Five things to watch in the Yukon legislature's fall sitting

It's been nearly a year sinceSandy Silver led Yukon's Liberals to win a majority government, amid high expectations and effusive campaign promises.

On Tuesday, the legislature begins its second full sitting under the Liberalsand it seems some of the sheen has worn off the new government.

There's still many a deliverable left in the Liberal platform and some potentially huge changes afoot for the territory's taxpayers.

Here arefive things to watch during what promises to be a vociferous legislative sitting.

1. Rule one: follow the money

One issue will likelydominate the fall sitting, and with good reason it's the verymeat and potatoesof Yukon'seconomy.

The Liberals have decidedit's time to take a serious look at how the territory spends the money it receives annually from Ottawa. The governmentstruck an independent financial advisory panel, which is consultingYukonerson how to deal with thefinancial situation.

The government has said it'sfacing projected deficits for the next threeyears. Depending on who you ask, the Yukon has either a revenue problem or a spending problem.

Yukon's private sector is small and resource-dependant, so most of the territory's budget (about 86 percent, this year)is federal money. This year's budget of $1.44 billion administers to a population of 38,700.

The advisory panel's draft report has already floated the idea of a harmonized sales tax, trampled the hallowed ground of the placer gold fields by suggesting a highergold royalty, and looked the sacred cow that is the Yukon civil service straight in the eye, to wonder about cutting the ranks of government workers.

• Yukon government told sales tax best way to raise revenue

• 'Grow a spine,' Canadian taxpayers group counsels Yukon premier

It'salso incensed the left wing by raising the possibility of privatising some aspects of health care.

The report will be delivered to MLAsnext month, and the government may then have to make some hard decisions.

The Liberals will likely point to their predecessors' spending habits to explain the sorry state of Yukon's books.

The opposition Yukon Party, meanwhile, isalready referring to "the premier's harmonized sales tax", even thoughit's merely an idea from the independent panel at this point.

And speaking of taxes...

2. Carbontax

There's very little that's known right now about Ottawa's proposed carbon tax,other than the fact that it's coming.

Silver pledged during last fall's election campaign to return "every penny" collected back toYukoners, but he hasn't used that line for some time now.

Theuncertainty about the tax has created some jitters in the private sector and the Yukon Party is eager to midwife those fears into barbs in the legislature, as it did during the spring sitting.

The Yukon Party has taken to calling it"the premier's carbon tax" (even though it's a federal initiative), and we shouldexpect some real answers from the Liberal front benches, soon.

• Come talk to us about tax changes, Yukon businesses ask Bill Morneau

• Opposition presses Yukon government for carbon tax details

3.'Spirit and intent'

Improving relations between First Nations and government was a central plank in the Liberal platform.But as with any marriage, taking the vow is the easy part. Backing it up with actions is the hard work.

To witdelivering on the "spirit and intent"of Yukon's umbrella final agreement between First Nations and government, including the all-important Chapter 22 on economic development.

At least one First Nation economic development corporation has said that civil servants are actively hindering its attempts to access service contracts in wildfire management.

• Yukon gov't falling short on election promise, says First Nation development corp.

Community Services Minister John Streicker has wondered, "what does spirit and intent mean?" whilethe grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations, Peter Johnston, acknowledges that education must first happen at the cabinet level, before it can trickle down into the bureaucracy, and "come to life."

It'sa reminder of just how large a task actually honouring the final agreements will be.

As Johnston pointed out, this is the first time a Yukon government has committed to a true "government to government"relationship. And make no mistake bonhomie aside, First Nations firmly expect the Liberals to deliver.

Johnstonvows of Chapter 22:"we're going to open that Pandora's box."

4. Health care and aging

By 2030, about 18 per cent of Yukoners will be over the age of 65. The financial advisory panel has noted this, and warns that health care spending on older adults is even more costly in the north.

The panel recommendsa comprehensive review of the health care sector, and suggeststhat government reallocate spending toward things such ashousing, education, preventative care, community justice, and other things that might help people stay healthy and avoid illness.

The opposition is unlikely to arguethe previous Yukon Party government invested heavily in housing for seniors and the vulnerable, and it'salso been the NDP mantra all along.

But there's trouble afoot for the governmentright now, when it comes to staffing nursing positions, particularly in the rural communities. And there's no sign of the 11 mental health workers the government promised in the spring budget, also slated for rural communities.

The treatment of people with mental illness within the judicial system is another issue likely to come up in this sitting.

• Yukon justice minister to appoint investigator into case of mentally-ill inmate who spent years in jail

5. Planning and paying for infrastructure

Every spring, contractors and suppliers across the territory eagerlywait to see where the government will put its pot of money when it comes to capital projects.

The Liberals made somebig promises: to ensure that local companies get a good crack at work, to expedite a cumbersome procurement process, and to make it all easier by releasing a five-year capital plan to provide certainty and clarity for industry.

In the meantime, this year, government contracts have proceeded fitfully, if at all. Contractors who need the work to get them through lean winter months have been disappointed, and there's been little explanation from the department of public works about the tardiness.

The opposition will likely have some pointed questions on this file.

And then there are the infrastructure problems the Liberals inherited for example, Dawson's wastewater treatment facility, the Whitehorse airport apron, the Ross River school. Yukoners will be waiting to seesolutions.

So many questions. Stay tuned.