The Yukon government tabled its annual budget this afternoon for the upcoming 2023-2024 fiscal year, which will begin April 1.

The budget sets out spending of $1.94 billion, made up of $1.45 billion to cover operations and maintenance of the government and $484 million for capital projects.

A summary of the capital budget allotments for each department is as follows.

As is typical, the Department of Highways and Public Works has the largest capital budget, with $250.6 million allotted for spending in the upcoming fiscal year.

Community Services is next in line with a capital budget of $100.9 million, followed by a capital budget of $54.5 million for the the Yukon Housing Corp.

The Department of Education has a capital allotment of $35.3 million, followed by a capital allotment of $15.9 million for Health and Social services.

The Yukon Development Corp. has been allotted $12 million for capital projects while Justice has been given $4.3 million.

Environment has been allotted $4 million, $2.7 million has been earmarked for Tourism and Culture and $2.4 million has been allotted for Energy, Mines and Resources.

The Child and Youth Advocate Office has been given an allotment of $2 million, the smallest capital budget though two departments.

The Women and Gender Equity Directorate and French Language Services Directorate are not budgeted for any funding.

The total capital budget is down from the current year’s capital budget of $546.5 million, representing a decrease of $62.7 million.

“As more and more people pursue the unparalleled opportunities available in the territory and choose the Yukon as a place to call home, our government continues to invest in the areas needed to grow our communities in resilient and sustainable ways,” Finance Minister Sandy Silver told the legislative assembly in his budget address.

“The spell of the Yukon continues to attract people from far and wide,” said Silver.

“Between 2016 and 2021, the Yukon experienced a population growth rate of 12.1 per cent, more than double the national average.

“During that same period, residential development more than kept pace, with the number of private dwellings in the Yukon increasing by 12.9 per cent.

“Our government’s work over the past six years to create a modern, inclusive and prosperous territory in partnership with First Nations has attracted thousands of new people and led to historic economic growth.”

The budget also outlines spending for specific projects, such as a new school in Whistle Bend, and major road works.

There is a total of $27.3 million for new schools and upgrades to existing schools, including Yukon University.

The budget, for example, identifies $20.3 million to continue construction of the Whistle Bend School.

A total of $61.4 million has been set out for infrastructure projects and development funding in Yukon communities.

The budget identifies $52.4 million to repair, inspect and replace bridges, including the Nisutlin Bay, Lapie River and Big Creek bridges.

The budget contains $26 million for improvements to the Whitehorse and Watson Lake airports.

Another $13.6 million has been budgeted for the Carmacks Bypass project.

To finance the continuation of the Dempster fibre optics line project to create Internet redundancy, the capital budget identifies $24.4 million.

The budget identifies $3.6 million for remediation of the Ross River School, and $3.5 million for the construction of a new school in Burwash Landing.

The budget sets out many capital budgets for continuing and new projects.