Premier Pillai meets with federal ministers, MPs, and Senators in Ottawa

As part of his mandate letter commitments to maintain strong working relationships with the federal government on shared priorities, Premier Ranj Pillai was in Ottawa from May 3 to 7, 2023, to advance the Yukon’s priorities on the national stage.

Premier Pillai met with several federal ministers, MPs and senators, including:  

• Senator Pat Duncan and Senate colleagues;
• Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Canada Marc Miller;
• Minister of Natural Resources Canada Jonathan Wilkinson;
• Minister of Tourism Randy Boissonnault;
• Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc;
• Minister of Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency Dan Vandal;
• Minister of National Defence Anita Anand;
• Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Sean Fraser; and
• Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry François-Philippe Champagne

Discussions covered a range of issues, including land use planning, critical minerals, streamlining environmental assessment processes, Arctic security, increasing opportunities for immigration to the Yukon, housing and tourism infrastructure development, the Yukon’s efforts towards reconciliation, and the upcoming 125th anniversary of the Yukon joining confederation.

Premier Pillai was joined in meetings by Dr. Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for the Yukon, and the Yukon’s Minister for Energy, Mines, and Resources and Minister of Tourism John Streicker.

Premier Pillai also met with Ottawa-based business leaders, continuing his efforts earlier this week in Toronto to promote economic development opportunities in the Yukon.

These meetings provided an opportunity for federal decision-makers to better understand the unique context of the Yukon and the issues that matter most to Yukoners.