Economic Diversification
We need to invest in our people, our businesses and all of our industries to diversify our economy. A Yukon Liberal government will make new and innovative investments in mining, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and information technology to create good jobs. We need to expand investment opportunities and build local capacity in new and existing businesses and services.
A Yukon Liberal government will:
- strengthen entrepreneurial opportunities for Yukon First Nation development corporations;
- support manufacturing and product development in Yukon by finding opportunities for stronger export trade and investment accords with our neighbouring jurisdictions;
- establish an Independent Task Force on Economic Enhancement and Environmental Sustainability;
- expand the mandate of the Yukon Development Corporation beyond energy and establish a $10 million economic infrastructure investment fund through YDC to advance economic diversification and innovation, and
- expand Invest Yukon to reflect the importance of all sectors in our economy.
Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
The federal Liberal government has heard the call of First Nations from Yukon and across Canada for action on missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.
A Yukon Liberal government will:
- participate fully with Canada’s Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and
- restructure the Prevention of Violence Against Aboriginal Women Fund to make funding more readily available to communities.
Electoral Process
Voting is the cornerstone of democracy. Improving the Yukon electoral process so that the voices of people are heard and respected through their votes is important.
A Yukon Liberal government will:
- legislate fixed election dates, and
- strike a non-partisan Commission on Electoral Reform to consult Yukoners on possible options for territorial electoral reform.
Yukon Legislative Assembly
The Legislature must be a place of respect, accountability, inclusiveness and transparency in order to ensure government works for the people of Yukon.
A Yukon Liberal government will:
- require all Yukon Government entities to appear before the Legislature at least once per year;
- create a publically disclosed Lobbyist Registry;
- legislate fixed calendar dates for legislative sittings, and
- establish a formalized process for legislative returns.
Life-Long Learning
Lifelong learning is essential to our economy, our society, and our future; everyone is a stakeholder. The pillar of institutional learning is more than creating a university as a legacy project; it is a continual level of support of all areas: adult basic education; skills training; post-secondary education; literacy; on-the-job training; professional development and employment supports.
A Yukon Liberal Government will:
- work with Yukon College and the private and public sectors to identify employment and service gaps and create training opportunities for interested Yukoners to train, upgrade, retrain, or expand existing skillsets - especially in Yukon communities;
- partner with NGOs, the private sector and First Nation Governments to implement the Yukon Literacy Strategy to develop education, training and literacy programs to help reduce social and economic disparities between Whitehorse and the communities, and
- develop a plan with Yukon College for the transition to a university in a manner that builds on existing College programs and maintains a focus on basic adult education, trades and professional training, second language support programs and high school upgrading.