A visit across the border: Gov. Dunleavy discusses shared issues with Yukon Territory in Whitehorse [Video]

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) – Gov. Mike Dunlevy visited Whitehorse in Yukon Territory (YT), Canada in early February to meet with Ranj Pillai, the premier of YT. The premier being the Canadian version of a governor.

During the visit, a myriad of topics were discussed based around issues shared by Alaska and the Yukon Territory. “Our similarities are kind of forged by the climate the distance, the isolation,” said Dunleavy. These topics included but were not limited to wildfires, transportation, energy and security.

Leading these discussions were talks about expanding an existing agreement related to transportation. In an exclusive interview with Gov. Dunleavy, Pillai said he sees a “tremendous opportunity” to create an Alaska-Yukon transportation corridor.

Unlike Alaska, which has hundreds of communities off the road system, the Yukon Territory has a more extensive road system connecting all but one village. While this is more doable in part to the smaller …