2 weeks into leadership, Yukon premier tables budget and blames Liberals for it
CBC
Yukon Premier and Finance Minister Currie Dixon tabled a supplemental budget that pegs the territory’s surplus at $12.5 – significantly less than the $82 million initially projected back in March.
The territorial government said its “largest cost drivers” since the spring have been wildfire response, highways and public works and health and social services. That spending was overseen by the previous Liberal government.
“We don’t feel that this is our budget,” Dixon told reporters Tuesday. The leader of the Yukon Party was sworn in as the Yukon’s 12th premier and unveiled his cabinet a little over two weeks ago.
"We feel that this is a budget we have inherited from the previous government."
Dixon said the budget doesn’t contain any of his government’s priorities, but it does provide “sufficient funding” to get through to the spring when it can table its own budget.
That includes a $100 million borrowing increase to deal with the situation unfolding at the Mayo dam. The territory says the spillway, a key piece of the hydroelectric dam, needs to be replaced immediately.
The supplemental budget also contains $1.6 million for a new rate relief program that aims to partially offset a 10 per cent electricity rate increase expected to take effect at the start of January.
Dixon said because the Yukon Utilities Board has decided to approve the increase already, it’s “very difficult” for his government to do anything about it. But, he said, “we’re going to be looking to the spring budget to address the broader concerns around the rate increases that are coming.”
NDP Leader Kate White said she doesn’t think the money set aside for the relief program is enough. She said it’s anticipated the rebate will save people up to $26 dollars on their power bills.
“From what I heard from Yukoners when I was knocking on doors, that's not going to be enough to offset those costs,” she said. “People are going to feel it.”
MLAs will debate the budget in the coming days. They’re aiming to vote on it before the sitting ends on Dec. 18.
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