Yukon Government sign outside the Jim Smith Building in downtown Whitehorse. CKRW File Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke.
Whitehorse, YT – Four independent offices of the Yukon Legislative Assembly are taking legal action to protect their budgetary independence, alleging government interference.
Yukon’s Child and Youth Advocate, Annette King, and Ombudsman Jason Pedlar, who also serves as Information and Privacy Commissioner and Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner, filed a court petition after the Yukon government conducted an unauthorized review of their budgets and refused to table them unaltered in the Legislative Assembly.
The budgets are traditionally reviewed by the all-party Members’ Services Board (MSB) and tabled unaltered. However, Finance Minister Sandy Silver argues that the Financial Administration Act allows the cabinet’s Management Board (MB) to oversee and adjust all budgets, including those of independent offices, to align with government priorities.
The petitioners argue that the legal challenge is necessary to safeguard their independence and ensure transparency for Yukoners.
“Budgetary independence ensures public rights are protected from government interference,” Pedlar said in a press release.
