Yukon Legislative Assembly Number 1 1st Session 35th Legislature HANSARD Tuesday, May 11, 2021 — 1:00 p.m. SPECIAL SITTING Speaker: The Honourable Jeremy Harper YUKON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2021 Special Sitting SPEAKER — Hon. Jeremy Harper, MLA, Mayo-Tatchun DEPUTY SPEAKER and CHAIR OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE — Annie Blake, MLA, Vuntut Gwitchin DEPUTY CHAIR OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE — Emily Tredger, MLA, Whitehorse Centre CABINET MINISTERS NAME CONSTITUENCY PORTFOLIO Hon. Sandy Silver Klondike Premier Minister of the Executive Council Office; Finance Hon. Tracy-Anne McPhee Riverdale South Deputy Premier Government House Leader Minister of Health and Social Services; Justice Hon. Nils Clarke Riverdale North Minister of Highways and Public Works; Environment Hon. John Streicker Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources; Public Service Commission; Minister responsible for the Yukon Development Corporation and the Yukon Energy Corporation; French Language Services Directorate Hon. Ranj Pillai Porter Creek South Minister of Economic Development; Tourism and Culture; Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation; Yukon Liquor Corporation and the Yukon Lottery Commission Hon. Richard Mostyn Whitehorse West Minister of Community Services; Minister responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board Hon. Jeanie McLean Mountainview Minister of Education; Minister responsible for the Women’s Directorate OFFICIAL OPPOSITION Yukon Party Currie Dixon Leader of the Official Opposition Scott Kent Official Opposition House Leader Copperbelt North Copperbelt South Brad Cathers Lake Laberge Patti McLeod Watson Lake Yvonne Clarke Porter Creek Centre Geraldine Van Bibber Porter Creek North Wade Istchenko Kluane Stacey Hassard Pelly-Nisutlin THIRD PARTY New Democratic Party Kate White Leader of the Third Party Takhini-Kopper King Emily Tredger Third Party House Leader Whitehorse Centre Annie Blake Vuntut Gwitchin LEGISLATIVE STAFF Clerk of the Assembly Dan Cable Deputy Clerk Linda Kolody Clerk of Committees Allison Lloyd Sergeant-at-Arms Karina Watson Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Joseph Mewett Hansard Administrator Deana Lemke Published under the authority of the Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly May 11, 2021 HANSARD 1 Yukon Legislative Assembly “Mountainview, Jeanie McLean (Dendys); Whitehorse, Yukon “Pelly-Nisutlin, Stacey Hassard; Tuesday, May 11, 2021 — 1:00 p.m. “Porter Creek Centre, Yvonne Clarke; “Porter Creek North, Geraldine Van Bibber; THE FIRST SESSION OF THE 35th LEGISLATIVE “Porter Creek South, Ranj Pillai; ASSEMBLY OF YUKON CONVENED IN THE “Riverdale North, Nils Clarke; ASSEMBLY CHAMBER AT 1:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, “Riverdale South, Tracy McPhee; MAY 11, 2021 “Takhini-Kopper King, Kate White; “Vuntut Gwitchin, Annie Blake; Proclamation “Watson Lake, Patti McLeod; “Whitehorse Centre, Emily Tredger; Clerk: “TO THE MEMBERS of the Legislative “Whitehorse West, Richard Mostyn. Assembly of Yukon, and to all others whom this may concern “In the event the return of the writ date is required in accordance with Yukon Act section 11(1), the date of the return “GREETINGS of the writ is April 19, 2021. The Yukon Act states that ‘no Legislative Assembly shall continue for longer than five years “A PROCLAMATION after the date of the return of the writ for a general election, but “[Yukon Act (Canada)] the Commissioner may dissolve it before then.’ “Sincerely, “KNOW YE THAT under and by virtue of the power “H. Maxwell Harvey vested in the Commissioner of Yukon under the Yukon Act “Chief Electoral Officer” (Canada), the Legislative Assembly of Yukon is summoned to meet for dispatch of business in the Legislative Assembly Commissioner Bernard enters the Chamber announced by Chamber, Yukon Government Administration Building, her Aide-de-Camp Whitehorse, Yukon, on May 11, 2021 at the hour of one o’clock in the afternoon. Clerk: I am commanded by the Commissioner, in her “ALL OF WHICH all persons concerned are required to capacity as Lieutenant Governor, to state that she does not see take notice and to govern themselves accordingly. fit to declare the causes of the summoning of the present “GIVEN UNDER my hand and seal of Yukon, at Assembly of this territory until a Speaker of this Assembly shall Whitehorse, Yukon, May 4, 2021. have been chosen according to law, but today, at a subsequent “Angélique Bernard hour, she will declare the causes of the calling of this Assembly. “Commissioner of Yukon” Commissioner Bernard leaves the Chamber accompanied REPORT ON MEMBERS ELECTED by her Aide-de-Camp Clerk: Honourable members, the following letter, dated April 20, 2021, was sent by the Chief Electoral Officer of Motion No. 1 — Election of Speaker Yukon to the Commissioner of the Yukon, the Hon. Angélique Clerk: Honourable members, nominations are invited Bernard: for the Office of Speaker of this Assembly. “Dear Commissioner: Hon. Mr. Silver: I move, seconded by the Leader of the “As required by section 308 of the Elections Act, I am Official Opposition and the Leader of the Third Party: pleased to advise you that the returns of the writ for the general THAT Jeremy Harper, Member for Mayo-Tatchun, do take election of Members to the Yukon Legislative Assembly, held the Chair of this Assembly as Speaker. April 12, 2021, have been received. Clerk: It has been moved by the Hon. Premier, seconded “The date of the return of the writ was set as April 19, 2021 by the Leader of the Official Opposition and the Leader of the when the writ was issued on March 12, 2021. Third Party: “The returning officers have certified in their return of the THAT Jeremy Harper, Member for Mayo-Tatchun, do take writ that the members duly elected for their electoral district by the Chair of this Assembly as Speaker. having received the largest number of ballots lawfully cast, and Some Hon. Members: Agreed. in the case of Vuntut Gwitchin, elected following the drawing Clerk: The ayes have it, and Jeremy Harper, Member for of lots, are: Mayo-Tatchun, is, by direction of this Assembly, duly elected “Copperbelt North, Currie Dixon; as Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly. “Copperbelt South, Scott Kent; Motion No. 1 agreed to “Klondike, Sandy Silver; SPEAKER’S ADDRESS TO THE ASSEMBLY “Kluane, Wade Istchenko; “Lake Laberge, Brad Cathers; Speaker: I just want to recognize the chiefs in the “Mayo-Tatchun, Jeremy Harper; gallery: Grand Chief Peter Johnston, Chief Roberta Joseph, “Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes, John Streicker; Acting Chief Morris Morrison, and Deputy Chief Maria Benoit. 2 HANSARD May 11, 2021 First of all, it is an honour and privilege to be elected into RESPONSE BY THE COMMISSIONER this role by my colleagues. I would also like to thank the people Commissioner: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to declare to of the Mayo-Tatchun riding for giving me the opportunity to be you that I believe in the duty of the Assembly and, not doubting their representative in the Legislative Assembly. I would like that the Assembly’s proceedings will be conducted with to express my thanks to the Assembly for the honour of being wisdom, temper, and care, I grant and allow the Assembly’s th the 26 Speaker. constitutional privileges. I assure you that the Assembly shall The importance of the Speaker’s role is to ensure that the have ready access to me and that the Assembly’s proceedings, business of the Legislative Assembly is conducted in an words, and actions will receive from me favourable independent, fair, and respectful manner. To that end, it is the consideration. Speaker’s duty to be impartial and to treat all members equally Please be seated. and without favour. This high standard must be met in order to maintain the confidence and respect of the Legislative SPEECH FROM THE THRONE Assembly, and I commit today to carry on this tradition. Commissioner: Honourable members, friends, and To the honourable members, I ask that you conduct fellow Yukoners, we are gathered today on the traditional yourselves with passion, honour, and respect for one another. territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an As well, I will follow my traditions of my Northern Kwäch’än Council. It is an honour to address this Assembly Tutchone ancestors, which are sharing, caring, teaching, and whose members represent the great people of the Yukon respect in everything that I do as the Speaker and as the elected residing on the traditional territories of 14 distinct First Nations MLA representing the Mayo-Tatchun riding. These are the with whom we share this land. standards by which I live. This Assembly has represented the will of Yukoners for I have lived in the Yukon all my life and I am of Northern over 40 years, ever since the territory achieved responsible Tutchone heritage on my mother’s side and Southern Tutchone government. Many individuals have made important heritage on my father’s side. My ancestors have lived here for contributions to the governance of our territory during that generations and generations, and by following their teachings time. This includes two of my esteemed predecessors, former and principles, I hope to improve the lifestyle and quality of life Yukon Commissioners Art Pearson and Doug Bell. Sadly, both for future generations of Yukoners. of them passed away recently — Mr. Pearson in December and To my wife, Shari Wrixon, and our two dogs, Remie and Mr. Bell in April. Duke, thank you for your unconditional support and love Both were directly involved in one of the most significant through my life’s journey. Thank you to my friends and family transitions in the territory’s history. Mr. Pearson was a scientist for your unconditional love and support. and environmentalist. He became Commissioner in 1976, at a Mr. Clerk, will you please advise the Commissioner, in her time when members were advocating for more responsibilities capacity as Lieutenant Governor, that the Assembly is now to be placed in the hands of elected officials.