support from some First Nations for their proposed amendments to the Oil and Gas Act. However, we have not yet heard from all Yukon First Nations, or from transboundary First Nations that have an interest or may be impacted by the NDP’s proposed changes. In the absence of thorough consultation with Yukon First Nations and transboundary First Nations, we are unable as a government to support these amendments to the Oil and Gas Act at this time.
Yukon Liberal MLAs paid tribute to the Yukon Agricultural Award winner, National Indigenous Veterans Day, World Planning Day, National Francophone Immigration Week, the Yukon Association of Non-status Indians’ 50th Anniversary and Remembrance Day.
Find out more about our work in the Legislative Assembly and tune in here: https://yukonassembly.ca/
