Yukon premier offers scant comment on federal budget

The annual federal budget is typically scrutinized with intense interest by the Yukon government; after all, federal transfers account for some 80 per cent of the territory's annual budget.

But Yukon premier and finance minister Darrell Pasloskihad scant comment on the first budget of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government.

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Pasloski refused media interviews and instead issued a brief statement on Wednesday.

"I am pleased to see that the Government of Canada responded positively to my letter emphasizing the importance of the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit," the statement reads. It goes on to say that Pasloskiwill now assess the "structural changes to both the tax regime and the budget" and comment further on the impact to Yukoners when he tables the territorialbudget later this spring.

Whitehorse welcomes transit, housingmoney

Other political leaders in Yukon had more to say.

Whitehorse mayor Dan Curtis saidhe's "grateful" for the infrastructure money in the federal budget, but thinks it's a bit thin.

The federalbudget hasallotteda total of $890,000 for public transit inYukon. Curtis says he doesn't know how helpful that will be.

"A transit bus is over a half a million dollars," Curtis says. "With a population of 29,000 people, our ridership is in excess of 600,000 rides per year. So it's a huge venture for a city our size.

"We need a lot more assistance than is being provided in the north, particularly in transit."

The budget alsoallotted$8 millionover two years for affordable housing in Yukon.Curtis welcomes thatmoney as well, but againsaidit's not enough to address the issue.

For KwanlinDn chief Doris Bill, affordable housing is also a key issue. She represents the largest First Nation in the territory, based in Whitehorse.

Bill saidchanges to the tax structure will help many people in her community, particularly single parents, who will benefit from changes to the child tax credit.

Bill also applaudedthe additionalmoney for the Nutrition North program $64.5 million over five years but saiddeeper change to the program is needed.

"There needs to be some restructuring of that program as well, so I think the money will go a long way to help some of the communities.Whether it's going to be enough is another story."