NDP CALLS FOR LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS
The NDP caucus says it is high time Yukon had a legislative committee to oversee government corporations and their wholly owned subsidiaries to provide greater public oversight of these important public bodies.
“Such an all-party committee would be another way for the opposition to hold the government accountable for its management of its corporations,” says Todd Hardy, the caucus finance critic.
“The Yukon’s government corporations and their subsidiaries are responsible for at least $170 million in revenues and expenses annually and they are not getting the scrutiny they deserve in the Legislature Assembly.”
The corporations normally only appear before the members of the Legislative Assembly once a year. And in recent years, the government has rarely called them when departmental budgets are debated in the legislature.
“With all the new spending and borrowing done today by two of these government corporations, it is more important than ever we do all we can to ensure there is more open and accountable corporate governance,” Hardy adds.
The provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick have recognized this need and all have legislative committees to provide broad oversight for government corporations and their entities. Through their work and recommendations, these committees help legislative assemblies hold government accountable for how these corporations are managed.
“Today, we tabled a motion saying the Standing Orders of the Yukon Legislative Assembly needs to be amended to allow for the creation of a standing committee on Yukon government corporations and their wholly owned subsidiaries,” Hardy says. “In the fall sitting, we will bring this motion forward for debate, and I hope at that time it receives the unanimous consent of the members of this assembly.”