The Yukon government乌鸦传媒檚 budget contains $8 million to rehabilitate a notably rough portion of the Alaska Highway known as the Shakwak corridor, so the Yukon Party is demanding to know the plan.  

As reported by the News, that project involves a deal with Alaska that commits U.S. money pay to fix up part of the road 乌鸦传媒� but the American due to a section of an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to the Yukon government. 

The Official Opposition Yukon Party is seeking clarity from the highways minister and the premier about what they乌鸦传媒檙e going to do. 

Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon pointed out to reporters on March 11 that the government has $8 million earmarked for the project as well as $8 million in recovery from the United States government in the budget.  

He noted the possibility that the U.S. government doesn乌鸦传媒檛 honour the contract. Despite that, Yukon government should issue the tender immediately or as soon as possible, per Dixon. 

乌鸦传媒淚t's a seasonally dependent contract, so it should be issued very soon, and then do their best to recoup the money with the Americans afterwards,乌鸦传媒� Dixon said.  

乌鸦传媒淭his is work that needs to be needs to occur.乌鸦传媒� 

Three Yukon Party MLAs have raised questions about the Shakwak project乌鸦传媒檚 future in the first few formal question periods of the spring sitting of the legislative assembly. 

But the Yukon government indicates it needs clarity from the U.S. to move forward. 

Highways and Public Works Minister Nils Clarke addressed the 乌鸦传媒渦ncertainty乌鸦传媒� surrounding finalizing funding agreements between Alaska and the United States given the recent changes in U.S. administration and the Trump-led trade war with Canada.  

乌鸦传媒淒espite multiple attempts to engage with our United States federal counterparts, we have not received clarity yet in terms of a path forward,乌鸦传媒� Clarke told the legislature on March 10. 

乌鸦传媒淭he Government of Yukon continues to engage with the State of Alaska乌鸦传媒檚 Department of Transportation and Public Facilities as well as the Federal Highway Administration.乌鸦传媒� 

In the legislature, Premier Ranj Pillai pledged to bring forward information in a timely manner and ensure positive relationships when and where they can. 

Pillai hopes his government doesn乌鸦传媒檛 get 乌鸦传媒渂lamed for a lot of things that are probably out of our control through the next 60 days in the House.乌鸦传媒� 

乌鸦传媒淚 will ask the member opposite, over the next two months that we are here, to give us a little flexibility and not blame us for what President Trump is going to do,乌鸦传媒� Pillai said. 

On March 11, Clarke reiterated the ongoing communication between the premier and Republican Mike Dunleavy, the governor of Alaska, and between him and the transportation commissioner. 

乌鸦传媒淭hey are certainly supportive of this project. Our view is, if it were discontinued, that would be a poor decision for important infrastructure for North America, for the Yukon and for Alaska,乌鸦传媒� Clarke said. 

The Yukon Party pressed on. 

乌鸦传媒淭here is uncertainty and to a certain extent chaos that is occurring in Washington right now, which we will deal with in a responsible and professional,乌鸦传媒� Clarke said before his microphone cut off and the speaker called for order.  

Dixon indicated the "chaos" is coming from the highways minister.

Pillai commented that the Yukon Party flips from one day to the next. 

乌鸦传媒淭his is what we are going to hear every day. One day, it is going to be: You乌鸦传媒檝e spent too much. The next day, it乌鸦传媒檚 going to be: Spend frivolously,乌鸦传媒� Pillai said. 

乌鸦传媒淟ike I said, it will be disciplined spending on health, education, housing and infrastructure. That乌鸦传媒檚 what we will do, but please, Yukoners, watch what comes from the other side of the House.乌鸦传媒�

Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com