NDP accuses Yukon government of ignoring municipal needs

Yukon's official opposition has picked up on a hot topic before Whitehorse city council: how the territorialgovernment determines infrastructure funding for municipalities.

In the legislature on Tuesday,NDP Leader Liz Hanson put pointed questions to the government on the matter, noting that municipal governments are responsible for priceyitems such as water, sewer, solid waste, and sports and recreation.

She said while municipal governments "intimately understand" their communities, they aren't being heard by the territorial government.

"As we heard [Monday]at Whitehorse city council, there are concerns that the real infrastructure needs of Yukon communities are not being heard by this government."

Hanson also criticizedthe Yukon government for "passing over" municipal requests related towaste management, while devoting millions to a proposedoutdoor sports complex in Whistle Bend.

Community Services Minister Currie Dixon replied that the government began a process last year "of engagement with Yukon communities."

He also said the government consulted withFirst Nations and other groups throughout the territory, to gauge their priorities for the next round of federal infrastructure spending.

Dixon said that after meetings with elected town councils and officials, a document detailing those discussions was madeavailable on hisdepartment'swebsite.

He noted that the total amount requested by municipal governments and other groups was "well over a billion dollars."The New Building Canada Fund, through which the federal government supports infrastructure projects, will be worth nearly $22million to Yukon this year.

Dixon also defended thegovernment's spending priorities for infrastructure, saying they are "in line" with municipalneeds.

He said the projects that are completed or underway are "needed, wanted and appreciated by the municipal governments."