Brad Cathers
MLA for Lake Laberge
Yukon Party Leadership Candidate
FOR RELEASE
April 23, 2020
Yukon Grown and Yukon Made: Building a Stronger, Diversified Local Economy
LAKE LABERGE – Brad Cathers, MLA for Lake Laberge, announced that if he is elected as Premier, the Yukon Government will work with the private sector to create the conditions for success that will support economic revival, and the growth of a stronger, more diversified local economy.
“The recent disruptions to our supply chains are serving as a wake-up call to Canadians. It is time to increase local production of food, local manufacturing, and local supply of goods we depend on in our daily lives,” stated Cathers.
“The economic impacts of the pandemic are already serious, and we have not seen the full effects yet,” noted Cathers. “We need to work together to support economic revival of our private sector, and take the right steps to create the conditions for a decade of opportunity for Yukon businesses.”
“My vision for the Yukon includes increasing our ability to be self-sufficient, and meet our own needs,” said Cathers. “In addition to growing our agricultural sector, we have the potential to produce more goods locally, make it easier to build log homes, grow our knowledge economy, and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels for heating by using biomass as an alternative.”
As part of supporting development of the Yukon Grown and Yukon Made sectors, he is committed to working with the business community on actions including:
• Implement a Yukon Made Tax Credit to encourage local manufacturing and production of goods including food, log homes, wood pellets and chips, furniture, clothing, and traditional and cultural products.
• Reduce wildfire risk by working with First Nation and municipal governments, local advisory councils, the Yukon Wood Products Association, local businesses, First Nation development corporations, FireSmart Whitehorse, and other stakeholders to do targeted harvesting in and near communities and make use of the raw material.
• Expand the use of biomass and wood for government, commercial, and home heating purposes to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
• Develop a tax credit to encourage construction of log homes built using Yukon timber.
• Support northern research including cold climate innovation, improving agricultural production, and recognizing habitat enhancement due to excellence in placer mining reclamation.
• Reduce the regulatory burden and paperwork for Yukon companies, especially small businesses, after working with the business community to set priorities.
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Contact:
Rosie Sandulak
Official Agent
(867) 667-6337
