Government of Yukon

Speech from the Throne 2006 Highlights

Speech from the Throne 2006
Highlights
November 23, 2006

Building Yukon's future together.
A clear vision for a bright future.

Health, environment, strong private sector economy and good governance were among the Speech from the Throne highlights.  

The Speech from the Throne focused on the four pillars upon which the government will build Yukon's future:

  • achieving a better quality of life by building healthy, safe communities with skilled and adaptable people;
  • protecting Yukon's pristine environment, preserving our wildlife, and studying and mitigating the impacts of climate change;
  • promoting a strong, diversified private sector economy by developing Yukon's vast natural resources, wilderness tourism potential, agriculture, arts and culture, information technology, and film and sound, as well as the traditional industries of outfitting and trapping; and
  • practising good governance with strong fiscal management and a climate of cooperation, collaboration and partnership with our First Nation governments, our two sister territories, our provincial counterparts and the federal government.

Some of the initiatives announced in the 2006 Speech from the Throne are:

  • making Yukon a renowned centre for excellence in Climate Change research;
  • implementing a zero-tolerance approach to drug dealers;
  • expanding support services for children with severe disabilities;
  • implementing the Substance Abuse Action Plan and Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods legislation;
  • introducing a therapeutic problem-solving court to the Yukon justice system;
  • expanding homecare and palliative services and elder and senior facilities; and
  • delivering a territory-wide childcare and early learning strategy.

In addition, the government will:

  • introduce a comprehensive skills and trades training strategy with a focus on Vocational training in high schools;
  • work to ensure that Yukoners have improved access to doctors and other healthcare professionals;
  • work with the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Canada to create a new Northern Vision;
  • showcase Yukon parks and urge the Government of Canada to increase its investment in its three national parks in Yukon, including Parks Canada's presence in Dawson City;
  • work with First Nations, Yukon College and the private sector to provide training for Yukon First Nations for land claims implementation, especially in relation to capacity development for First Nation governance;
  • continue the work of implementing land claims and making First Nations full partners in the economic development of the territory; and
  • continue its commitment to practise open, accountable, and fiscally responsible government.