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Goodbye gravy train

Goodbye gravy train Every hour on the hour today I heard about how the Liberal leader declared his disbelief that Prime Minister Stephen Harper could trust and bring into his inner circle a man with a criminal past. He stated emphatically that he would n

Every hour on the hour today I heard about how the Liberal leader declared his disbelief that Prime Minister Stephen Harper could trust and bring into his inner circle a man with a criminal past. He stated emphatically that he would not do this.

So my question is:

What is the chance that Michael Ignatieff, if elected as prime minister, will continue with the Conservative party’s generous support of the northern territories. Based on his comments today there is no way he can, in good conscience, overlook Dennis Fentie’s criminal past and match the $1.1 billion in transfer payments. So what gets cut first, our Highways and Public Works projects, First Nation heritage and culture, Health Programs, or funding for seniors and daycares?

I am going to guess salaries.

The easy answer for Yukoners affected by my hypothetical scenario is to vote out the Yukon Party at the first opportunity. But think outside the box for a second.

Does the territorial NDP party support mining exploration and harvesting of mineral resources ? Do the territorial Liberals believe that sport and recreation is important and the Arctic should be protected from foreign interests? With a change in government comes a change in priorities and mandates. How will these changes affect the amount of change jingling in Yukoners’ pockets?

With the way things are now, the Yukon territory is posed on the brink of an unprecedented economic boom. Will housing, food and gas prices keep going up before they stabilize? Will Yukoners who work for government be able to afford the lifestyle they have been accustomed to? Will they be able to (like a lot of Yukoners do) raise their family if they make less than $45,000 a year?

Things are going to get very interesting in town very soon.

Nancy Tanner

Whitehorse