FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 11, 2022
WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Party Official Opposition is questioning why the Putting People First and Our Clean Future committees formed as part of the Liberal and NDP Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) both failed to meet their commitment to Yukoners and release a 6-month public report as committed to in the agreement.
“The agreement was developed behind closed doors to prop up the Liberal government after voters in the election gave the Yukon Party the highest proportion of the popular vote,” Yukon Party Health and Social Services Critic Brad Cathers said. “Yukoners are concerned this agreement is resulting in the implementation of policies few Yukoners support, like rent control. The reporting mechanisms in the agreement are a commitment to the public from the Liberals and NDP, and they are jointly failing to be accountable as they conduct their backroom policy development.”
The two committees were first announced publicly on June 7, 2021, and the first 6-month reporting deadline passed on December 7, 2021, without notice or release from either the Liberals or NDP.
By missing this deadline for reporting, the Liberal-NDP coalition is adding to the list of undelivered commitments from their agreement. That list already includes failing to reinstate all cancelled Individualized Education Plans for children with special learning and neurodiversity needs, a late opening of the supervised safe consumption site, delaying launches and reporting of membership on all coalition committees, and backtracking on outlined successor resource legislation timelines by the Liberal Minister.
“In the absence of a majority government, the formal agreement with the NDP was supposedly the foundation for this Liberal government remaining in power,” Cathers said. “The failure to issue public reports promised in the deal further undermines public trust in both the Liberals and the NDP.”
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Contact:
Tim Kucharuk
Press Secretary
(867) 393-7026