Election Can't Come Soon Enough, says Mitchell

20-May-2010
Whitehorse: As the spring sitting of the legislature wraps up the public is in the mood for an election, says Official Opposition Leader Arthur Mitchell.

“After watching this government try to spend its way to victory in the upcoming election, Yukoners are understandably concerned about the long term costs of the government’s ‘go for broke’ financial blueprint. They want an opportunity to vote this government out of office before any more damage is done to Yukon’s long term financial health,” says Mitchell.  “It is only 45 days into the new fiscal year and the Fentie/Taylor government has already spent the surplus and is on track to run a deficit for the second consecutive year.”

While financial concerns topped the Liberals’ agenda, the issue of the Premier’s secret negotiations to sell off Yukon’s energy future to private interests from Alberta continues to make Yukoners uneasy.

“The Premier remains in hard denial about his secret negotiations to hand off control of our energy assets,” said Gary McRobb, Liberal Energy Critic. “We called for a public inquiry into the Premier’s actions and the government has refused. When the next election rolls around Yukoners will remember the entire Yukon Party caucus backed the Premier’s plan to sell off our energy future. They are all in it together.”

The spring sitting also saw the Yukon Party government do a 180 degree turn on the Civil Forfeiture Act.  Liberal MLA Don Inverarity is relieved the Yukon Party government has backed down on its plan to pass this flawed legislation.  Both Inverarity and Liberal Justice Critic Darius Elias asked repeatedly for the government to delay passing the legislation until all Yukoners had been given an opportunity to have their say.

“The Minister of Justice didn’t bother to talk to the public before trying to ram it through the legislature,” Elias said.  “This is a clear demonstration of this tired government’s arrogance.”

Liberal Environment Critic Eric Fairclough said he was very disappointed with the performance of the new Environment Minister.  “From lack of action on the Peel Land Use Plan to flip-flopping on protection for McIntyre Creek to refusing to provide the public with reports required by law, the new Minister has been a big disappointment. These issues were all on the MLA for McIntyre-Takhini’s priority list before he crossed the floor,” he said. “It is obvious the new Minister left all his previously held positions behind when he negotiated his deal to rejoin the government,” Fairclough said.

For additional information contact:
Jason Cunning – 667-8942