Day, April 15, 2014 — 1:00 P.M
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Yukon Legislative Assembly Number 142 1st Session 33rd Legislature HANSARD Tuesday, April 15, 2014 — 1:00 p.m. Speaker: The Honourable David Laxton YUKON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SPEAKER — Hon. David Laxton, MLA, Porter Creek Centre DEPUTY SPEAKER — Patti McLeod, MLA, Watson Lake CABINET MINISTERS NAME CONSTITUENCY PORTFOLIO Hon. Darrell Pasloski Mountainview Premier Minister responsible for Finance; Executive Council Office Hon. Elaine Taylor Whitehorse West Deputy Premier Minister responsible for Education; Women’s Directorate; French Language Services Directorate Hon. Brad Cathers Lake Laberge Minister responsible for Community Services; Yukon Housing Corporation; Yukon Liquor Corporation; Yukon Lottery Commission Government House Leader Hon. Doug Graham Porter Creek North Minister responsible for Health and Social Services; Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board Hon. Scott Kent Riverdale North Minister responsible for Energy, Mines and Resources; Yukon Energy Corporation; Yukon Development Corporation Hon. Currie Dixon Copperbelt North Minister responsible for Economic Development; Environment; Public Service Commission Hon. Wade Istchenko Kluane Minister responsible for Highways and Public Works Hon. Mike Nixon Porter Creek South Minister responsible for Justice; Tourism and Culture GOVERNMENT PRIVATE MEMBERS Yukon Party Darius Elias Vuntut Gwitchin Stacey Hassard Pelly-Nisutlin Hon. David Laxton Porter Creek Centre Patti McLeod Watson Lake OPPOSITION MEMBERS New Democratic Party Elizabeth Hanson Leader of the Official Opposition Whitehorse Centre Jan Stick Official Opposition House Leader Riverdale South Kevin Barr Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes Lois Moorcroft Copperbelt South Jim Tredger Mayo-Tatchun Kate White Takhini-Kopper King Liberal Party Sandy Silver Leader of the Third Party Klondike LEGISLATIVE STAFF Clerk of the Assembly Floyd McCormick Deputy Clerk Linda Kolody Clerk of Committees Allison Lloyd Sergeant-at-Arms Rudy Couture Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Doris McLean Hansard Administrator Deana Lemke Published under the authority of the Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly April 15, 2014 HANSARD 4225 Yukon Legislative Assembly the race it was often Graham that came in to lead Brian across Whitehorse, Yukon the finish line. Tuesday, April 15, 2014 — 1:00 p.m. It has been exciting to watch Graham over the years. He has represented the Yukon and he has represented Canada at Speaker: I will now call the House to order. We will everything from Arctic Winter Games, Canada Winter Games, proceed at this time with prayers. national cup races in Canada, world cup races, and now the Paralympics. To see this young man grow into what he has Prayers become has been a real pleasure. He has given 110 percent each time and it has showed in the results. Withdrawal of motions As I mentioned in another tribute, Graham could not have Speaker: Before proceeding with the Order Paper, the done it alone. He has the amazing support of his parents, Bob Chair wishes to inform the House of changes that have been Nishikawa and Joan Stanton, of his family and friends here made to the Order Paper: Motion No. 640, notice of which and across the country. was given yesterday by the Member for Mayo-Tatchun, was There are businesses that support Graham — the not placed on today’s Notice Paper as it refers to a bill that has Whitehorse Ski Club, the Yukon government and of course now passed the House; Motion No. 486, standing in the name the coaches, across all these years, from the very early of the Hon. Premier, and Motion No. 594, standing in the volunteer coaches to the Olympic coaches who he works with name of the Leader of the Third Party, will be removed from now. I would also like to mention Graham’s wife, Madeleine, the Order Paper as the action requested in those motions has who is herself a former Olympian and skied in the 2010 been fulfilled. Vancouver Winter Olympics as a cross-country skier and she is now at McGill University studying law. She has been a DAILY ROUTINE great support to Graham also and I can imagine how hard it Speaker: We will proceed with the Order Paper. must be for her to be separated by such a distance from him. Tributes. Graham also has taken the time in this last week to give back to the community. He attended Selkirk School, where TRIBUTES they are really trying to kick off a cross-country ski program In recognition of Graham Nishikawa and he spent time with the students there this week. He was at Ms. Stick: Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride the ski club; he took a group of people out for a guided ski and pleasure to pay tribute to Graham Nishikawa on behalf of along the trails. He did a presentation of the slide show and the Official Opposition. pictures and showed off his hardware from the Sochi Graham has recently returned to the Yukon after spending Paralympics. time in Sochi, Russia, at the Paralympics and was also in He is a wonderful role model to the many young skiers in Newfoundland at the national ski races there. Yukon and those who are advancing and becoming closer to At the Paralympics, Graham skied as a guide for Brian also being champions in their own right. He is also a McKeever, a top gold medalist in cross-country skiing who wonderful role model, support and fan of his sister, Emily. happens to have a visual impairment. Brian himself has now I want to take this time to thank Graham for his won more than 10 Paralympic medals. dedication, his hard work and congratulate him on his Graham actually participated in three of the races with amazing accomplishments. It is so great to know the young Brian and with the other guide. In those three races, Graham man as I do and to see what he has accomplished. helped to bring Brian across the line for gold in each instance. I also want to wish Graham, on behalf of the Official I’ve asked Graham to bring his gold medal with him because, Opposition, all the best in all his future endeavours, whatever as a guide, he does get to receive one. We’re very fortunate. those might be. We can all look at it. I’ve tried it on. It’s very heavy and it’s I would just ask everyone to join me in congratulating very beautiful. Graham. If you get a chance, try to check out the medal It was very exciting to watch these races and I’m not sure afterwards. everyone got up in the middle of the night as Graham’s Applause parents and many friends did, but I’m sure many people saw the replays of it. It was exciting to see the teamwork of these Hon. Mr. Cathers: I’m pleased to rise on behalf of the three young men skiing in Sochi. I don’t think anyone will government to recognize and honour Graham Nishikawa and forget the race that Graham was in with Brian when Brian fell thank him for joining us here today and thank him for doing at the very beginning, and I think everyone’s heart stopped but just a great job of demonstrating on the international stage they went on to get a gold. It was wonderful. what Yukon athletes can do. It was also the first time that we saw guides share a race I will not repeat much of what the Member for Riverdale with their skier. Usually what happens is there’s one guide, South noted, but just note again that on behalf of the one racer, and they do the whole race. This time the Canadian government, it’s a pleasure to honour him for his success at team decided to try something different, so partway through the Paralympics as the guide for Brian McKeever and the fact that winning three gold medals is truly a commendable and 4226 HANSARD April 15, 2014 exceptional performance. It’s a pleasure to honour him for that activities — to those who support the school by attending and to thank him on behalf of the Yukon sport community and concerts, demonstrations, bake sales, et cetera, to those many all Yukoners for representing us so well on the international family members who support our adult learners at Yukon stage. College. Thank you. On top of his work with Brian — you may know, Education Week is a very important time and also a Mr. Speaker — Graham is a national and international timely time to recognize and appreciate the tremendous efforts competitor himself and has stood on the podium many times of our school teachers and front-line support staff, as well as before the Paralympic Games. As a younger athlete, he the team at Yukon College, who work directly with our represented Yukon at national and circumpolar events like the students each day to help them each reach their potential — a Arctic Winter Games, and his vitality, endurance and heartfelt thank you to all of them for supporting learning commitment have helped him become a leader in his sport, his success for Yukon students across the education continuum. community and his country. His efforts are really a testament Likewise, a thank you to our partners who provide to hard work and devotion and are a shining example for literacy support outside the school setting to Yukoners Yukoners, both young and old, of what can be done through throughout our territory, from the Family Literacy Centre to hard work and commitment. the staff at Yukon Learn, to the volunteers with the In closing, I just want to commend and congratulate him Rendezvous Rotary Club, which brings Dolly Parton’s again on behalf of the Government of Yukon and thank him Imagination Library into the homes of young families — for proving that northerners can do more than just train and thank you.