2020–2021 Budget passes and spring sitting of Yukon Legislative Assembly concludes

The spring sitting of the Legislative Assembly ended early in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, with key budget and income tax Bills receiving assent.

The Honourable Angélique Bernard, Commissioner of Yukon, assented to the following bills:

Bill 203, the First Appropriations Act 2020–21, which is the main Government of Yukon budget for 2020-2021. It includes approximately $1.62 billion. Of that $369.7 million is designated as capital spending and $1.25 billion is designated for operations and maintenance.

Bill No. 8, the Budget Measures Implementation Act 2020, is focused on building a prosperous Yukon. It will reduce the small business tax rate from two per cent to zero per cent, which is expected to save Yukon businesses $2 million per year. It also expands the eligibility for the Business Investment Tax Credit to support increased investment in Yukon businesses.

Additionally, changes to the Yukon Basic Personal Amount under the Income Tax Act geared towards low and middle-income earners will result in Yukoners saving around $2.4 million in taxes per year – up to $9.6 million total – by 2023.

Bill No. 201, the Third Appropriation Act revises the spending of the 2019–20 fiscal year with an additional $19 million invested in health, education and safety, including wildfire suppression. 

Bill No. 202, the Interim Supply Appropriation Act, provides $338 million for Government of Yukon operations and maintenance, and capital spending for the first two months of the 2020–21 fiscal year.

The following bills received first reading and will remain on the order paper until the fall 2020 sitting which is expected to begin October 1, 2020:

• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Protection Act
• Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act (2020)
• Act to Amend the Land Titles Act, (2015)
• Act to Amend the Wills Act (2020)

This was the second sitting of the third session of the 34^th Legislative Assembly, which began on March 5, 2020.