Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office has clarified Trudeau’s comment in Parliament about the feds putting money from the national trade corridors fund into a new bridge over the Yukon River in Dawson City.
A Feb. 15 statement by email from press secretary Jenna Ghassabeh clarifies what Trudeau was actually referring to, which was the $135 million provided to the Yukon government under the funding program as part of Phase 2 of upgrading the North Klondike Highway. The funding covered reconstructing 100 kilometres of road between Carmacks and Stewart Crossing and building a new bridge over the Yukon River in Dawson City, per the statement.
The statement indicates that, in 2022, the Yukon government asked that the money earmarked for Dawson City’s bridge be used to rebuild the existing Nisutlin Bay bridge, as “it was in urgent need of replacement, given that it was nearing end-of-service-life.”
In an email statement on Feb. 15, Yukon government cabinet communications wrote that the Yukon Highways and Public Works department has been asking Transport Canada to update the federal website.
“[The Yukon government] recently underwent a series of engagements with Dawson City residents to get more information about their views on the Yukon River crossing. A majority of respondents (68 per cent) said they were currently satisfied with the presently-available options for crossing the river in Dawson,” reads the statement.
“We wouldn’t move forward with this or any other large infrastructure project without engaging further with local residents to better understand their needs and views for the future of their community.”
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s comment in Parliament about the feds putting money into a new bridge in the Yukon has stumped some Yukoners.
During the question period on Feb. 14, Trudeau mentioned the federal government is investing through the national trade corridors fund in a new bridge over the Yukon River in Dawson City.
That came as a surprise to those in the Yukon government.
As pointed out by the Yukon Party, projects funded by the national trade corridors fund listed on the federal government’s website specifically mentions $135 million for aspects of the North Klondike Highway corridor including “Construction of a new bridge over the Yukon River in Dawson City.”
The territorial government has engaged the public about the future of a river crossing from Dawson City to West Dawson.
According to Jordan Owens in Yukon government cabinet communications by phone, the territorial government assumes Trudeau misspoke and his comment is referring to the Nisutlin Bay bridge being built over Teslin Lake in Teslin.
She said the Yukon government is working with the prime minister’s office to confirm they’re all on the same page.
The Yukon department of Highways and Public Works is also looking into it, per Owens.
The News has requested an interview with Trudeau to clarify the prime minister’s remark about the bridge.
The Yukon Party issued a press release on Feb. 15 wondering when the Yukon Liberal Party government asked for and found out about funding for a bridge over the Yukon River in Dawson City.
“Yukoners need to know if the project will be completely funded by the federal government or will Yukon taxpayers be responsible for any costs,” Economic Development critic Geraldine Van Bibber said in the release. “There is potential for a win for Dawson, but this announcement will come as a surprise to many in the community and they deserve answers from the government.”
Trudeau’s comment about the bridge came in response to a question from Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre who referred to comments by Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault in a Montreal Gazette story published Feb. 12.
In the House on Feb. 14, Poilievre cited the story which quotes Guilbeault saying, “Our government has made the decision to stop investing in new road infrastructure.”
The News requested an interview with the minister to clarify what he meant and any impact on the Yukon but instead received emails from his office in response.
“Please rest assured that there is no policy change with any of the minister’s comments. They were severely misconstrued,” the minister’s press secretary Kaitlin Power wrote, later adding that an interview is not possible on this topic and he cleared up his comments.
“He did not mean to say we would not be investing in roads,” Power wrote.
Despite its questions about the minister’s comments, Owens said the Yukon government isn’t concerned about potential changes in federal policy and haven’t had any indication through official meetings that would suggest that’s the case, but roads and bridges are a reality in the North.
The Official Opposition Conservatives blasted Guilbeault.
“The crazy carbon tax minister has done it again,” Poilievre said during the question period, suggesting that Guilbeault believes people in the Yukon will have to get to work by bicycle.
Speaker Greg Fergus stepped in to chastise Poilievre for using the word “crazy.” Fergus asked MPs to “work within the boundaries of parliamentary language.”
Going back to the debate, Trudeau said his minister has already clarified his remarks. Trudeau indicated his government’s approach hasn’t changed since 2015.
Calling Guilbeault a “radical minister,” Poilievre said the minister wants to ban federal funding for future roads. Poilievre asked the prime minister to condemn the “crazy comments.”
Trudeau repeated that his minister has said what he meant.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com