Yukon Legislative Assembly Number 188 1st Session 33rd Legislature HANSARD Wednesday, December 17, 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 December 17, 2014 HANSARD 5639 Yukon Legislative Assembly government contribution of $750,000 to help the society Whitehorse, Yukon purchase the building they currently occupy and continue Wednesday, December 17, 2014 — 1:00 p.m. operating in its safe and accessible downtown location. All in all, the greatest support, though, to the Whitehorse Speaker: I will now call the House to order. We will Food Bank comes from individuals, organizations and proceed at this time with prayers. businesses. Abundant community support proved true this last July, when the food bank shelves were empty. Businesses, Prayers groups and individuals gave fully to re-stock the shelves and we have been asked to name a few: Local businesses such as DAILY ROUTINE Bear’s Paw Quilts, CKRW and Pacific Northwest Freight Speaker: We will proceed with the Order Paper. Systems; the all-schools food drive for the Whitehorse Food Tributes. Bank; the RCMP and the Department of Justice; Yukon Employees Union Local Y010; employees from the TRIBUTES Department of Finance, from the Department of Highways In recognition of the Whitehorse Food Bank and Public Works; the airport security; Health and Social Hon. Mr. Graham: I rise today to ask of all members Services; and many more individuals who I may have missed of the Legislature to join me in recognizing the Whitehorse in this tribute. Food Bank. All of those individuals’ support makes a difference in In addition to recognizing the Whitehorse Food Bank, I how the food bank can meet its demands. We all tend to think want all members to recognize the board of directors for the of those less fortunate than ourselves at this time of the year, food bank; all of the volunteers who faithfully assist at the especially when we gather friends and family close to centre, week in and week out throughout the year; all of the celebrate the festive season, but the needs of the food bank are groups and organizations who support the food bank ongoing throughout the year, which is why community financially; all the students who participate in the annual food support is so important. drive as projects by various schools throughout the city; and Mr. Speaker, if I can do a slight commercial at this point all those who donate to the society and to the cause for the food bank — it is a method that the food bank offers in throughout the year. a way for folks to contribute throughout the year with its In the five years since it opened, the food bank has Green Apple program and if I can again quote: “The Green provided much-needed nutrition to a cross-section of families Apple Club is simply a club that through your Visa or through and individuals, including seniors, students and immigrant your bank account, the food bank can deduct a minimum of populations. Its numbers have grown from an anticipated 300 $10 a month and then at the end of the year, send you a tax people five years ago, during the first year of planning, to receipt. If you have more money to give at the end of the year, about 1,300 individuals on average each month. Stephen the food bank is only too happy to oblige you and take it. Dunbar-Edge, the executive director of the Whitehorse Food However, the consistent monthly contributions give the food Bank, said that they have almost 3,000 people on their list. bank a much better ability to budget their food and their However, only about 500 to 600 of those people come in each expenditures to ensure that the food bank shelves never are month — more over Christmas, of course — and only about completely empty again.” 300 of those are fairly regular users of the food bank. I encourage everyone — all members as well — to join We are indeed fortunate to have this very strong group of the Green Apple Club and donate monthly throughout the people who truly believe that those less fortunate — or those year. There are almost 300 members currently, and I know the who are going through a rough patch in their life — deserve Whitehorse Food Bank would love to double that number if and need this support. possible. The Whitehorse Food Bank is truly a community Over the years, the Government of Yukon has also effort in the best possible sense. All of the participants deserve provided funding to the society, and we do this in full the recognition that we give them here in the House today. recognition of the fact that government simply cannot be all The chair of the Whitehorse Food Bank, Stu Mackay, is things to all people. We really need the cooperation and the here in attendance today. I must tell you that Stu is a former assistance, not only of the general public, but of businesses employee of the Yukon College and I can assure you that and government and NGOs throughout the year to assist in every retiring member of Yukon College works at either endeavours such as this. Habitat for Humanity or the Whitehorse Food Bank, and they Over the years, as I said, the Yukon government has all have Stu to thank for that. So thank you very much. provided $50,000 in seed funding in 2008-09; $5,000 per year Applause beginning in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, I believe. The Women’s Directorate also provides support to the Sally and Speaker: Introduction of visitors. Sisters family violence prevention program since April 1, INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS 2012. Ms. White: I feel a bit like today is bring-your-friends- This past spring, as most of you will remember, the to-work day, and I’m really excited to welcome my friend Premier and I had the real pleasure to announce a more lasting 5640 HANSARD December 17, 2014 Stephanie Dixon to the Legislative Assembly. We were 2013-2014. Finally, I have the ISO, Investigations and talking about it, and I remember meeting Stephanie for the Standards Office, 2013 annual report. This annual report first time on Grey Mountain as I was pushing up a 37-pound summarizes the work of the Investigations and Standards downhill bike and Stephanie was hiking, with crutches, down Office from January 1 to December 31 of 2013. a fairly loose slope. Since then we have been fast friends and had lots of days on the ski hill and things. Thank you very Hon. Mr. Cathers: I have for tabling today two much for coming. documents. One is the Yukon Housing Corporation annual We have Lisa Rawlings Bird in the back with baby Bird. report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014. The second It’s very exciting to have people here, so thank you for is the annual report of the Yukon Liquor Corporation for the coming. fiscal year beginning April 1, 2013 and ending March 31, Applause 2014. With your indulgence, I would like to thank the boards and staff of both corporations for their good work on behalf of Ms. Stick: I also would ask the members to welcome Yukoners. to the gallery today a group of citizens, including — and I know I’m going to miss some names — Colette Acheson from Ms. White: I have for tabling a letter dated October Yukon Association for Community Living; Stephanie Dixon; 30, 2014, from the Yukon Chamber of Commerce and the Heather MacFadgen from the Human Rights Commission; Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce to the minister responsible Tracey Wallace; Jessica Thompson; Lisa Rawlings Bird, who for the Yukon Housing Corporation regarding the northern is the executive director at the Yukon Council on housing trust and investment in affordable housing. DisABILITY; Chase Blodgett; Gerard Tremblay, his interpreter; and Amanda Smith. I would like to congratulate Hon. Mr. Istchenko: I know members opposite are this group on their work and efforts at the recent disability looking forward to seeing this.