Hansard November 7, 2013

Mr. Silver:   I have a question about the Dawson City airport and the Klondike Valley fire hall. Recent renovations to the fire hall have turned it into more of a water distribution centre than a fire station.

A project to drill a well was delayed several times and missed many completion dates. The renovations caused considerable disruptions to the activities of the volunteer fire department. Training drills were cancelled, for example, and equipment had to be moved off-site because of the disturbance. Unfortunately, the impact goes beyond a temporary inconvenience. Firefighters I’ve spoken to believe the facility will now need to be expanded if it is ever to be an effectively operating fire station once again. An alternative — favoured by many — is to relocate the station to the airport, as this would allow for a faster response to incidents there.

Is expanding the existing fire hall or moving it to the airport something that this government is considering?

Dear Editor:

This week I attended a news conference where two Yukon veterans outlined their opposition to the Government of Canada’s decision to close nine Veterans Affairs offices across Canada. 

It was an emotional event and one that is part of a national campaign launched at the beginning of October to protest the pending closures.  The veterans in attendance explained the impact the decision will have on themselves and others who rely on these services. 

Hansard November 5, 2013

Mr. Silver: I have a question for the Premier. When the government began the process of replacing F.H. Collins school, it went to the public to gather input from the school council, parents and students.

Interim Liberal Leader Sandy Silver wants to know what the premier has to say to the companies “that wasted their time and money” preparing bids for the F.H. Collins Secondary School reconstruction tender.

Hansard November 4, 2013

Mr. Silver:   I have a question for the Premier about this government’s financial mismanagement of the F.H. Collins project.

In March 2013, the Premier told Yukoners the government had two estimates that told them that the schools could be built for $38.6 million. In fact, the government had two estimates that told them the opposite. It even had an estimate that told them that it would cost $43.7 million. Despite knowing this, the government instructed public servants to disregard the higher numbers and kept the budget from contractors bidding on the new school at $38.6 million. One company alone spent $500,000 preparing a bid on the project the government knew was going to come in overbudget.

Why did the Premier instruct officials to use a lower number, a number it already knew was unrealistic?