Yukon has reached the stage when something out of the ordinary must be done. And to perceive that, a person does not require to be a very close student of economies. It may not be wise to paint a gloomy picture; but on the other hand it does not improve matters to bury our heads in the sand.
The condition is one that must be met and the sooner we face the facts the better. And we better face them squarely and deal with them intelligently. And now is the time to deal with them, and the channel through which this can be done is the coming election. This is not politics but timely and very important business.
Development must take place if business and employment is to be provided for the people already here. And something must certainly be done if we expect new people
to come.
Almost daily we are reminded of oldtimers crossing the divide. Some of these men were not given a fair run for their money. The right kind of incentive for our boys and girls is lacking. No fault can be found with them for forsaking the Territory for more promising fields. What must be their opinion of the people of Yukon when in the whole
vast area of 210,000 square miles we haven't a man or woman capable of representing us at Ottawa. What must the outside think of Yukon with a condition like this prevailing?
And this is the condition we are up against.
Yukon's outstanding need is sympathetic, effective representation at Ottawa. And this means a supporter of the Government who is a wide-awake, up-and-coming bona fide resident of Yukon.
Unless something is done, how are business men going to maintain even their present volume of business? This applies to any and every line of business in the Territory. How many positions will have to be abolished? How many men will have work only part time?
If there should happen to be no business or work for you, who is going to buy the home it took years for you to acquire? If a sale could be made, how much would you
realize?
Bread and butter, clothes and shoes are the vital issues with Yukoners.
Who is going to get employment in the mines if there are no mines to give employment? Who is going to find employment with transportation companies if there is nothing to transport? Who is going to be retained in government offices unless there
is something to govern?
Yukon should be swarming with prospectors. If the mineral is here some of it will be discovered; capital will flow into the country and we will all share in the prosperity. Instead of uniting in an effort to accomplish something along this line we have torn ourselves asunder by our own silliness. It may provide amusement for some but we are paying a terrible price. And unless we show in the coming election that we are unitedly prepared to get right down to business, the end is not get.
Let the party politician rail as he may; let him inject all the insignificant side issues of which he can conceive; let him arouse all the prejudices
of which he is capable, but the serious situation remains.
Face the facts.
