How do Yukon’s parties compare on these election issues?

The Liberals say they will source five per cent of government food purchases from local producers. They’re also promising to call for an increased allocation under the nominee program. The Liberals say they’ll improve the First Nations procurement program, and build up infrastructure for wilderness and heritage tourism. The party wants to cut red tape for labour mobility.

The Yukon Party is promising to cut regulations, and introduce a one-for-one policy that will eliminate one regulation for each new one (health and safety rules excluded). It plans to pause the extended producer responsibility program for recycling and reassess it. The Yukon Party says it will develop new strategies for forestry and sports tourism, and also issue tenders earlier for projects that are affected by the seasons.

The NDP says it would cover the costs of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for recycling for one year. It also promises to decentralize government jobs, offer trades training in the communities, and require community benefit agreements for major government projects.

The Liberals say they'll update the Education Act. They'll explore a forgivable student loan program for Yukon students who return home after graduation and for trades training. The Liberals also promise to expand Porter Creek Secondary School, build a new high school in Whistle Bend build the new Whitehorse Elementary school in Takhini, and plan for a downtown school. They plan to hire teachers longer before the start of the school year, and set up a territory-wide school food program.

The Yukon Party says it will offer mental health services for students, ban cellphones in class (with some exceptions), and beef up school maintenance. It also promises to increase funding for the Child Development Centre, develop a new teacher recruitment strategy, and build more staff housing for educators where no market housing exists and match new recruits with a home in those communities. The party says it will cancel the new Whitehorse Elementary School project in Takhini and develop other options. 

The NDP says it will provide stable funding to First Nation School Board schools. It also promises to build a school in downtown Whitehorse and replace roofs for schools in Haines Junction, Teslin and Beaver Creek. The party says it will hire and train more teachers using N.W.T.’s recruitment model, hire 35 new education assistants, and pay tuition costs at Yukon University for teachers who agree to work in the territory for five years. It also promises to offer more support to students with complex needs.

The Liberals say they will implement a ranked ballot system if the plebiscite result calls for electoral reform.

The Yukon Party will not change the current first-past-the-post system, regardless of the plebiscite result.

The NDP says it will implement a ranked ballot system if the plebiscite result calls for electoral reform. 

The Liberals say they will advance the Yukon-B.C. power grid project and also upgrade energy infrastructure. They promise to implement Yukon Energy’s plan to build new power stations. The party says it will partner with Yukon First Nations on pumped storage and solar energy projects.

The Yukon Party says it will cancel Yukon Energy’s proposed power rate increase by deferring non-essential energy projects. It will implement the plan to build new power stations and also explore grid connections with neighbouring jurisdictions. The Yukon Party says it will expand energy rebates for retrofits, household backup batteries, heat pumps and other infrastructure. It’s also promising to establish a policy framework for Yukon First Nation investment and to source federal funding for renewable energy initiatives. 

The NDP promises to pause Yukon Energy’s proposed power rate increase. The party will implement Yukon Energy’s plan to build new power stations and also seek proposals for clean energy projects from corporations and First Nations development corporations. The NDP says it will source federal funding for clean energy.

The Liberals say they’ll continue work on the Our Clean Future climate strategy. They’re also promising to advance the Ross River Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area, work on the establishment of national park in Teetł’it Gwinjik (Peel River) watershed, and establish a management plan and committee for Chasàn Chùa  (McIntyre Creek) Territorial Park. They want to add 22 campsites at Pine Lake campground. The Liberals promise to complete the Dawson regional land use plan and fast-track the Nacho Nyak Dun regional land use plan.

The Yukon Party is promising a new climate policy based on “realistic actions.” It also supports the creation of a national park in the Teetl’it Gwinjik (Peel River) watershed, and will look to develop a new territorial park and expand some existing campgrounds, particularly those close to Whitehorse. It plans to review current hunting restrictions and increase funding for wildlife surveys and data collection.

The NDP says it will meet the target included in the previous government’s Our Clean Future plan, to cut CO2 emissions in the territory by 45 per cent by 2030. The party is also promising to impose a moratorium on offshore drilling in Yukon waters, The NDP says it will increase wildland fire crews by 25 per cent, and build four new campgrounds. 

The Liberals say they will set up a standalone Department of First Nations Relations. They also promise to review pay for members of boards established by the Umbrella Final Agreement. The Liberals say they’ll include First Nations in national defence discussions. They also plan to recognize First Nations language teachers under the Education Act, improve Yukon government hiring of First Nations workers, and offer more training and mentorship.

The Yukon Party says it will continue participating in the Yukon Forum with First Nations leaders. It also promises a plan to ensure boards and committees established under the Umbrella Final Agreements are meeting their objectives. The party also says it will support the advancement of Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action, and implement Yukon’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ strategy.

The NDP says it will align all territorial legislation with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. They say they will implement all calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as well as recommendations from the Yukon Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report. The party also promises a revenue-sharing program with First Nations using mining royalties.

The Liberals say they will improve access to primary care, with new and expanded clinics and more nurse practitioners. The party pledges to expand services, add beds and build a new surgical tower at Whitehorse General Hospital and medical travel lodges in Whitehorse and Vancouver. They say they'll expand home care service in the communities, increase aftercare for people exiting addictions treatment programs, and expand the family physician residency program. They also want to improve the digital health record system and eliminate the use of fax machines to transfer health records.
 

The Yukon Party says it will introduce a campaign to attract American health care workers to the territory, and also make it easier for certain foreign-trained doctors to have their credentials recognized. It also promises to expand surgical capacity at Whitehorse General Hospital and build a new wing with at least 40 beds, and also build a continuing care facility in Watson Lake. The party also says it will plan an expansion of Whistle Bend Place, explore options for another continuing care facility, expand home care, and cut regulations to make it easier for doctors to open practices and to allow doctors to get paid faster.
 

The NDP promises to expand Whitehorse General by eight beds, expand the ICU and add four new operating rooms. They're also promising access to a primary care provider for every Yukoner, in part by offering alternative payment models. They plan to hire 10 nurse practitioners to work in community health centres. The NDP is also promising to add 10 seats to a Yukon University program that trains licensed practical nurses to become registered nurses, and also establish a registered nursing program at the university. It says tuition for those programs will be forgiven for people who complete them and agree to work in the territory for five years.  

The Liberals say they’ll release 1,000 new lots, create a commercial land lottery, and review the territory’s land release policies. They’re promising at least 60 new public housing units in the communities. The Liberals say they’ll partner with the private sector to speed up land development, and work with the City of Whitehorse to identify barriers to housing development. They’re promising offers of financing and/or land to non-profit housing developers.

The Yukon Party says it will scrap rent control. The party is promising tax credits to encourage construction of rental units. It says it will eliminate land transfer fees, reform the land lottery system, develop a rural land development strategy, and plan for another Whitehorse subdivision. The party says it will create processes to take over abandoned or underused lots, prepare them for mixed-use development, and turn them over to the private sector for development. 

The NDP says it will maintain the rent cap. The party is also promising to build 100 new Yukon Housing Corporation units, mainly in the communities, and also build 100 homes for first-time buyers, in collaboration with First Nation development corporations. THe NDP also wants to speed up permitting and inspections.

The Liberals say they will continue work to develop new mining legislation. The party is also promising more independence for mining inspectors. The Liberals say they will consider moving oversight to the Yukon Water Board, and will consult workers, industry, First Nations and experts ahead of any major changes. 

The Yukon Party says it will Increase "resource royalty retention.” It’s also promising to beef up mining enforcement and compliance, and complete new mining legislation. The Yukon Party plans to streamline permitting and licensing with legislated timelines for reviews.

The NDP says it will modernize mining laws. The party is also promising to hold public inquiries into the Minto, Wolverine, and Eagle Mine failures. The NDP promises to ban mining inside municipal boundaries.

The Liberals promise to establish an outreach worker program at the shelter and also transition upper-floor housing units to a structured support program. They say they will decentralize social services and partner with other organizations to increase services. The Liberals say they will collaborate with Yukon First Nations in deciding the shelter’s future, and keep the shelter’s low-barrier model.

The Yukon Party says it will review the shelter’s operating model. It also plans to consider alternative locations, and decentralize social services away from 405 Alexander Street. The Yukon Party also promises to increase addiction treatment options, and launch a pilot program to provide sentenced offenders with addiction treatment and mental health care.

The NDP is promising a comprehensive review of the shelter. The party says it will address concerns with residents and First Nation governments. It’s also promising to build supportive housing projects, including sober and low-barrier housing. The NDP says it will support the supervised consumption site to be open seven days per week.