Political round up March 23

Tuesday, 23 March 2021 15:56

Here is the Yukon political play by play for today.

The Yukon NDP has announced their plan for wildfire safety in the territory.

The announcement comes after Kate White and fellow candidates Emily Tredger, Ian Angus, Kaori Torigai, and Jason Cook toured the Yukon First Nations Wildfire offices last night.

The party’s wildfire safety plan will be created in partnership with municipalities and First Nations so that all levels of government are on the same page about how homes and businesses will be protected from fire.

“Too many communities are at risk when it comes to fire,” said Yukon NDP leader Kate White. “People need to know how their homes and businesses will be protected from wildfires. They deserve a government that will give them that security.”

The Yukon NDP will also introduce a complaint-based system for removal or thinning of excess or dead trees near residential properties. The system will also allow small businesses to take advantage of firesmarting opportunities to harvest the wood for profit.

The party announced their plan to help more seniors age comfortably today.

The NDP announced today, if they are elected, they will put into action all the steps recommended by the Aging in Place action report from 2020.

“Seniors and Elders should be able to make their own choices about how they age. No one should enter care before they’re ready just because they couldn’t get the support at home that they needed. I think that’s the reality for too many families right now.” Says NDP leader Kate White.

The party says that paramedics in the territory are underutilized. To allow for upstaffing to ensure homecare meets everyone’s needs, a Yukon NDP government will move paramedicine out of community services and into health.

The party says the move will lessen the burden on caregivers who are burning out and increase the number of care hours that government can provide.

The NDP says they will work with First Nations, Yukon families and seniors’ groups to understand the wishes, needs and goals of seniors and elders entering care, and build care facilities which represent Yukon.

Mountainview Liberal candidate Jeanie McLean announced today a re-elected Yukon Liberal government will build a new Arts and Heritage Centre.

The centre is included in the recently tabled 2021-2022 Budget.

A press release from today reads - The Liberal party is committed to maintaining, conserving, exhibiting and interpreting the Yukon Permanent Art Collection for the enjoyment of Yukon people.

We have a responsibility for the proper care of our important heritage and art collections so that future generations will continue to benefit from their legacy. We are pursuing a combined facility for both the heritage and arts collections which will result in efficiencies and provide safe, adequate storage for our broad range of collections.

The Liberal platform also includes funding to renovate the Old Territorial Administration Building in Dawson City and a Creative and Cultural Industries Strategy, the first of its kind for Yukon, which will lay out a vision for supporting artists, creatives and those who create cultural and heritage products.

"We have identified approximately $25 million over five years for the design and construction of this new facility. It is important that we celebrate and protect the rich heritage and culture that shapes the Yukon and this investment will help us do that." Says Yukon Liberal leader Sandy Silver

The Yukon Party announced today that they are committed to fighting climate change.

They say they will help Canada reach its goal of producing net-zero emissions by 2050.

"A Yukon Party government will make immediate investments in green energy solutions as we work together as a territory to reduce our emissions," said Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon. "By continuing these supports and enhancing them we will help do our part in the fight against climate change."

A key piece of this plan to fight climate change will be enhancing current investments in energy efficiency retrofits and renewable energy upgrades for government buildings by creating a specific $20 million fund for First Nations and municipal governments to apply for energy retrofit and renewable energy projects for their facilities.

The Yukon Party also revealed their plan to support families in the territory.

A press release from this afternoon says a Yukon Party government will work with groups providing the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program in the Yukon to enhance supports for pregnant women, new mothers, and babies.

They will also support the ongoing efforts to ensure midwifery becomes a regulated, funded system as an option for Yukon families if they so choose.

The party will explore avenues to support families, which struggle with fertility, including a tax-credit for invitro fertilization.

The Yukon Green Party is no longer a registered political party in the territory.

The de-registration is a result of the party failing to nominate more than two candidates for the 2021 general election.

The cut off was yesterday afternoon at 2pm.

The Yukon Green Party will be removed from the list of registered political parties. Any special ballots received for the Yukon Green Party will be rejected.

The party will be able to re-register after the election.

The territorial election will take place April 12th.