Spend less, tax more: Opposition gives their two cents on Yukon financial panel's report

Yukon's opposition is welcoming a new report from the territory's financial advisory panel, and saying now it's time for the government to get busy.

"There's nothing stopping the government now from moving forward," said interim Yukon Party leader Stacey Hassard.

"I think that they've kind of draggedtheir heels a little bit on getting moving, but now they have this report in their hands and so there are no more excuses."

• No new sales tax, Yukon premier vows after getting financial panel's report

The report was presented on Wednesday by the independentadvisory panel. The group was appointed last spring by Premier Sandy Silverto study Yukon's finances and suggest ways to avoid future deficits.

The lengthy document touches on everything from a new territorial sales tax, to higher user fees, to cutting government programs and finding efficiencies.

Hassarddid not say which of the panel's specific ideas his party supports, but said it's up to the government to look at all the options put forward. He also says the government shouldn't just focus on revenue.

"We don't feel that there is a need for tax increases or cutsit's just a matter of the government ensuring that they control their spending."

The Yukon Party had already slammedthe idea of a territorial sales tax. Still, Hassardsays it was "bothersome" to see the Premier also reject the idea on Wednesday.

"It's a little bit troubling when you see things coming off the table within minutes of the report being put out there to the public," he said.

"I feel that possibly the panel may have spent time and effort discussing things with Yukoners that maybe the governmentdidn't have any intention of doing to begin with."

'Taxes are not bad,' NDP says

NDP leader Liz Hanson, meanwhile, also thinks the panel's report deserves close study.

"The panel's put forward some solid ideas, some good analysis... They've laid out some scenarios where those choices don't have to be painful,but they do take some political backbone," she said.

She likes some of the ideas that would raise revenue, such as a Yukon payroll tax for workers coming from out of the territory.

Yukonersthemselves could also afford to pay a bit more in taxes, she says.

"Taxes are not badtaxes pay for our public health care, for our education system. So that part ofthe conversation needs to be looked at," Hanson said.

MLAs will be able to talk to members of the financial advisory panel, and ask questions about their report, on Tuesday.

• Read the financial advisory panel's final report