Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai isn’t impressed that the federal government’s latest fall economic update leaves out new money for key infrastructure.
“We were disappointed by the absence of new funding for infrastructure priorities,” reads a Nov. 22 statement attributed to Pillai.
“We continue to call on the federal government to support the critical infrastructure that our communities require, and that can support long-term economic growth. In the coming months, we hope to see the launch of a new national infrastructure program that reflects territorial priorities and offers secure, adequate and flexible funding to meet our needs.”
The premier’s statement in response to the Nov. 21 update from the federal government also highlights an “opportunity” for the feds to invest in ways to mitigate disasters and prepare for emergencies. Pillai said Western premiers have been calling for support for their jurisdictions in this area after a record-breaking year of wildfires across the country.
“Now is the time to prepare, in order to ensure our communities are more resilient and better positioned to respond in the future to natural disasters that are increasingly frequent and severe due to climate change,” Pillai said.
The statement indicates the Yukon government appreciates the federal government’s focus on affordability measures, particularly new funding to up the housing supply, assist first-time buyers and encourage building more rental units.
A government representative told the News the premier will be leaving on Nov. 24 for the United Kingdom and Germany to deliver speeches at mining conferences before heading to Ottawa with cabinet and First Nations chiefs for what was described as federal outreach.
On previous trips to Canada’s capital city, for example, Pillai has talked about the need for federal investment in the territory’s electrical system and roads.
The Yukon government is facing tens of millions in funding gaps for some major territorial government projects intended to benefit the territory, including ones that are in the works in other jurisdictions like the hydro power project in Atlin, British Columbia and a marine services platform to get mining companies access to the ocean in Skagway, Alaska.
A statement from the Association of Yukon Communities in response to the federal fall update indicates the communities need more resources to respond to challenges like housing and climate change.
President Ted Laking is calling for the federal government to “rethink” how it supports Yukon communities and do more to tackle the “housing crisis.” He agreed the recent update falls short of offering new information on future infrastructure.
“Housing construction cannot be adequately and properly supported at the pace required to keep up with growth without significant new investments in municipal infrastructure,” Laking said in the statement, adding that homes need water, roads and wastewater facilities.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com