Yukon Legislative Assembly Number 72 2nd Session 34th Legislature HANSARD Wednesday, March 21, 2018 — 1:00 p.m. Speaker: The Honourable Nils Clarke YUKON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2018 Spring Sitting SPEAKER — Hon. Nils Clarke, MLA, Riverdale North DEPUTY SPEAKER and CHAIR OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE — Don Hutton, MLA, Mayo-Tatchun DEPUTY CHAIR OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE — Ted Adel, MLA, Copperbelt North CABINET MINISTERS NAME CONSTITUENCY PORTFOLIO Hon. Sandy Silver Klondike Premier Minister of the Executive Council Office; Finance Hon. Ranj Pillai Porter Creek South Deputy Premier Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources; Economic Development; Minister responsible for the Yukon Development Corporation and the Yukon Energy Corporation Hon. Tracy-Anne McPhee Riverdale South Government House Leader Minister of Education; Justice Hon. John Streicker Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes Minister of Community Services; Minister responsible for the French Language Services Directorate; Yukon Liquor Corporation and the Yukon Lottery Commission Hon. Pauline Frost Vuntut Gwitchin Minister of Health and Social Services; Environment; Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation Hon. Richard Mostyn Whitehorse West Minister of Highways and Public Works; the Public Service Commission Hon. Jeanie Dendys Mountainview Minister of Tourism and Culture; Minister responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board; Women’s Directorate GOVERNMENT PRIVATE MEMBERS Yukon Liberal Party Ted Adel Copperbelt North Paolo Gallina Porter Creek Centre Don Hutton Mayo-Tatchun OFFICIAL OPPOSITION Yukon Party Stacey Hassard Leader of the Official Opposition Scott Kent Official Opposition House Leader Pelly-Nisutlin Copperbelt South Brad Cathers Lake Laberge Patti McLeod Watson Lake Wade Istchenko Kluane Geraldine Van Bibber Porter Creek North THIRD PARTY New Democratic Party Liz Hanson Leader of the Third Party Whitehorse Centre Kate White Third Party House Leader Takhini-Kopper King LEGISLATIVE STAFF Clerk of the Assembly Floyd McCormick Deputy Clerk Linda Kolody Clerk of Committees Allison Lloyd Sergeant-at-Arms Karina Watson Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Harris Cox Hansard Administrator Deana Lemke Published under the authority of the Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly March 21, 2018 HANSARD 2171 Yukon Legislative Assembly racism. Revitalizing and maintaining relationships with all Whitehorse, Yukon cultures here in the territory are key to our success. Wednesday, March 21, 2018 — 1:00 p.m. Let today, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, be a good reminder to Yukoners and Speaker: I will now call the House to order. members of the House of the need for us to work together to At this time, we will proceed with prayers. end all kinds of racial discrimination and to promote harmonious relationships among people in the Yukon. Prayers I would also like to note that, today, here in Whitehorse, dozens of people gathered over the noon hour to denounce DAILY ROUTINE racial discrimination, embrace inclusion and promote Speaker: We will proceed with the Order Paper. diversity. Thanks to all the speakers and to the Human Rights Tributes. Commission and the Yukon Federation of Labour for hosting this snowy first day of spring. TRIBUTES In recognition of the International Day for the Mr. Cathers: I am pleased to rise today on behalf of Elimination of Racial Discrimination the Yukon Party Official Opposition to join the government in Hon. Ms. McPhee: I rise today to commemorate the recognizing March 21 as the United Nations International Day International Day for the Elimination of Racial for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Discrimination. This day is recognized around the world This year, the theme chosen to be recognized around the annually on March 21. This day was first recognized by the world is: promoting the tolerance, inclusion, unity and respect United Nations after the slaying of 69 peaceful demonstrators for diversity in a context of combatting racial discrimination. during a protest against apartheid in Sharpeville, South Africa, As the theme would suggest, everyone in the world, in 1960. It is important that we never take this day for granted, regardless of race, is entitled to human rights, including recognizing that there is much work to be done here in Canada equality and non-discrimination. However, there is still a and throughout the world to ensure equality for all people and global problem with violence, intolerance, bullying and more, to stop the injustice and stigma that racism causes. stemming from racism. We are not immune to that here in This year’s theme promotes tolerance, inclusion, unity Canada. and respect for diversity in the context of combatting racial March 21 was declared the International Day for the discrimination. The rights to equality and non-discrimination Elimination of Racism in 1966 by the General Assembly of are cornerstones of human rights law and the Yukon Human the United Nations in response to the Sharpeville massacre in Rights Act where racial discrimination is fundamentally 1960, where 69 people were killed and, according to an prohibited. The act says that it is discrimination to treat any official inquest, more than 180 were seriously wounded by individual or group unfavourably on grounds such as: police during a peaceful demonstration. ancestry, including colour and race; national origin; ethnic or Racism still exists across Canada, including here in linguistic background; or origin. We are fortunate that our Yukon. While efforts are ongoing and there is significant Yukon community is becoming more and more diverse. Every discussion across the country about the importance of human deserves to be treated with respect and have their reconciliation with First Nations and other indigenous rights protected. Canadians, it is important to recognize that there is more work While diversity is celebrated and grounded in our culture to be done, and that racism in Canada, as well as as Canadians and as Yukoners, we still have work to do to discrimination based on religion, are problems that affect all repair past harms. races and many religions. In particular, Mr. Speaker, our country has embarked on a There are still people who, instead of celebrating our process of healing from a history of residential schools and a cultural and ethnic diversity, choose to degrade and destructive policy of assimilation, and as government, we are discriminate against their fellow community members. As taking significant steps forward to advance reconciliation with Statistics Canada noted, police reports of hate crimes in Yukon First Nations. We acknowledge the legacy of pain and Canada rose between 2014 and 2015 by some five percent — injustice experienced by indigenous peoples, both young and an increase in crimes based on race or ethnicity. old, and the systemic issues that have resulted. Crimes targeting black populations remain the most We are building constructive government-to-government common type of hate crime related to race or ethnicity and, relationships with Yukon First Nations and working to better overall, 48 percent of all police-reported hate crimes in 2015 understand how past actions continue to impact First Nation were motivated by hatred of a race or an ethnicity. people today and the ways that we can move forward together. It should also be noted that discrimination against religion We are learning together and we see tremendous value in most predominantly targets Canadians of Jewish faith as the bringing more awareness to First Nation culture and history in highest number overall, according to Statistics Canada. the spirit of reconciliation. Revitalizing, maintaining and Significantly, an increase in crimes toward Canadians of celebrating First Nation knowledge, language and culture is Muslim faith and Catholic faith are also noted in Statistics core to a modern, more inclusive Yukon — one that is free of Canada’s report. 2172 HANSARD March 21, 2018 By choosing to work together to rise against colour-coded. That inequality is manifest in many ways, from discrimination based on race or religion, we can make our racial profiling of racial minorities by police and security society stronger and celebrate and encourage diversity. In the officials to disproportionate rates of incarceration of Yukon, we celebrate the increasing diversity of our people and aboriginal and black people — and I could go on. The continue to take steps to prevent racial discrimination and statistics provide a different reflection — a different reality — ensure Yukoners’ human rights are respected. that demands both government and individual action. Our Human Rights Act says it is discrimination to treat Time and time again, racism is used as a divisive tool to any individual or group unfavourably on any of the following disunite opposition to unjust policies. Americans saw that grounds: ancestry, including colour and race; national origin; played out in the 2016 election and its aftermath. In Europe, ethnic or linguistic background or origin. We must encourage far-right political parties are bidding for power on anti- our children and adults to embrace differences and to accept immigrant platforms. Canada and Yukon are not immune to everyone as equal. By promoting tolerance and equality in our alt-right racism — one only needs to look at the social media homes, we can work to promote tolerance and equality among commentary or certain political leadership contenders in this future generations. country.