2016/17 budget sets Yukon on the course for prosperity

Press Release

April 7, 2016

WHITEHORSE—The Government of Yukon is taking steps to grow the economy, create jobs for Yukoners and strengthen the health care and education systems with a 2016/17 budget that is a clear vision for the future of the territory.

The Government of Yukon’s 2016/17 capital and operations and maintenance budget, totaling $1.392 billion, was tabled in the legislative assembly today by Premier and Minister of Finance Darrell Pasloski.

“Our government has prioritized spending in the areas where it’s needed most,” Pasloski said. “We are strategically focused on strengthening our local economy, giving students a better education, ensuring Yukoners have access to the best possible health care, and investing in infrastructure.”

Key budget highlights include:

• a balanced budget with no net debt;
• no tax increases for families or businesses;
• a $3 million increase in spending on information technology;
• $520,000 in new funding to provide $100 in school supplies for every child in Yukon;
• more education assistants for Yukon communities;
• maintaining the territorial portion of the children’s fitness tax credit and the children’s arts tax credit, which were eliminated in the recent federal budget;
• an increase to the number of hours of home care available to Yukoners with the addition of three new full-time care providers; and
• more than $2 million in operational funding for the new Sarah Steele facility to provide alcohol and drug addiction programs for adults and youth.

The premier and Cabinet ministers led extensive public consultations throughout the territory to inform this year’s budget. Consultations included small, focused conversations with stakeholders and larger, community budget tour meetings. Hundreds of Yukoners provided input to the premier and cabinet ministers during more than 60 meetings.

“In a year when most Canadian jurisdictions are facing high deficits, I am proud that Yukon is in a position of surplus,” Pasloski added. “We are presenting a principled long-term fiscal plan that will position Yukon to be a growth economy for years to come.”

For the fifth year in a row the Yukon government is tabling a surplus, which totals $9.483 million this year.

Learn more: 2016/17 budget

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Contact:

Dan Macdonald
Cabinet Communications
867-393-6470
dan.macdonald@gov.yk.ca

Sarah Crane
Communications, Executive Council Office
867-667-5270
sarah.crane@gov.yk.ca

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