I read with amusement your reporters’ stories on how Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his ministers are doing a last-ditch effort to rescue their brothers in the Yukon.
First, they “announced” an extension to the health fund for two more years, when this additional funding is already in the federal budget since last spring.
Nunavut and the NWT got the same “extension.”
So there is no new money coming to the Yukon, and this was just rebottling old wine!
Then came the announcement the federal Conservatives will allow the Yukon to get the same benefits from collected royalties as the NWT got in its devolution agreement. Your reporters applauded this largesse and wondered how the Yukon territorial government will spend the additional $40 million in new revenues, as if $1 billion is not enough, if managed properly.
Your reporters forgot to ask YTG or the feds: How will the Yukon collect $80 million in royalties (so it can keep its 50 per cent share), if the current extremely low royalty rates, as established more than 100 year ago, only provide the YTG with a total of less than $200,000 per year? The Yukon has to collect more to keep more!
So, again, it is a gimmick to mislead the public with no substance as to how the Yukon will catch up to BC and other jurisdictions in collecting its fair share of return on its ownership of the resources.
All Yukoners should be engaged in such decisions.
The Yukon Party has not shown any ability to engage Yukoners honestly in any decision!
Remember the secret dealings with ATCO?
Harper and Premier Darrell Pasloski should realize they cannot fool us.
Yukoners deserve better!
Renate Zwiser
Whitehorse