Mr. Silver: I also rise on behalf of the Liberal caucus to pay tribute to National Police Week, which runs from May 15 to 21. Police Week began in Canada in 1970 as a way to connect citizens with their local police force. We also use the week to honour members of our local force and to thank them for the hard work that they do in the line of duty.

Mr. Silver: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I think all of Yukon was taken aback last week when the chief coroner confirmed what had been rumoured for some time. Last year, a young Ross River man was killed by dogs. Yesterday, the government said three separate times that they were committed to reaching out and working together with the Ross River Dena Council. The minister also said that senior government staff attended a recent public meeting in Ross River.

Madam Speaker, has anyone from this government — and I mean an elected official — spoken with the Ross River Dena Council since this public meeting was held?

Mr. Silver: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I also rise today on behalf of the Liberal caucus to pay tribute to the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

Today we speak out against discrimination and celebrate our differences. The federal Liberals have introduced Bill C‑16, legislation that will allow for human rights protection under the grounds of “gender identity and gender expression”. The introduction of this type of legislation has been a difficult road — something that has been swept under the rug by many — and it is the first time that a sitting government has introduced this type of bill.

Mr. Silver: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise on behalf of all of my colleagues in the Legislative Assembly to acknowledge Hemochromatosis Awareness Month.

Each year in May, the Canadian Hemochromatosis Society holds an awareness month. Hemochromatosis is a disorder that affects individuals having dangerously high levels of iron in their blood. People affected with this ailment are saturated with iron. It gathers in their heart, liver, kidneys, brain and joints. The subsequent swollen kidneys, liver, heart and brain can be debilitating and sometimes fatal, and iron in the joints causes the early onset of arthritis.

Mr. Silver: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It was great to spend the weekend in the community of Watson Lake attending the annual meeting of the Association of Yukon Communities. It was interesting to hear the Minister of Community Services’ comments about Yukon infrastructure needs and federal funding, mainly because they were completely at odds with what the Premier had been saying.

The minister’s main concern was that the new Liberal government in Ottawa was planning to spend too much money here over the next 10 years and he couldn’t spend that money fast enough. He was also concerned that the Yukon had to come up with 25 percent of the project money — this is, however, exactly what the government asked for and was the subject of a unanimous motion that passed this House just last fall.

Madam Speaker, if there is so much money available, why hasn’t the government actually applied for any of it to build the Dawson runway, the fibre optic line and the new power line to Keno?