Going for Broke

26-Mar-2010

Whitehorse – Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell says the Government of Yukon has tabled a ‘Go for Broke’ budget. Thursday’s spending blueprint confirmed the government will run a $23 million dollar deficit for the year ending March 31, 2010.

“In spite of the fact Yukon is getting more revenue from Canada than ever before, the Yukon Party government continues to spend more money than it takes in,” Mitchell said. “The surplus is almost gone, the bank account is almost empty, and the Fentie government is borrowing money, off the main books, to pay for infrastructure projects.”

Last year at budget time the Finance Minister projected a $20 million dollar surplus for the year ending March 31, 2010. This year he is projecting a $2.9 million dollar surplus in the main estimates.

“The Budget estimates are not realistic and can not be trusted,” Mitchell said. “Health costs, for example, are projected at the same level as last year. We know that healthcare will cost more this year and that is not reflected in this budget.”

The Fentie/Taylor government maintains it has run successive surplus budgets for the past eight years.

“That is simply not true. The Finance Minister is in denial,” Mitchell said. “It might be convenient for Mr. Fentie to maintain this fallacy, but the numbers tell the real story. The hard reality is a $23 million dollar deficit for the 2009-2010 fiscal year and a phony $2.9 million surplus for 2010-2011. The $167 million in borrowing is not even included in these numbers. This level of spending is not sustainable.”

The Official Opposition is pleased to see increased funding for home care, youth groups, and the Women’s Directorate. Liberals were also pleased to see that a new college campus in Pelly Crossing is in the works and that funding for tourism marketing, which was cut in last year’s budget, has been restored. They will also support the new EMS station set to go up on the top of Two Mile Hill.

“These are issues that we have worked hard to get into the budget and the government has finally gotten around to acting on them,” Mitchell said.

Environment Critic Eric Fairclough said he’s disappointed that the Environment Department’s budget was cut
this year.

“This is yet another signal that protecting our environment has never been a priority for this government,” he said.

For additional information contact:
Jason Cunning – 667-8942