• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Yukon Legislative Assembly Number 222 1st Session 33rd Legislature HANSARD Monday, October 26, 2015 — 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 Tourism and Culture; Women’s Directorate; French Language Services Directorate Hon. Brad Cathers Lake Laberge Minister responsible for Justice; Yukon Development Corporation/ Yukon Energy Corporation Hon. Doug Graham Porter Creek North Minister responsible for Education Hon. Scott Kent Riverdale North Minister responsible for Energy, Mines and Resources; Highways and Public Works Hon. Currie Dixon Copperbelt North Minister responsible for Community Services; Public Service Commission Hon. Wade Istchenko Kluane Minister responsible for Environment Hon. Mike Nixon Porter Creek South Minister responsible for Health and Social Services; Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board Hon. Stacey Hassard Pelly-Nisutlin Minister responsible for Economic Development; Yukon Housing Corporation; Yukon Liquor Corporation GOVERNMENT PRIVATE MEMBERS Yukon Party Darius Elias Government House Leader Vuntut Gwitchin 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 October 26, 2015 HANSARD 6643 Yukon Legislative Assembly for the humane handling of livestock. I should also mention, Whitehorse, Yukon Mr. Speaker, that Autism Yukon will be in fact hosting Monday, October 26, 2015 — 1:00 p.m. Temple Grandin right here in Whitehorse next March. Lastly, I would like to recognize the professionals, the Speaker: I will now call the House to order. We will parents and the caregivers who have worked diligently over proceed at this time with prayers. the last few years — and as far back as 2002, when my son was diagnosed — to put services in place to ensure the best Prayers possible outcome for those living with autism spectrum disorder. I would also like to say thanks to those Yukoners DAILY ROUTINE working in the public sector, in restaurants, at Air North, Speaker: We will proceed with the Order Paper. Yukon’s airline, and in grocery stores, and to local bank Tributes. tellers, landlords and so on, who are extremely accepting and accommodating to those with autism and their families. TRIBUTES Autism is a disorder that needs our attention, awareness, In recognition of Autism Awareness Month and it needs our understanding, not only during Autism Hon. Mr. Nixon: I rise in the House today on behalf of Awareness Month, but throughout the year. all members to ask that we recognize October as Autism I would ask all members to join me in welcoming Leslie Awareness Month. Peters, who is the executive director from Autism Yukon and Autism spectrum disorder, also referred to as “ASD” or Shirley Chua-Tan, who is a board member and a parent of a simply “autism” is a neurological disorder that causes son with autism. Welcome. developmental disability. Autism affects the way the brain Applause functions, resulting in difficulties with communication, social In recognition of 30th anniversary of École Émilie interaction, unusual patterns of behaviour, activities and Tremblay interests. Hon. Mr. Graham: I rise today to acknowledge the The term “spectrum” refers to a continuum of severity or 30th anniversary of the naming of the territory’s French first developmental impairment. For instance, this can refer to the language program in honour of a Yukon pioneer. number or type of symptoms an individual has, the age of But before I begin with the tribute I wish to first of all onset, level of functioning, and challenges with social apologize to the École Émilie Tremblay and to the Member interactions. Autism affects individuals from all racial, ethnic for Takhini-Kopper King, who I am sure will be doing her and social backgrounds and from all income and education tribute in French. I’m sure my colleague, the Minister of levels. Tourism and Culture, would have done a much better job in Individuals on the autism spectrum tend to have varying French language than I would have with this tribute, but I am degrees and combinations of symptoms, and therefore very passionate about French language instruction in the treatment must be specific to the individual and be family- territory. I have been for a number of years. Some time ago I centred. It’s also important to keep in mind that individuals was the minister who started the French immersion program with autism vary widely in their needs and their skills and from which wonderful graduates such as the Member for their abilities. There’s no standard type or typical person with Takhini-Kopper King graduated, and I felt that I would like to autism spectrum disorder. make this tribute, even though it’s in the English language, in Knowing the early signs that lead to early diagnosis can honour of a Yukon pioneer who made history by, among other lead to optimal outcomes. To help ensure an early and accomplishments, being the first non-First Nation woman to accurate diagnosis, Health and Social Services provides make the long and arduous trek over the Chilkoot Trail — I funding to the Child Development Centre, which coordinates refer of course to Émilie Tremblay and the program that was the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in preschool-aged named after her. children. We also offer the family supports for children with I say “program” because, in October 1985, the standalone disabilities program, which provides services to children with French first language school that bears Madame Tremblay’s disabilities, such as autism, and their families from birth to name was still 11 years away. On October 23, 1985, members age 19. of this House debated a motion put forward by the Member of I would like to acknowledge the work of Autism Yukon Faro that read, “THAT it is the opinion of this House that the in raising awareness of autism here in the territory. Autism Government of Yukon, in full recognition of Canada’s Yukon plays an important role in providing information and bilingual and bicultural heritage, should properly designate the education to families and service providers. It is no secret that ‘French First Language’ program as ‘École Émilie I am a co-founder of Autism Yukon and a proud parent of a Tremblay.’” 14-year-old son who has autism. To celebrate October as At the time, the program for Yukon children entitled to a Autism Awareness Month, Autism Yukon will be hosting a French education under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of movie night on Wednesday, October 28 at the Beringia Rights and Freedoms was simply referred to as “French first Interpretive Centre. The movie Temple Grandin is a true story language”. The Member for Faro felt that a better name was that follows a woman with autism who revolutionized practice 6644 HANSARD October 26, 2015 warranted, and members of the 26th Legislative Assembly Ms. White: Monsieur le président, c’est un honneur agreed with him. pour moi de souligner le trentième anniversaire de l’École Yukon’s French first language program had started the Émilie Tremblay au nom du NPD du Yukon et du 3e parti. year before with 34 children in two multi-grade classes Quelle réussite pour une petite juridiction comme la nôtre spanning grades 1 to 6. The program was housed in the de célébrer un tel anniversaire pour une école de langue basement of Whitehorse Elementary School until 1990 when française au nord du 60e parallèle. it moved to pre-fab facilities on Nisutlin Drive in Riverdale. Merci aux pionniers, dont Émilie Tremblay elle-même, In 1996, École Émilie Tremblay began offering classes in a qui ont mis de l’avant une vision inclusive de ce que pourrait permanent home with the construction of the current school être le Yukon. building on Falcon Drive in Granger. Madame Tremblay’s Nous reconnaissons que le travail incessant de la name was on a list of possible names for the French first communauté franco-yukonnaise a permis la construction de language program given to the government by Canadian l’école en partenariat avec le gouvernement fédéral. Parents for French in 1985 and was later adopted following L’École Émilie Tremblay est essentielle au the passing of the Member for Faro’s motion. développement de la communauté francophone, de la I would like to share a few details of Madame Tremblay’s communauté de Whitehorse et de tout le Yukon. life. They provide a sound rationale for that 30-year-old Nous reconnaissons que les citoyens formés à l’École decision. Émilie and her new husband Pierre, a fellow Émilie Tremblay participent activement à faire du Yukon une Quebecer, set off on their honeymoon in March 1894 — société plus juste et équitable. destination, Yukon. They arrived in Forty Mile three months Nous devrions célébrer le fait que les succès de later, where Madame Tremblay began learning English as a l’éducation francophone exige maintenant la construction second language. She left some time later to visit her ailing d’une nouvelle école secondaire que la communauté mother.

Load more

  37

Copy Link