Yukon Premier to make sure infrastructure investment fits territory’s needs

At the meeting of Canada’s Premiers that ended in New Brunswick today, Yukon Premier Sandy Silver stressed that territories and provinces must have the flexibility to spend federal infrastructure funding where it is most needed.

While Premier Silver appreciates that the federal government’s Investing in Canada infrastructure plan recognizes Yukon’s circumstances – such as the greater cost of developing infrastructure in the North – he is looking for more flexibility over the 10-year lifespan of the program. In particular, he wants the program to address the necessity that Yukon First Nations Self-Government Agreements obligations are met.

At the meeting, Premier Silver and his counterparts committed to continuing their strong support for the Government of Canada’s actions to challenge punitive US tariffs on Canadian goods. Premiers will also continue to work closely with the federal government to ensure Canadians’ interests are reflected in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations.

Other topics of discussion at the Premiers’ table included trade and economic growth, health care, community safety and cannabis legalization. 

Premier Silver took the opportunity while he was in New Brunswick to meet separately with Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq and the Northwest Territories Premier Bob McLeod to discuss their shared priorities for the North.