Yukon Legislative Assembly Number 13 3rd Session 34th Legislature HANSARD Monday, October 28, 2019 — 1:00 p.m. Speaker: The Honourable Nils Clarke YUKON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2019 Fall 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 Kate White Leader of the Third Party Third Party House Leader Takhini-Kopper King Liz Hanson Whitehorse Centre 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 Harris Cox Hansard Administrator Deana Lemke Published under the authority of the Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly October 28, 2019 HANSARD 375 Yukon Legislative Assembly Whitehorse, Yukon Hon. Ms. Frost: I ask my colleagues to please help me Monday, October 28, 2019 — 1:00 p.m. in welcoming the Child and Family Services Act committee. It has done exceptional work for us in the many months leading Speaker: I will now call the House to order. up to today. We have with us: Ray Sydney, who is the deputy We will proceed at this time with prayers. chair of the committee; Doris Anderson, who represents very respectfully indigenous rights and indigenous women’s issues Prayers across the Yukon and across the country; we have Lori Duncan, who is with us today as well, representing health and wellness DAILY ROUTINE for Yukon First Nations and her great work over the many Speaker: We will proceed at this time with the Order years; and Rosemary Rowlands, executive director for the Paper. transition home and children in crises, and she has dedicated Introduction of visitors. many years to that. Welcome today. INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS Applause Hon. Mr. Silver: I would like to ask all the Members of the Legislative Assembly to help me welcome some folks to the Mr. Istchenko: I do want to recognize some friends who gallery today for the tribute for Remembrance Day. I will start are here today: Jonas Smith, Melanie Brais, Linda Benoit, and with former Commissioner and World War II veteran, and also Amanda Leslie. I welcome them to the House today. a member of the Order of Canada, Doug Bell, who is here as Applause well with Joe Mewett, who is the veteran legion president. We also have veterans Maurice Cratty, Terry Grabowski, and Red Hon. Mr. Mostyn: This afternoon, we have the Grossinger here today. president of the Yukon Employees’ Union, Mr. Steve Geick, in Thank you very much for your service and for being here the House. Please join me in welcoming him. today. Applause I also want to recognize the Member for Kluane for his service as well and thank him for that. Mr. Gallina: There are three constituents in the gallery I would also like to acknowledge that, in the gallery, we today who I would like members to join me in welcoming: Rob also have Member of Parliament Larry Bagnell. and Cathy Cumming, and Darlene Large. Welcome to the Applause Assembly. Applause Hon. Ms. Dendys: I would like to ask my colleagues to help me in welcoming a number of very special guests here Speaker: Are there any further introductions of visitors? today for the Kohklux Map tribute that we will be doing Tributes. shortly: Linda Johnson, coordinating committee chair; TRIBUTES Sylvie Binette, vice-president; and Georgianna Low from the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. From the Yukon Council of In recognition of the Royal Canadian Legion’s poppy Archives Carolyn Harris and Adam Hicks. From our Tourism campaign and Culture department we have Jonathan Parker, our assistant Hon. Mr. Silver: I rise today to pay tribute to the Royal deputy minister; Christian Thomas, who is the senior projects Canadian Legion’s annual poppy campaign, which began this archeologist; David Schlosser, our territorial archivist; past Friday. Every year from the last Friday of October to Lesley Buchan, private records archivist; Valery Monahan, our November 11, we wear a poppy to honour our veterans who conservator; and Garry Njootli — I think he is here. Then we have fought to protect Canadians and civilians around the have also, from the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations world. As civilians, we can only begin to imagine the hardships Sheila Joe and Robert Joe. We have Michael Gates — I think faced by those who served in wars and conflicts of the past, that most of us know his fantastic work around heritage and along with the challenges such as long separation from family conservation — Yann Herry, Doug Hitch, and Janna Swales for those who continue to serve far afield in dangerous war from the Yukon Transportation Museum. zones. I also want to recognize the efforts by those in uniform Thank you so much for coming today. involved with disaster assistance and humanitarian efforts both Applause at home and around the world. This year’s poppy campaign kicked off last Friday with the Ms. Hanson: I would like my fellow Members of the Whitehorse Legion president, Joe Mewett, presenting the first Legislative Assembly to join me in welcoming many of the poppy to Angélique Bernard, Commissioner of Yukon, at the friends of Many Rivers, who are here this afternoon with us. cenotaph at city hall. I was proud to attend the ceremony along They have asked that they not be named, but they are friends of with Member of Parliament Larry Bagnell, His Worship Mayor Many Rivers. Dan Curtis, and other government and community Applause representatives. 376 HANSARD October 28, 2019 After the ceremony and for the first time ever, a poppy flag thrived in the environment, their colours standing out against was raised in front of our Government of Yukon main the blasted terrain. administrative building. From now until November 11, we can In 1921, the Great War Veterans’ Association, the largest all look outside to be reminded that our freedom to meet in this of several Canadian veterans’ groups, adopted the poppy as a Legislature to debate the issues and represent our communities symbol of remembrance. The Canadian Legion formed in 1925 came at a tremendous price. The poppy campaign is an continued this tradition. The poppy was worn on the left lapel important way for us to remember and to never forget. It is also and close to the heart to recognize the sacrifices of our soldiers a way to teach younger generations about our history of conflict in war times. They were initially made by disabled veterans, so that they can use that knowledge to avoid future wars. and the proceeds of sales then and now go toward veterans’ The poppy flag will also be a reminder to donate and to needs, like the Premier said. support our local Yukon veterans. Donations to the Yukon The poppy remains an enduring symbol of remembrance poppy campaign provide financial support to veterans and their in Canada, Great Britain, nations of the Commonwealth, and in families as well as injured Canadian Armed Forces members the United States for those who served or fell in service of their and also to our Rangers and our RCMP. country. The local campaign typically raises approximately Mr. Speaker, we do owe a huge debt of gratitude for those $30,000, with all proceeds going to Yukoners. Donations are service members, present and past, so please wear a poppy and used to provide meals, clothing, reading programs, and seniors contribute to the poppy campaign. services in communities — and the list goes on and on. Online I do want to thank the legion for all their hard work and donors will receive a digital poppy with the option to include those in the community who work on behalf of the legion the name of an honoured veteran. The digital image can be making sure the poppies are out. shared via social media and can help spread the message. Thank you. Lest we forget. I hope to see Yukoners join me in proudly wearing our Applause poppies together and letting our veterans know how much we appreciate their service. Thank you once again to all our Ms. White: I rise on behalf of the Yukon NDP caucus to veterans for your incredible work for our country. Lest we speak of the importance of the Remembrance poppy. forget. We live in a country envied for our stability, our safety, Applause and our security.