One thing is for sure, taxpayer’s money is shovel ready and about to be handed out by the spade full. Will it be distributed to best effect?
It’s obvious that the self regulating ‘free’ market world economy doesn’t work, otherwise why would it be necessary for our government and others to artificially stimulate an economy that otherwise is subject to a failed system?Â
Only a few short years ago our country enjoyed a surplus, now our finance minister is forecasting a deficit in the billions of dollars that may last decades. I’m no economist but I do know that someone, somewhere in the world has made off with a fortune. And it certainly is not the Canadian working man or woman.
How does this spending spree affect Yukon, in particular the communities? The frustration that we have I believe, is the inability to access federal funding earmarked for municipalities directly from the feds. We must rely on the good graces of our territorial government since all federal cash is filtered through finance. Although YTG does distribute funds among the communities it remains to be argued as to the criteria for the distribution of funds.
In Dawson’s case, the new budget doesn’t affect our existing waste water treatment project. We continue to work with YTG to satisfy a court order to build one. The money will obviously come from Canada and territorially since a town of 1400 doesn’t have 20 million plus for a project of this size and scope. Our main concern is passing on to the Dawson rate payer substantially more costs to an already expensive yearly water bill as a consequence of dramatically increased operation and maintenance expense for the new facility. I don’t think there is anything in the budget to address this ‘real world’ concern.
The bottom line is this; if the budget passes, how quickly will the communities gain access to the stimulus funding for infrastructure projects? What will the criteria be? In our case we have many pending projects of pressing urgency above and beyond the secondary sewage project.
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Have you noticed any change in water use as a result of the public meeting Yukon Energy, the Energy Solutions Centre, and the Town of Dawson held last year?
As mayor, the answers to those questions should be at your finger tips. Have you called your MLA and Fentie about how the money will flow to the communitys? And what about the ayc. They used to have influence in these matters. Where are they with this issue?
Thanks Janet, I’ll get get back to you on that.
Indeed… one wonders why there is much silence from our MLA regarding potential funding for Dawson. I did hear Premier Fentie suggest an increase in Territory wide spending. The Association of Yukon Communities are certainly keen to advance the best interests of all Yukon Communities.