While the new territorial budget is a catalyst for many positive advancements for Yukoners, an array of challenges remain, Premier Ranj Pillai said Thursday.

The premier met with media after the final question period of the spring sitting of the legislature, and before the vote on the 2023-24 budget.

“It’s hard to believe we tabled our budget less than two months ago (on March 2). We’ve accomplished so much in that time.”

He cited the protection of McIntyre Creek, the environmental work being done at the Minto Mine site, and a “significant” investment in new housing and community infrastructure through the 2023-24 budget – which was passed Thursday by 9-8 vote.

Pillai also cited procuring more federal health care funding through the Territorial Health Initiatives Fund (THIF), the creation of an NDP-inspired dental program, and the new paid sick leave program for private-sector Yukon workers as other feathers in the Liberals’ hat.

“This program has already been lauded by Yukon small- (and) medium-sized business, local chambers and by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business as the model to emulate for other provinces and territories, as the director of CFIB stated (Wednesday),” Pillai said.

He also raised the new First Nations School Board, giving Education Minister Jeanie McLean kudos for her efforts.

“It was groundbreaking work, and there’s an investment there for over 15 months for $35 million.”

He also referenced the Canada Yukon Nature agreement. He called it the first bilateral agreement of its kind between Canada and a province or territory.

All was not rosy for the premier, however, as he pointed to challenges in the territory.

“The substance use health emergency again continues to take loved ones away from Yukoners.”

Pillai also mentioned the double murders in Mayo on March 11 as another dark day in the territory’s history. No one has been arrested.

“On behalf of our Liberal caucus, I want to extend sincere condolences to everyone who has lost a family member or friend to this crisis. Again, you’re not alone, and we’re working hard to address this public health emergency as quickly and effectively as we can in our role here.”

Pillai said one example of how global events impact the Yukon was the NORAD activity in February that saw a balloon shot down by an Alaska-based military jet between Dawson City and Mayo.

Pillai also said the territory continues to welcome refugees from Ukraine.

“We put in place a help desk for refugees from both Syria and Turkey, and put supports in place as well.”

Pillai added Yukoners also celebrated the 50-year anniversary of Together Today for Our Children Tomorrow, and will be celebrating 125 years since the Yukon was created on June 13.

The budget, he noted, contains $1.94 billion in spending, including $484 million in capital spending and 1.54 billion in operations 
and maintenance.

“We budgeted more than $62 million to support housing, nearly $60 million for climate change initiatives, $61.4 million for infrastructure projects and community development funding and over $144 million to build, repair and replace infrastructure across 
the territory.”

Pillai then went on the offensive against the Yukon Party’s vote against the budget.

“When the opposition votes on the budget later (Thursday), it will be important to keep in mind just what they’re voting for or against,” he said.

“Will the Yukon Party vote for or against funding for community nursing? Will they vote for or against millions to recruit and retain health care staff?

“Will they vote for or against tens of millions of dollars that will flow into the pockets of Yukon contractors and other businesses?” he asked.

Pillai added, “We continue to experience GDP growth in a strong labour market and can boast again the lowest unemployment in Canada.”

The premier was asked if he accomplished everything he wanted to in this session.

“There’s lots of areas to work on to improve. There’s always going to be challenges in government. The legislation that we wanted to get put in place, is in place.

“We have a solid budget in front of us that’s going to really drive a number of really important initiatives that we want to focus on. So I think overall, I’m pleased with how our session has gone, but I’m always going to want to do more.”

What weighs heavily on his mind, he said, are “the people that we’ve lost … nobody wants to see this level of loss … there’s also family and friends that are left behind in the impact of that.

“You wish you could just solve the challenges. But we’re not there yet, and there is more work to be done.”

On a more positive note, Pillai mentioned talking to Yukoners who approach him to say the programs that are in place are making a difference in their lives.

An an example, he cited the childcare initiative that pays up to $700 per child per month. The budget for that program is $43 million.

He also spoke glowingly about his working relationship with NDP Leader Kate White.

“I like working with Kate. It’s been good. I have a huge respect. It’s a good working relationship. I think that’s important.

“I think it’s important to show to Yukoners you can work across the aisle. I’m open to work with both parties.

“I think there can be respectful disagreement but common ground … I feel like there was some good work that was done there.”

Regarding criticism of the NDP dictating policy through the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) signed with the NDP on Jan. 31, Pillai said, “There’s been great things that we’ve done in partnership with the NDP …. I think there’s been different approaches when it comes to how we deal with climate change.

“I think there’s been different approaches on how we deal with supporting the mining sector by still balancing the environment 
and economy.”

Pillai also cited the proposed, multibillion-dollar Yukon-B.C. grid connection as a Liberal creation.

Housing, he added, is an example of how they’re “building projects, and we believe public-private partnerships are things we should be doing.

“So just a few of the things I think that are different from us taking cues from the NDP. I think there’s good opportunities to work with both parties.”

The Liberals are planning on a review of the Landlord and Tenant Act this summer.

“We have a chance to go out and work with the public this summer. And we have a chance to rebuild that act. So it’s modernized. It’s been a long time,” said Pillai.

He added that the balance between landlords and tenants needs to be restored, as Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn has said, citing the problem of Yukon landlords evicting tenants to facilitate rent increases for the next tenants.

“We also know there’s been some inappropriate use of the act. And I think he wants to see that balance, and he wants to see respect for renters, especially long-term renters,” Pillai said.

“What we were seeing with no-cause (eviction) is a scenario where people that pay the rent, they’ve lived in a place for a long time, and then an ownership would change, and they were out. In some cases, they were having a real difficult time finding a place to live.”

No-cause evictions have been outlawed in the new CASA.

Pillai explained his philosophy when it comes to business and treating people right.

“You base your values on fairness and respect on the fact that you think that all Yukoners should have equal opportunities, no matter what their background.

“You also focus on folks that are less fortunate, and you want to make sure that they have a hand up. You have to be empathetic to people in the challenges they’ve gone through in their life.

“You have to understand that in the Yukon, a tremendous amount of people have gone through really significant trauma, or people in their family have and that affects their lives every single day.

“And you have to weigh all of those things. And then you make decisions, and you have to make tough decisions.”

Pillai cited a $100,000 asset cap for seniors’ housing which the Liberals supported as one of those tough decisions involving Yukon Housing Corp. properties.

The premier also discussed a perceived lack of consultation on various projects, including with the private sector and for the new École Whitehorse Elementary School location in Takhini.

Pillai also revealed that the Liberals had already tweaked their sick leave program as of noon Thursday after hearing from a company that already had a sick leave program in place.

“Any companies that have already put in a sick leave provision will now be able to have our 40 hours added on,” he said.

Pillai also said the request for proposals for developing the property at Fifth Avenue and Rogers Street would be extended to the end of May at contractors’ requests, with a contract being awarded in early July.

Issues he’s looking forward to working on include health care – specifically, the shortage of health care workers.

He’s also planning on helping work on the energy file, as well as the community projects file.

“These are what they would call sometimes ‘wicked problems,’ but again, they’re exciting, and you get a chance to tackle them, and you know, you should be getting up every day and remembering what an honour it is to be doing the work.

“And you better work as hard as you possibly can on behalf of Yukoners on those challenges.”