NDP accuses Yukon Party government of 'fiscal ineptitude'

Yukon's NDP had some sharp questions in the legislature on Monday, following a C.D. Howe Institutereport on the territory'sfiscal accountability.

The report gave the Yukon government a "C plus" gradeon hitting budget targets, anda similar gradeon spending overruns, and on the level of clarity on reporting finances.

• N.W.T., Nunavut and Yukon blew their budgets by $2.6B over 15 years

More positively, the territoryreceived special mention for having its budgets align with audited public accounts.

NDP leader Liz Hanson, though, was not impressed with the Yukon's grades.

"The Yukon Liberal and Yukon Party governments overspent the territory's budgets by an astounding $675 million between 2000 and 2014," Hanson said.

"In doing so, Yukon has received a 53 per cent ranking on the Institute's 'Pinocchio Index'," she said,"the second worst in Canada, after Nunavut."

'Fiscal ineptitude'

Hanson accused the Yukon Party of "fiscal ineptitude".

"Will the premier finally admit that with three years of recession, and yet another dressing down by a national organization, he has failed to responsibly manage Yukoners' money?"

She pointed out that the Yukon Party surplus has dwindled from $80 million in 2012-13, to $1.25 million for 2015-16.

Pasloski replied in the legislature that government accounts are fully audited by the AuditorGeneral.He also said his government has not budgeted a deficit.

"We have also not raised taxes.In fact, this government has done nothing but lower taxes for all Yukon taxpayers and Yukon small businesses, and has no net debt.

"Money in the bank[and]no tax increasesis the best indicator of financial management in this territory" Pasloskisaid.

Pasloski took the opportunity to lob a volley at the new Liberal government in Newfoundland and Labrador, which he said has a $2 billion deficit, and the NDP government in Alberta, which he pointed out has a $10.5 billion deficit.