Photo: CKRW file.
With the spring sitting of the Yukon Legislation ending, Premier Ranj Pillai offered his thoughts on how the sitting went along with the release of the 2023 Spring Budget
YUKON – The 2023 Spring Budget was passed yesterday in the Yukon Legislative Assembly and Premier Ranj Pillai offered his thoughts on the Spring Sitting.
Among several other pieces that received assent yesterday, the budget will increase the Yukon Child Benefit, extend the Inflation Relief Rebate for the 3rd time, provide 50 dollars per month for non-governmental residential and commercial ratepayers, continue the Yukon’s universal child care program, and more.
The territorial government says the new budget demonstrates the Yukon’s robust position nationally, by taking real action to make life more affordable for Yukoners and strengthen the healthcare and social services system while building resiliency to climate change.
The Yukon Government also passed the Community Services Statute Law Act which will allow the use of a modern, accessible online system for licensing and registration and end the need to amend regulations when updating forms and private information.
Minister of Education Jeanie McLean says 43 million dollars is included in the fiscal year is now in place for early learning and child care, which will directly offset costs to families and operators, making lives more affordable and significantly addressing the impacts of inflation.
The following are other acts passed in legislation:
- Act to amend the Municipal Act (2023) – increasing terms of office for elected members of Yukon municipal and local advisory councils from three years to four.
- Act to amend the National Aboriginal Day Act (2023) – effectively changing the name of National Aboriginal Day in Yukon legislation to the contemporary name, National Indigenous Peoples Day.
- Act to amend the Coroners Act and the Public Service Act (2023) – leading to the removal of the requirement for new employees and coroners to swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown.
- References to the Sovereign Statute Law Amendment Act (2023) – resulting in Yukon’s legislation being updated to reflect the current Sovereign of Canada.
- Act to amend the Yukon Advisory Council on Women’s Issues Act (2023) – upgrading the Government of Yukon’s commitment to advance inclusivity for all genders and sexual orientations.
Ranj Pillai says he’s incredibly grateful and pleased by the progress made in his first session leading the Yukon Government and how they worked hard to deliver meaningful results.
Pillai touched on what his goal is this summer to modernize the tenant’s act and eliminate no-cause evictions.
In a media scrum after the session, he was asked about the criticism his party received for the lack of consultation.
The Premier also mentioned the loss of Yukoners due to the drug abuse crisis saying quote “they are just not there yet” in solving the issue and there is more work to be done.
Pillai said that he has heard positive messages from the implementation of the programs that are making a difference in their lives.
