Yukon Government announces reconciliation priorities in $2 billion 2024-25 budget

Friday, 8 March 2024 06:30

Finance Minister Sandy Silver speaks with reporters following his budget speech on March 7, 2024 (Photo: S.Bonell)

Nearly $8 million are going towards reconciliation initiatives, including land-based healing, community safety officer programs, and taking action against missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2S+ people.

The Government of Yukon has announced its budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Following in the tradition of territorial politics, the announcement was made on March 7; the first day of the spring sitting at the Yukon Legislative Assembly.

Finance Minister Sandy Silver delivered the budget speech following question period; outlining the priorities behind this year’s budget of over $2 billion. According to Silver, the priorities include making life more affordable, looking after people and communities, investing in the future, and advancing reconciliation.

“Reconciliation is an ongoing process and a shared responsibility of all governments and individuals in our society,” said Silver in his address. “It means listening to and working with First Nations to address the harms caused by a long history of inequality and discrimination.”

“In Budget 2024-25, we continue to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and work collaboratively with Yukon First Nations towards the shared goal of reconciliation.”

“We continue to work together to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-spirit+ people. We approach this work in the spirit of reconciliation, in partnership with Yukon First Nations and Indigenous women’s organizations.”

The 2024-25 budget’s total funding under the reconciliation heading comes to nearly $8 million. Most of that funding will work towards providing culturally appropriate services, such as a land-based healing program and community safety officer programs operated by First Nations governments. Just over one million will contribute to taking action on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit+ people.

Silver took an opportunity during his speech to highlight the benefit of the Yukon Forum, where the premier and government ministers meet with First Nations leadership from across the territory discuss concerns that affect everyone in the Yukon.

“While there was a lengthy pause in Yukon Forum meetings under other governments,” Silver said, “we are proud to report that there have been 28 Yukon Forum meetings since February 2017, most recently just this past February.”

“Notable accomplishments include a Memorandum of Understanding on mining and work undergoing to co-develop new minerals legislation, the establishment of the Yukon Environmental Socio-Economic Assessment reset oversight group, the creation of a Government of Yukon First Nations Procurement Policy, creating a pathway to a more representative public service through the development of the Breaking Trail Together plan, the establishment of the Yukon First Nations School Board, and co-authored amendments to the Child and Family Services Act, just to name a few.”

Following the announcement of the budget, Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon, while unimpressed with the budget overall, commended the Yukon Government’s work towards reconciliation. However, both he and Yukon NDP Leader Kate White agreed that whether the budget for reconciliation will be adequate comes down to the judgement of Yukon First Nations.

The full 2024-25 Yukon budget is available to review online at yukon.ca/en/budget

More from CHON-FM Northern News

Ground searches at two former Whitehorse residential school sites begin this week

WARNING: This article contains information that could be distressing to some readers.
Coroner's Inquest sees footage of lifeless body ignored for more than 12 hours

The on-site paramedic called the incident of Darla Skookum's death “bizarre” because she had obviously passed away many hours earlier.
How We Walk with the Land and Water holds two open houses

The open houses gave citizens and relations an opportunity to share their vision for the Southern Lakes Region
Whitehorse Emergency Shelter staff not trained for emergencies, inquest hears

Last week inquest heard Whitehorse emergency shelter staff members testifying that they were not trained for the emergencies that caused the deaths of four Yukon women.
Premier pledges to meet with Yukoners living in tents to help them find housing

Audio

Yukon NDP House Leader Lane Tredger describes Premier Ranj Pillai's commitment as a bluff; says Pillai is "out of touch."
Whitehorse Emergency Shelter saw a higher presence of drugs after the Connective took over

One staff member while testifying, said things changed for the worse when Connective took over, as they saw a higher presence of drugs.
Whitehorse Shelter has recorded 144 overdoses between 2020 and 2022

144 overdoses has happened at the shelter between 2020 and 2022. Three were at least fatal, including Cassandra Warville and Myranda Tizya-Charlie, on Jan. 19, 2022.
Whitehorse Emergency Shelter understaffed and staff lacked training - inquest reveals

They said at the time of the incident, there was no clear policy or training available to staff on how to deal with overdose incidents nether were they trained on how to monitor intoxicated guests.
Yukon’s legislature recognizes 40 years of programming by CHON-FM/NNBY

Audio

Tributes to CHON-FM include special mention of the late Rockin' Terry Carlick
Coroner’s Inquest into Whitehorse Emergency Shelter deaths begins in Whitehorse

Loud screaming was heard and many broke into tears in painful disbelief when the CCTV footage showed shelter staff dragging the women's lifeless bodies from the shower room.
The Whitehorse Star says goodbye after over a century of publication

One of the last locally owned newspapers in Canada is closing its doors after 124 years of serving Yukoners; thanks staff, advertisers, and readers for being part of its rich history.
City of Whitehorse tables new bylaw to discourage abandoning buildings

If introduced, the bylaw would make annual permits mandatory for buildings left vacant for more than a month and would require owners to safeguard the building from fire and other hazards, maintain insurance and carry out snow and ice removal.
Yukon Party renews its criticism of Yukon Hospital Corporation funding following CBC article.

Audio

Health Critic Brad Cathers quoted documents acquired by the public broadcaster through an Access to Information request, while Minister McPhee stands by the funding of the Hospital Corporation.
CHON-FM's Kaska-language coverage of hockey tournament gets national attention

You can hear CBC's national host interview Testloa Smith
Yukon Party criticizes the health minister's trip to Scotland

Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee spent seven days in Scotland following several rural health centre closures and service reductions in Yukon communities. McPhee hasn't visited Watson Lake in-person since 2021.
Whitehorse RCMP arrests one suspected to be involed with Victim Services Office break-in

A search warrant by Police officers with Whitehorse Detachment General Investigation Section and General Duty officers was executed where Kyle McCormick was known to reside and recovered additional items also believed to be taken from the break-in.
Yukon Native Hockey Tournament returns to Whitehorse

The 44th Annual Yukon Native Hockey Tournament will see 56 teams from the Yukon, Bc, and North West Terriotries attending one of the most anticipated social events of the year.
Community space in the former cafeteria in Jim Smith Building now open

The community space situated on the ground floor of the Jim Smith Building, which is located at 2071 2nd Avenue in Whitehorse, will be open starting Monday, March 18th and will continue to welcome visitors for the next six and a half weeks
Break-in at Whitehorse Victim Services office under inverstigation

Confidential files and other items are believed to have been accessed and individuals who have obtained services or may have been referenced in victims’ files through Victim Services may be affected.
Yukon's RCMP records historic seizure of cocaine in Dawson City

This seizure of cocaine is the largest cocaine seizure in the Yukon to date.