Yukon Premier Currie Dixon meets with Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss shared priorities. Photo Courtesy of Lars Hagberg
Whitehorse, YT – Yukon Premier Currie Dixon says he’s optimistic after meetings in Ottawa this week, where he pressed federal leaders to invest in the territory’s strained electricity system.
Dixon says upgrading the Yukon’s power grid was his top priority during talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
He also took part in a First Ministers’ Meeting, where Carney committed to releasing a green paper on a new national electricity strategy. Dixon says that could open the door to future federal support for Yukon energy projects.
“We’re optimistic about the level of support that we’ll get, but we don’t have a firm commitment from the government on an amount of money or anything like that yet,” Dixon told CKRW.
Concerns about the territory’s power system intensified in December, when extreme cold pushed the grid close to its limits. Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Ted Laking warned the system was operating at 91 per cent capacity and nearing the risk of rolling blackouts.
Dixon says there is strong alignment between federal and territorial priorities, including northern development, critical minerals, Arctic sovereignty and so-called nation-building infrastructure.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity for Canada and Yukon to work together to advance those priorities, whether it’s electricity or other infrastructure,” said Dixon.
