“Building Yukon’s Future Together — A Clear Vision For A Bright Future”
A Better Quality of Life
Our vision for achieving a better quality of life:
Educating Today for Jobs Tomorrow
Provide Yukon students with the fundamental skills necessary to prepare them for jobs, responsible citizenship and life-long learning by:
• implementing the major Education Reform project that will:
• identify the common Yukon wide education issues that need to be addressed based on the issues emanating from the Education Act Review;
• identify a common understanding of what the education system needs to accomplish for all Yukoners, including First Nations;
• identify barriers to meeting the common goals/outcomes;
• develop strategies to remove these barriers, including programming, administrative and legislative amendments;
• implementing the relevant obligations of the Government of Yukon according to the terms of
the land claims settlement;
• continuing to support literacy as a priority because it is a fundamental building block of education;
providing assistance to children with special needs through the Youth Achievement Centre and
other means;
• construct a new school in the Copper Ridge area;
• building and maintaining school facilities to support program delivery, including undertaking a planning study that will review the facility needs at F.H. Collins and the Porter Creek Secondary School and determining what a new school in the Copper Ridge area will entail;
• continuing to implement the Food for Learning programs in Yukon schools where needed;
• providing for the development of locally and culturally relevant courses of study;
• supporting Aboriginal and French language programs in Yukon schools;
• providing for safe school environments;
• supporting the creation and implementation of a School of Visual Arts in partnership with the
Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture, Yukon College and the Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation.
Expand and support Alternative Education and Apprenticeship Programs and Post Secondary Education by:
Implementing a Comprehensive Skills and Trades Training Strategy by:
• a dramatic increase in focus on Yukon College and its community campuses to provide more skills
and trades training;
• an increased emphasis in Yukon high schools on vocational skills and trades training as an
alternate path of education, with a corresponding
investment in space, equipment and teachers;
• increased enrolment in the Yukon Apprenticeship Program that currently provides a certificate
and on-the-job training for approximately 46 designated trades;
• promoting increased enrolment in the Yukon Government’s Apprenticeship Program;
• initiating a targeted marketing campaign to bring skilled Yukon workers back to the territory and attract new workers by advertising the opportunities that are available and the superior quality of life Yukon has to offer;
• working in conjunction with First Nation governments, Yukon College and other stakeholders to reduce the barriers to First Nation employment and to educate and train First Nation students in areas of importance to them including their land claims settlements and development activities within their traditional territories;
• measures to encourage greater participation in vocational skills and trades training by women, such as the Women Exploring Trades Program, persons with disabilities and students who do not wish to purse an academic education;
• measures to encourage the underemployed, school dropouts and the working poor to pursue vocational skills and trades training;
• working with the territories, provinces and the federal government to advance regional strategies to increase participation in the labour force and development of workplace skills.
• continuing to expand education and training programs in areas of particular relevance to the
North, such as First Nation governance, mining, tourism, resource management, construction
north of 60, health care professionals, care providers and teachers;
• working with communities, First Nations, Yukon College and the private sector through the Community Training Funds to train local residents for job opportunities resulting from economic activity in their respective regions;
• continuing to support alternative programming at the Individual Learning Centre that encourages high school dropouts to return to school and re-engage in learning; continuing to provide home schoolers with more access to program resources and funding;
• continuing to support the Teen Parent Centre to enable teen parents to complete their education and develop parenting skills;
•continuing to promote distance education and training in Yukon communities, through Yukon College and by other means to improve services to the public and to make information more
accessible to Yukoners;
• establish Yukon College as a Climate Change Research Centre of Excellence for the North and build a Cold Climate Innovation Cluster situated at Ayamdigut Campus of Yukon College (see Environment).
Recognize the pursuit of education and the striving to attain one’s personal best through student financial assistance by:
• continuing to implement the Yukon Excellence Awards to include grades 9 through 12;
• continuing to index the Yukon Student Grant;
• increasing post-secondary opportunities for Yukon students.
Recognition of the contribution of teachers to the success in the education system by:
• participating in the “Awarding People for Excellence” employee recognition program;
• continuing to provide opportunities for Yukon teachers to upgrade and expand their skills and give priority to Yukon resident teachers for employment opportunities in Yukon schools;
• supporting the Yukon Native Teacher Education Program that is open to all Yukon graduates to obtain their education degree in the Yukon for work in the Yukon.
Dealing with Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Implement the Yukon Substance Abuse Action Plan primarily by providing resources
directly to NGOs who are on the frontlines in delivering action items relating to four
strategic directions:
(1) Harm Reduction Action Items
• Community Harm Reduction Fund to provide financial assistance to communities and
NGOs who wish to deliver projects focused on aftercare, treatment, harm reduction and/or
prevention.
• Learning How to Help Kids with FASD in Schools will enhance the existing “FASD Project” that offers training and support for educators.
• No Fixed Address Outreach Van which continues to provide food, clothing, blankets, counseling, education and referral services and health services to individuals on the street.
• Responsible Server Training program which focuses on server responsibilities, recognizing signs of intoxication and ways to identify and manage difficult or intoxicated persons as well how to deal with minors, over-serving and overcrowding.
• Substance Abuse Management (SAM) Certification program which increases the drug/alcohol awareness and training of staff who work with offenders in communities or at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre.
• Support for High Risk Young Women fund to assist NGOs and First Nations to implement harm reduction initiatives for young women living in high risk situations.
(2) Prevention and Education Action Items
• Public Education Campaign that will make the public more aware of the harms associated with substance abuse, including a more targeted campaign aimed at youth and focused on strategies that would delay the “age of first use.”
• Aboriginal Shield pilot project by the RCMP to complement existing substance abuse education programs using a culturally specific package to educate aboriginal youth about substance abuse issues that includes four teaching modules covering aboriginal culture, substance abuse, prevention and informed and responsible decision making.
• Alcohol & Drug Education in Public Schools through programs such as Second-Step, the Real Game, Steps to Respect, and Baby Think it Over in public schools including the implementation of a new curriculum focused on “health and career education” for students from Kindergarten to Grade 9.
• Be Prepared to Talk to Your Children About Drinking, a booklet prepared by the Yukon Liquor Corporation that is designed to help parents discuss alcohol and alcohol-related issues with their children between 8 and 18 years.
• Community Planning & Development through the Department of Justice to facilitate community meetings and planning, assistance to identify the particular factors that contribute to substance abuse in communities, and funding to assistance to communities to implement their plans.
• Counseling for Kids program to provide counseling services to children in homes where there have been incidences of violence.
• Community Training in Addiction Issues to increase the amount of training offered to communities in the area of addictions issues providing counseling and how to provide support and aftercare.
• Drug Abuse Resistance (DARE) Program provided by the RCMP in collaboration with the Department of Education to make Grade 5 students aware of drug abuse and to complement the Second Stop program.
• Healthy Lifestyles & Work Experience Project in collaboration with federal government departments and agencies to develop community-based programs that will encourage healthy lifestyles, mentoring opportunities and work experience for youth and young adults.
• Whole Child Project in collaboration with the Whole Child Society to offer a variety of activities to encompass the whole child and the whole family including parenting classes, a resource library, toy lending library, computer lab access programs, open gym nights, family recreation and arts to be provided at the Whitehorse Elementary School and Elijah Smith with possible future expansion to other school communities where there is sufficient community support and interest.
• Resource Directory for Yukon Communities to develop an inventory of programs, services and resources related to substance abuse and the social supports that are available in each Yukon community.
• Support for Students at Risk to increase the availability of counselors and other resources that can help students who have substance abuse problems or who are at risk of substance abuse.
• Drug Dogs in Schools educational pilot project to be implemented in the secondary school system.
(3) Treatment Action Items
• 5-Step FASD Action Plan continued implementation that includes: the promotion of prevention programs to eliminate alcohol consumption of high-risk parents in order to foster the birth of healthy babies; early diagnosis of FASD before the age of 6; supporting people and families with FASD through a wide range of services such as professional counseling and foster homes in order to provide a stable, nurturing home environment;
• enhancing supported living arrangements for adults with FASD; supporting a diagnostic team of professionals trained in personal counseling and social work/health to provide services to Yukon schools in order to provide support for FASD students and their families.
• Treatment Centres continued implementation of the inpatient alcohol and drug treatment programs offered at the Sarah Steele Treatment Centre and work with First Nation governments, NGOs and other stakeholders to develop more treatment centres and programs throughout the territory in order to support the operation of the Community Court.
• Yukon Community Court implementation of a therapeutic, alternative court to deal with offenders with drug or alcohol addictions, symptoms of FASD, and/or mental health issues.
• Expanded Outreach Services to assist communities to develop addiction plans and to design and implement programs.
• Telehealth Addictions Counseling expanded to additional communities through the Yukon Telehealth Network.
• Access to a 24 Hour Substance Abuse Crisis Line by concluding an agreement with British Columbia that would allow Yukoners access to their 24-hour-7-days-a-week Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service using a toll-free “1-800” number.
(4) Enforcement Action Items
• Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Legislation implementation to improve community safety by targeting and, if necessary, shutting down residential and commercial buildings that are used for illegal activities such as producing, selling or using illegal drugs or the unlawful sale and consumption of alcohol.
• Community Enforcement Campaign to focus on providing information to the public about how to report incidents to the RCMP, what information would be useful, and other anonymous tips can be given and how they can help including information about Crime Stoppers, “tip lines,” and other means of relaying information to the RCMP.
• Getting Tough on Drug Dealers in collaboration with other provinces, territories and the federal government to reduce the availability of illegal drugs by increasing penalties for their manufacturing and trafficking.
• Reduce the Availability of Drug Precursors by working with other provinces, territories and the federal government to reduce the availability of illegal drugs by strengthening the regulation of chemicals used to produce drugs such as GHB (the “date rape” drug) and methamphetamine.
• Restricting Access to Certain Cold Medicines by reducing the availability of the precursors of methamphetamines by working to move cold medications that contain single-source pseudophedrine behind pharmacy counters.
• Reducing Bootlegging by exploring options to reduce the ability of bootleggers to operate and by assisting communities to deal with bootlegging in their communities.
• Secure Identification Cards by upgrading and or replacing the existing Yukon driver’s license with a new card that has more sophisticated features that will make it more difficult to falsify or duplicate as well as create new general identification cards to replace the existing liquor identification cards.
• Targeted Enforcement by the Yukon Liquor Corporation where specific concerns are identified to conduct “inspection blitzes.”
Protecting the Family
• Support the operation of the Victim Link Crisis Line for all Yukoners in need of immediate assistance.
• Continue to implement training initiatives for Victim Service Workers, transition workers, Justices of the Peace and members of the R.C.M.P. regarding anti-violence initiatives including the provisions of the Family Violence Prevention Act.
• Continue to implement a multi-departmental approach and actions focusing on zero tolerance of violence against the family through the development of a long-term public education awareness campaign responding to and preventing family violence.
• Ensure victims of abuse have access to a safe place and support services through the Victim
• Services Family Violence Prevention Unit and other departments and agencies.
• Continue to offer treatment programs to those who are responsible for family violence through the
• Domestic Violence Treatment Option Court and other means.
• Work with the Yukon Housing Corporation to implement a priority housing policy for those
individuals leaving abusive relationships.
• Work with the Anti-Poverty Coalition to investigate the feasibility of creating a permanent food bank.
• Provide long-term secure funding support for NGOs dealing with youth in order to support their
youth centres and programs.
Creating Safer Communities
• Implement the provisions of the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Legislation as per the
Substance Abuse Action Plan.
• Implement the Corrections Action Plan that includes measures to address: the construction of a new correctional facility or facilities to replace the Whitehorse Correctional Centre; programs, services, treatment, case management; human resource development, training and support; community capacity development; Victim and Family Services; Information and Communications (handbook, articles, etc.) and governance issues (legislation, Inmate Disciplinary Complaints Process Policies).
• Work with First Nation governments, communities and NGOs and others to provide access to
land-based camps/treatment centres for inmates at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre and offenders supervised in the community.
• Continue to ensure community notification of high-risk sex offenders.
• Continue to work with Yukon communities, the RCMP and non-government organizations to support crime prevention initiatives such as Neighborhood Watch, Citizens On Patrol (COPS), Auxiliary Police Program and Crime Stoppers.
• Enhance programs for the homeless.
Assisting Elders and Seniors
• Continue to increase the inventory of affordable housing for seniors and elders in the Yukon.
• Continue to ensure that seniors and elders are able to remain in their home as long as possible by increasing home care and other services.
• Build seniors and elders housing that enables couples with different medical needs to continue living together as long as possible.
• Enable elders and seniors to live in their own home communities as long as possible.
• Complete the construction of the multi-level care facilities in Watson Lake and Dawson City and the seniors’ facility in Haines Junction.
• Consult with elders and seniors on the need for senior facilities in Teslin and other communities.
• Continue to index the 35% increase in the Pioneer Utility Grant.
• Continue to support NGOs that provide support services to elders and seniors.
Caring for Yukoners
Implement a Strategy for Recruitment and Retention of Doctors and Other Health Care Professionals that includes the following:
• Family Physician Incentive Program for New Graduates that provides financial assistance to physicians who recently graduated medical school in exchange for years of service in Yukon which could amount to $50,000 over a period of 5 years;
• Medical Education Bursary that provides Yukon students attending medical school with $10,000 in assistance per year and after graduation if they enter medical residency in a Yukon family practice they will be eligible to receive $15,000 per year;
• Nursing Education Bursary that provides $5,000 per year and doubles the number of applicants;
• Health Profession Education Bursary that provides $5,000 per year for Yukoners training for health professions including pharmacy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology and audiology, medical laboratory, medical radiology, dietetics and nutrition and licensed practical nursing;
• Nurse Mentoring Program to help new nurses learn from experienced professionals, especially in gaining greater knowledge of challenges faced in rural communities and other issues specific to Yukon;
• Social Worker Mentoring Program to provide greater continuity and sharing of knowledge between experienced professionals and new graduates.
• Work with members of the health care community on a pilot project to establish a collaborative care medical practice to help meet the health care needs of Yukon families.
• Work with the federal government to expedite the immigration of health care and other professionals into the territory.
• Re-open Thomson Centre with 44 new continuing care beds.
• Establish a palliative care unit at Thomson Centre.
• Continue to support the Yukon Hospital Foundation.
• Provide support services for children with severe disabilities such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and down syndrome in addition to the services already provided to children with autism and create a Family Support for Families with Disabilities Unit.
• Exclude the child care benefit and residential school monies from income determination for
social assistance.
• Review the funding arrangement for foster families.
• Review the social assistance rates and provide incentives for those on social assistance who want to enter the workforce.
Caring for Children
Deliver a territory-wide childcare and early learning strategy for children and parents based on the following priorities:
• creating more available spaces for children of all ages, especially for those younger than 18 months;
• reducing the rates parents pay for childcare;
• increasing financial support and reducing disincentives, such as taxes, to allow parents to participate in the labour force;
• ensuring that parents with children in kindergarten are not charged fulltime preschool rates for their childcare;
• a new five-year plan to address issues of concern to day home operators and childcare centres, including training, education and wages for staff;
• a greater focus on early learning for preschool children; and
• collaborating with First Nations, community groups and non-government organizations to provide an integrated system that better serves the educational and cultural needs of parents and their children in all Yukon communities.
• Continue to strengthen the enforcement of the maintenance support program for parents to
ensure children receive the support they are entitled to by law.
• Eliminate the claw back of the Child Tax Credit from Income Tax.
• In partnership with the NWT and Nunavut, continue to emphasize the need for a national early childcare agreement with Canada that reflects the needs of the North.
Promoting Arts & Culture
• Work to assist and further promote Yukon’s artists and musicians, including emerging artists, supporting creative and entertaining venues for the benefit of our visitors and Yukoners.
• Support the preservation and enhancement of Yukon’s aboriginal languages and culture.
• Continue to work cooperatively with the Kwanlin Dun First Nation government and other levels of government to enable Kwanlin Dun to complete its proposed cultural centre on the Whitehorse Waterfront.
• Recognize the important role that arts and culture play in contributing to the social and economic life of Yukon by providing assistance to arts and cultural organizations and Yukon artisans and by promoting exhibits, concerts, festivals, multicultural events and programs such as the Longest Day Street Fair.
• Work with the business and cultural community and other levels of government to develop a theme or opportunities for the Whitehorse Waterfront such as the Arts and Heritage Village concept or other concepts to support business and tourism growth and maintain the unique heritage of the city centre.
• Develop a long-term plan to sustain existing cultural infrastructure such as theatres, galleries, museums, and art education spaces, as well as develop new infrastructure to meet the growing needs of cultural tourism and communities.
• Work with communities throughout Yukon to identify economic opportunities through cultural and learning travel, film location management and other cultural development.
• Provide assistance to visual and performing artists to enable them to conduct tours and compete in southern markets.
• Provide support to industry associations to support the continued growth of the film and sound recording industries and other sectors.
• Maintain the Cultural Industry and Heritage Training Trusts as industry managed training funds.
• Enhance the Artists in the Schools Program to increase the availability of arts instruction in Yukon schools.
Supporting Sports and Recreation
• Make the 2007 Canada Winter Games in Yukon a resounding success and memorable experience for Yukoners and our guests alike that leaves a lasting legacy and provides facilities for future sport venues.
• Provide financial assistance to sports and recreation organizations in support of the Arctic Winter Games, North American Indigenous Games, Special Olympics and other sporting and recreational events.
• Balance recreation funding to all communities in a fair and equitable way and encourage individual Yukoners, of all ages to participate in sports and other recreational activities.
• Continue to support the Kids Recreation Fund.
• Work with the tourism industry, First Nations, communities and other stakeholders to develop a
Sports Tourism Strategy.
• Provide assistance to youth, seniors/elders and individuals to enable them to participate in sports and recreation in recognition of the contribution sports and recreation make to a positive, healthy lifestyle.
The Environment
Our vision for managing and protecting Yukon’s environment and wildlife:
Protecting the Environment
• Maintain and enhance the quality of the Yukon’s natural environment for present and future generations through eco-system based management, conservation of resources and protection and maintenance of biodiversity.
• Meet Yukon’s obligation to establish Special Management Areas and Habitat Protection Areas under the land claims settlements.
• Plan, establish and manage a system of wilderness preserves, natural environment parks and ecological reserves, Canadian Heritage Rivers, campgrounds and recreation sites; and to provide information/interpretive services for Yukon residents and visitors.
• Implement the “Celebrating Yukon Parks” initiative that showcases Yukon’s parks including the
establishment of a storefront office.
• Expand the Park Officer Program to promote security in Yukon campgrounds.
Implementing the Climate Change Strategy
Implement the Yukon’s Climate Change Strategy that includes a high-level vision, guiding principles and the four following goals:
(1) Enhance awareness and understanding of climate change impacts on Yukon’s environment, people and economy.
(2) Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through efficiency improvements within Yukon government programs in the short-term and additional measures related to infrastructure development in the long-term.
(3) Build Yukon environmental, social and economic systems that are able to adapt to climate change impacts and are positioned to take advantage of opportunities presented by climate change.
(4) Support efforts to establish Yukon as a northern leader for applied climate change research
and innovation.
Establishing Yukon College as Climate Change Research Centre of Excellence
Establish Yukon College as a major Climate Change Research Centre of Excellence to:
• address sustainability in a rapidly changing climate through innovation, adaptation of mitigation measures;
• make Yukon College, with its community campuses, a leader in climate change research and development; and
• find ways to mitigate damage to the boreal forest such as the spruce bark beetle and pine beetle infestations.
• Build a Cold Climate Innovation Cluster situated at Ayamdigut Campus at Yukon College to specialize in three general areas of cold climate technology:
• building construction and maintenance;
• municipal infrastructure; and
• geotechnical works.
• Increase inventory monitoring, data collection and research on the impacts of climate change on the Porcupine Caribou Herd and other wildlife species, such as moose, caribou, bears and Yukon wood bison.
• Promote the Old Crow Campus of Yukon College as an integral part of the research on the Porcupine Caribou Herd to ensure local and traditional knowledge is utilized in developing strategies to lessen the impacts of climate change.
• Include the Yukon Wildlife Preserve as an affiliate of the Yukon Climate Change Research Centre of Excellence in order to study the impacts of climate change on Yukon wildlife.
Managing Yukon’s Air, Land, Water and Wildlife Resources
• Manage and protect Yukon’s air, land and water resources through: the assessment and mitigation of the effects of resource projects; education; monitoring and inspection; and implementation of regulations and pollution prevention programs.
• Ensure Yukoners have access to safe drinking water through the Rural Domestic Water Well Program and by other means including the development of community wells where sufficient demands exist.
• Develop and implement management programs to maintain biological diversity and to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of fish, wildlife habitat and water resources including safe water regulations.
• Provide sustainable fish and wildlife viewing opportunities for cultural, recreational and economic purposes.
• Promote and enhance participation in hunting, fishing and trapping to sustain a unique Yukon lifestyle and provide opportunities for economic benefits through the sustainable use of fish and wildlife resources.
• Continue to support the initiatives of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation to ensure the integrity and protection of the Porcupine Caribou Herd and its critical habitat, especially the calving grounds.
• Sponsor the Whitehorse Fishway and Hatchery and continue to work with the Yukon Fish & Game Association in fish restocking programs.
Supporting Recycling
Promote the expansion of materials that can be economically recycled and support the efforts of recycling centres through the use of incentives for Yukoners, particularly youth, to recycle, reuse and compost.
Ensuring the Humane Treatment of Domestic Animals
Support the work of humane societies in the territory and ensure the humane treatment of domestic animals by working with stakeholders to review and modernize legislation pertaining to domestic animal control and protection.
The Economy
Our vision for a prosperous, diversified Yukon economy:
Implementing Pathways to Prosperity
Implement the vision outlined in the Yukon government’s “Pathways to Prosperity; An Economic Growth Perspective, 2005 to 2025,” that concludes:
• Economic activity will be robust from now until 2025 with employment levels steadily increasing, overall economic output increasing on a year-to-year basis and boom and bust swings will be largely mitigated by sound economic and regional development efforts.
• Yukon’s economic growth will be fueled by an explosive demand for the territory’s abundance of mineral resources, oil and gas and other resources as well as a dramatic expansion in the tourism sector due to a surge in the desire of international travelers to experience Yukon’s breathtaking wilderness and northern cultures.
• Employment opportunities will be abundant not only in the mining and oil and gas sectors but also in trades, professional and financial services, cultural industries, the knowledge sector and tourism.
• The recreation and entertainment sectors will expand with venues catering to the growing youth segment of the population.
• Yukon’s economy will continue to diversify fueled by growth in economic sectors such as film and sound, cultural and knowledge-based industries, oil and gas including pipeline infrastructure, forestry and value-added manufacturing.
• Cold climate technology and research capacity will grow leading to developments in the construction, mining and oil and gas industries and improved production; and environmental technologies will minimize impacts of mining, forestry and pipeline construction.
Providing Land for all Yukoners
• Make land available to Yukoners for community, residential, recreational, agricultural, commercial and industrial purposes while respecting the interests of existing land holders as one of the highest Yukon government priorities by streamlining the land application process and ensuring that appropriate policies and administrative structures are put in place to manage Crown land in the territory.
• Work with First Nation governments to explore opportunities for the joint development of both
public and First Nation land for community, residential, recreational, commercial and industrial
purposes.
• Work with First Nation governments to resolve issues relating to the land disposition process
and the problems resulting from the implementation of the federal government’s Yukon
Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Act.
• Ensure there is a constant two-year supply of residential lots in the Whitehorse area to meet the
needs of an expanding economy.
Promoting Resource Investment
• Work with industry, the federal government, and First Nation governments to establish greater certainty for access to resources, water licenses and permits by creating a clear permitting regime with established time lines that are on par with other jurisdictions in Canada that have successful regimes such as Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario.
• Work with the Government of Canada to resolve the issues pertaining to the problems with the
Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Act and the Yukon Waters Act.
• Utilize the Integrated Resource Management regime for Yukon government departments in responding to proposed resource development activities in order to ensure consistency and meeting established time lines for permitting.
• Seek the participation of the resource sector industries on ways to encourage new investment
and promote the growth of current investors.
• Continue to provide assistance to prospectors that promote mining exploration.
• Continue to provide a Geoscience base for industry that is second to none in Canada and develop the Biophysical Land Classification and Mapping project that will have benefits for land use planners, wildlife and forest managers, mining companies, Renewable Resource Councils, the agriculture industry and the many federal, territorial and First Nation government agencies that have to make land use and resource management decisions.
Promoting Small Business, Trade & Investment
• Together with the Council for Yukon First Nations and First Nation governments, urge the federal government to ensure that the Northern Strategy and the Targeted Investment Program are on-going programs that are designed to provide short, medium and long-term benefits to the Yukon economy.
• No tax increases.
• Provide new incentives to increase the labour pool for entry-level jobs in the service and retail
industries in the short term:
• for seniors who might wish to take on part-time or full-time work but are discouraged by the higher rates of income taxes they would then pay, changes will be introduced to the tax regime to ensure it is not a disincentive to taking on this type of employment;
• for stay-at-home parents who are unable to take on work due to the cost of childcare, incentives will be provided to allow their participation in the entry-level job market;
• for those on social assistance who would like to supplement their income to help meet their needs, incentives will be provided to make it worth their while to participate in the entry-level job market;
• for students, where the cost of introducing these new entrants to the job market may be prohibitive to employers, assistance will be available to employers to offset the cost of wages as the employee is integrated into his or her position.
• In the mid to longer term, work with the federal government to allow increased immigration for
those willing to take on entry-level jobs that employers are finding difficult to fill.
• Maintain a level playing field in supporting small business and ensure that government funding or government actions do not foster unfair competition within the business community.
• Provide business with tax incentives to promote economic growth.
• Review and revise government contract regulations, policies and procedures to ensure they are fair and consistent to the local business community and reduce “red tape.”
• Create an independent appeals committee to adjudicate complaints about contract tendering.
• Maintain the economic integrity of Whitehorse Downtown Core.
• Promote Yukon products and services locally, nationally and internationally.
• In cooperation with industry and other stakeholders, support trade missions, business conventions and exchanges.
• Maintain the Firesmart Program to reduce the risk of wild fires near Yukon communities.
• Maintain the Community Development Fund.
• Promote the collection of outstanding government loans that also supports the Dana Naye Ventures capital fund.
Marketing Destination Yukon
• Working with industry, communities and First Nations to implement the new Yukon tourism brand that promotes Yukon as an attractive year-round destination.
• Enhance marketing of Yukon as a quality travel destination through general awareness campaigns, especially in relation to Yukon’s traditional markets in the United States, Canada and Europe.
• Enhance efforts to promote affordable domestic and international air access to the Yukon.
• Work with the Yukon Convention Bureau, industry and Yukon communities to further promote the Yukon as a choice destination for hosting meetings, conventions, sports tourism and incentive travel.
• Work in cooperation with industry, First Nations, Yukon College and the Yukon Tourism Education Council (YTEC) to develop industry standards in the hospitality industry and a skilled
workforce.
• Implement the Yukon Museums Strategy in collaboration with museums, First Nation heritage/ cultural centres and community interpretive centres.
• Provide necessary support to Yukon museums to enable them to run their operations and to retain and train experienced staff.
• Enhance opportunities for educational tourism and international visitors to Yukon College.
• Enhance the Tourism Cooperative Marketing Fund.
• Work with Yukon First Nations to further develop and promote First Nation products.
• Work with the City of Whitehorse and the Miles Canyon Railway Society to complete the expansion of the trolley and train service from the Wal-Mart site to Schwatka Lake and to utilize the motor
coach known previously as the “Red Line” that was purchased from White Pass & Yukon Route.
• Continue efforts to make Kluane National Park more accessible to Yukoners and visitors.
• Support waterfront development in both Whitehorse and Carcross.
Promoting Energy Self-Sufficiency
• Ensure the effective management and operation of the Yukon Energy Corporation and promote a public-private sector partnership in supplying power to Yukon communities.
• Promote the development of the Yukon’s own energy resources with a goal of ultimately achieving energy self-sufficiency, including the development of a comprehensive Yukon Energy Framework Strategy.
• Support energy conservation initiatives and ensure Yukon’s energy resources are developed in an economically and environmentally responsible manner.
Investing in Infrastructure
• Work towards the development of a territorial-wide electrical grid.
• Continue to upgrade the Top of the World Highway and urge the State of Alaska to upgrade the Taylor Highway and ensure its early opening.
• Complete the Shakwak North Alaska Highway Project.
• Continue to upgrade and maintain the South Alaska Highway, the Klondike Highway, and the Dempster Highway as part of the National Highway System and plan for the major reconstruction and upgrading of the Campbell Highway in view of the completion of the Shakwak Project.
• Implement the vision outlined in Prospecting Corridors to Growth — A Transportation Vision for Yukon;
• Maintain and upgrade rural roads and mining roads throughout the territory to an acceptable standard, where there is a community or industry demand.
• Continue to utilize the Heavy Equipment Rental Contracts (HERC) process to promote employment opportunities for local contractors in road construction projects near their communities.
• Work with Liard First Nation, the Town of Watson Lake and industry to provide access to mining, oil and gas, forestry and other resource industries in southeast Yukon.
• Utilize the recommendations of the Port Access Study to ensure Yukon has tidewater access to Skagway, Haines and the Beaufort Sea; and work with White Pass & Yukon Route and the City of Skagway to establish a common-user port facility.
• Ensure the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad right-of-way is preserved as a future access corridor for Yukon.
• Consider the recommendations of the Alaska-Canada Rail Feasibility study for the construction of a railroad from Alaska through Yukon to connect with railroads in the south.
• Complete improvements to the Whitehorse Air Terminal Building that will meet the new security requirements and will enhance international air access to the Yukon.
• Ensure that the operation and development of airports throughout the territory meets future needs.
• Plan the construction of a bridge at Dawson City to replace the current ferry system when it is
economical to do so.
• In conjunction with the private sector, work to ensure the Yukon has access to up-to-date information and telecommunication systems including cellular telephone service to all major
communities, as well as Marsh Lake and Lake Laberge.
• Build a Yukon-relevant framework to guide the government’s assessment of when and how to
use Public-Private Partnerships (P-3).
• Work with the federal government, First Nations and community governments to upgrade and
construct high quality community infrastructure to enhance the quality of life.
• Complete the construction of the Hamilton Boulevard extension in Whitehorse.
• Continue to assist Yukoners with access to rural electrification and implement a strategy for
affordable potable water.
Promoting Northern Natural Gas Pipelines
• Work to ensure that the construction, operation and decommissioning of the Alaska Highway Pipeline Project (AHPP) and the Mackenzie Valley Gas Project (MGP) provide a lasting net fiscal
benefit to Yukon and its people.
• Work to ensure that the social impacts resulting from the construction, operation and decommissioning of the AHPP and MGP are minimized and mitigated, to the greatest extent possible, and provide for lasting social benefits.
• Work to ensure that the undesirable environmental impacts resulting from the construction,
operation and decommissioning of the AHPP and the MGP are minimized and mitigated to the
greatest extent possible.
• Work to ensure that community and First Nations’ interests are an essential component and are taken into account to the greatest extent possible in the construction, operation and decommissioning of the AHPP and the MGP.
• Work to ensure that the regulatory process in Canada is clear and efficient in order to advance the AHPP, provide for adequate Yukon participation, and to conduct a proper environmental and socio-economic impact assessment.
• Work to ensure that Yukon’s natural gas resources have access to and transportation on the AHPP and MGP.
• Work to ensure that Yukon has appropriate access to natural gas at favourable terms to encourage residential, commercial and industrial use in Yukon in the construction and operation of the AHPP and the MGP.
• Continue to support the Alaska Highway Aboriginal Pipeline Group, which serves as a coordinating body through which the Yukon First Nations along the pipeline corridor, share information, provide advice to governments and industry and advocate on behalf of their collective interest in order to facilitate a process for the approval and construction of the AHPP that will meet First Nation interests and respect traditional knowledge.
• Work with Canada and the Northwest Territories to resolve the outstanding offshore jurisdictional boundary issues between the NWT and Yukon including the right of the Government of Yukon to share the government revenues derived from oil and gas development in what should be recognized as the Yukon’s portion of the Beaufort Sea.
Developing Forestry
• Develop a new Yukon Forest Stewardship Act in keeping with the principles of the Yukon Forest Policy Framework.
• Ensure land is available for Yukon forest projects and to provide long term access to harvestable wood.
• Issue timber harvesting authorizations, approvals and permits in a responsible timely manner.
• Implement the Strategic Forest Management Plan with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and the Alsek Renewable Resource Council that includes fuel abatement, timber harvesting and a responsible approach to the spruce bark beetle infestation.
• Implement the Interim Wood Supply Development Plan in partnership with the Kaska Forest
Resource Stewardship Council in southeast Yukon.
• Encourage the development of modern, efficient logging operations that make maximum use of Yukon logs and foster secondary industries.
• Encourage investment in local manufacturing by favouring manufactured timber products over raw log exports.
• Promote comprehensive reforestation programs of areas logged, burnt by wildfires and/or killed by insects and disease.
• Allow timber harvesting where there is an excessive fuel load, especially near communities.
Promoting Agriculture
• Implement the Agriculture Policy Framework that offers programs to provide the industry with the tools, services and options to strengthen business, increase prosperity and meet the demands of consumers.
• Make more agricultural land available to Yukon farmers and safeguard agricultural land from conflicting uses.
• Assist Yukon farmers to provide more locally grown products and support the development of agricultural infrastructure that creates access to markets for Yukon-grown products.
• Promote the development of the agricultural industry in an environmentally sustainable way that will provide economic and social benefits to Yukoners and help diversify the Yukon
economy.
• Provide measures to support increased productivity, profitability and sustainability of the agricultural industry.
• Support the operation of the mobile abattoir that is designed to serve the red meat industry, beef, hogs and game-farmed elk and bison.
Putting Yukoners First
• Ensure that Yukon communities gain economic benefits from activity in their area through the development of a locally based skilled work force in partnership with communities, Yukon First Nations, industry, and Yukon College; establishing training trust funds and promoting the benefits of local hire, goods and services.
• Encourage employment of persons with special needs through the Workplace Diversity Employment Office.
• Continue to provide Yukoners with the first opportunity for employment and advancement within the public service.
• Ensure Yukon teachers are considered first for employment, subject to special or exceptional circumstances.
• Give a hiring preference to Yukon post-secondary students for employment with the Yukon
government.
• Where feasible and economical, scale government contracts to encourage bids from Yukon contractors.
• Continue to utilize Firesmart, the Community Development Fund and the Heavy Equipment Rental Contracts to create employment.
Practising Good Government
Our vision for Yukon coming of age through effective leadership, political stability, cooperative governance and strong fiscal management:
Implementing Cooperative Governance and Partnerships
• Utilize the Yukon Forum that has been established in law to promote cooperative governance with Yukon First Nations governments based on mutual respect of each others jurisdiction in order to ensure the better operation of all governments in the territory with the objective of providing benefits, reducing barriers and providing more cost-effective services for all Yukon citizens.
• Utilize the Yukon Forum to implement such major initiatives as the Northern Strategy, the Targeted Investment Program, the Northern Housing Trust, the Children’s Act Review, the Corrections Action Plan and Education Reform.
• Work with Yukon First Nations to re-establish the Intergovernmental Forum with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
• Continue to work with Yukon First Nations to make them full partners in the economic development of the territory to the mutual benefit of all Yukoners to avoid litigation and to create a positive, “united-front” investment climate that will encourage responsible economic development in the territory.
• Develop a Strategic Action Team within the Executive Council Office comprised of a team of professionals with expertise in preparing business proposals, establishing joint training initiatives, establishing financial systems and information technology links to assist Yukon First Nation governments in capacity development upon request.
• Continue to utilize the Pan-Northern collaborative approach with the Northwest Territories and Nunavut to:
• create a new Northern Vision with the Government of Canada demonstrating to southern Canadians that the North is coming of age, that Canada’s northern frontier will become Canada’s future and that the territories will play an increasingly important role in Canadian confederation;
• advance negotiations with the Government of Canada, with the support of the Provinces, to reach an agreement on a new Territorial Formula Financing framework that meets the unique financial needs of the three territories;
• develop a new comprehensive Tourism Marketing Agreement with the Government of Canada that showcases the North to southern Canadians and to the global community;
• promote the success of the 2007 Canada Winter Games;
• Advance northern interests with the provinces within the Council of the Federation.
Continue to form strategic alliances with Yukon’s closest neighbours, Alaska, Alberta, and British Columbia to derive mutual benefits in relation to projects such as the Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline, the Alaska-Canadian Rail Link Project and the Port Access Study as well as on other matters.
Completing and Implementing Land Claims
• Urge the Government of Canada to complete the “unfinished business” of settling the three remaining outstanding land claims in Yukon through the resumption of land claim negotiations. Offer to act as a facilitator or mediator with the Government of Canada and the White River First Nation, the Liard First Nation and the Ross River Dena Council to resume land claims negotiations.
• Work with First Nations that have achieved settlements to implement their settlements on a government to government basis and fully honour the commitments the Government of Yukon has agreed to undertake in the land claims agreements.
• Work cooperatively with First Nation governments to coordinate the management of settlement
lands and public lands.
• Assist Yukon First Nations and community governments to develop good working relationships and a better quality of life in Yukon communities.
• Work with First Nations, Yukon College and its community campuses, and the private sector to provide training for Yukon
• First Nations for land claims implementation especially in relation to capacity development for First Nation governance.
Implementing and Improving Devolution
• Continue to work with DIAND to secure a multi-year funding arrangement sufficient to cover the clean up costs and management of the seven major mine sites by the Government of Yukon and ensure economic and employment opportunities for Yukoners at these sites.
• Urge the Government of Canada to implement clause 5.5 of the Devolution Transfer Agreement in order to augment the $7.5 million that was made available to the Government of Yukon for fire suppression over the five-year transitional period.
• Request the Government of Canada make amendments to the Yukon Act to include;
• recognition of the “Crown in right of Yukon” and the transfer of the ownership of Yukon land and resources to the Government of Yukon;
• amend section 4(3) together with section 68 to remove the ability of the Minister of DIAND to continue giving instructions to the Commissioner that currently threatens the Yukon’s present
form of democratically elected public government; and
• amend Schedule I and Schedule II of the Act to include the recognition of the Yukon’s offshore boundary with the Northwest Territories in the Beaufort Sea so as to put the Yukon on same footing as the NWT and Nunavut in relation to their offshore waters.
• Ensure the 141st meridian is recognized as the offshore northern boundary between Yukon and the State of Alaska.
• Support efforts by Canada to support arctic sovereignty particularly in relation to the Northwest Passage and urge Canada to consider the development of a deep-water port in the Beaufort Sea in northern Yukon.
Practising Open, Accountable, Fiscally Responsible Government
• Continue to utilize government budgets and policies to stimulate the private sector economy and promote the development of balanced budgets for the future.
• Promote consensus building, collaboration and compromise rather than confrontation in government and work to improve the conduct and decorum of members in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
• Continue to work with the political parties in the legislature to establish an all-party standing committee to oversee Yukon government appointments to government boards and committees.
• Work with industry to promote and implement practical “e-government” initiatives such as Bizpal to improve and enhance public access to government services.
• Review and amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to improve access to information while ensuring the protection of personal information.
• Respect and adhere to the collective bargaining process between the Yukon government and the unions representing its employees, and conduct all negotiations in good faith.
• Enhance opportunities for public employees to provide input on Yukon government decisions individually and collectively through the Investing in Public Service initiative and by other means.
• Work with all political parties in the legislature to implement effective “whistleblower legislation” which protects the anonymity of public employees who report abuse within the government and provides a clear process for a full and fair investigation.
• Continue to ensure that regulations reflect the intent of legislation.
• Accept the findings of the Report on Electoral Reform to focus on legislative renewal rather than electoral reform at this time while continuing to monitor electoral reform initiatives in other jurisdictions.