Yukon Legislative Assembly Number 17 3rd Session 34th Legislature HANSARD Monday, November 4, 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 November 4, 2019 HANSARD 491 Yukon Legislative Assembly Every year, our Agriculture branch — with the help of the Whitehorse, Yukon agricultural community — recognizes a farmer based on their Monday, November 4, 2019 — 1:00 p.m. accomplishments, volunteerism, good farm management skills, and use of innovative ideas. Speaker: I will now call the House to order. Sarah Ouellette is a perfect example of a farmer who shows At this time, we will proceed with prayers. commitment and passion for agriculture in Yukon, and we cannot think of a better person to honour with Farmer of the Prayers Year. Sarah has been farming for six years, and her certified organic operation is currently established at the Lendrum Ross DAILY ROUTINE Farm on Lake Laberge. Speaker: We will proceed at this time with the Order Her nominators describe a professional, highly skilled Paper. operation that not only produces high-quality food, but it is also Introduction of visitors. a place that contributes to our community’s knowledge and appreciation of agriculture. INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS On a small half-acre plot, she produces incredible Mr. Cathers: I would like to ask members to join me in quantities of quality vegetables, which she sells to Whitehorse welcoming to the House constituents of mine, including: restaurants, grocery stores, and the Fireweed Community Yukon Farmer of the Year Sarah Ouellette of Sarah’s Harvest; Market under the brand name Sarah’s Harvest. Her production and Brian Lendrum and Susan Ross, also from the Yukon is well-planned and well-suited to her climate and soil Agricultural Association. conditions. She uses succession planting, row covers, raised Applause beds, drip irrigation, minimal tillage, and the simplest of tools. She uses strictly organic methods, and her farm is certified by Hon. Mr. Pillai: As well, here today for the Farmer of the Pacific Agricultural Certification Society. the Year tribute, I would like to welcome: Anne Savoie who is Sarah is very committed to encouraging and inspiring here with Senior Industry Development Office of Agriculture others to grow food. For the past three seasons, she has trained and Agri-Food Canada; Brad Barton, research technician in the participants in the agriculture internship program and has Agriculture branch — and a key member who puts our banquet worked hard to provide them with a rich and varied experience. together every year; Shannon Gladwin, agriculture lands She is often joined in her garden by customers and other coordinator in the Agriculture branch; and Kirk Price, acting volunteers who catch her infectious enthusiasm for gardening, director in the Agriculture branch as well. the outdoor life, hard work, and good food. Applause Sarah is very involved in many organizations that advocate and move Yukon agriculture forward. Sarah has been involved Hon. Mr. Streicker: Monsieur le Président, s’il vous with Growers of Organic Food Yukon, the Agriculture Industry plaît, aidez-moi à dire bonjour et bienvenue à beaucoup de gens Advisory Committee, and the Fireweed Community Market. qui sont ici pour un hommage: for FLSD employees — André She has been coordinator of the successful Kids on the Farm Bourcier; Coralie Langevin; Laurianne Grenier-Deschesnes; program. She produced a beautiful, informative booklet on the Nancy Power from L’AFY — who, by the way, is hosting program, which is headed by the following credo: “Cultivating Business After Hours this Thursday at L’AFY at 5 :00 p.m., I knowledge, appreciation and awareness of agriculture through think, and I think that all of Yukon is welcome — Marie-Alexis experiential learning”. I would like to close by reading what Dangreau; Jean-Sébastien Blais; Louise-Hélène Villeneuve; one of Sarah’s nominators said about her amazing produce: Emilie Thibeault-Maloney; Marc Champagne; Madame “The vegetables and herbs were always beautiful and tasty. I President Jeanne Beaudoin; Roch Nadon; Edith Bélanger; managed to get enough of her Klondike-sized cabbages to make Stéphanie Nobécourt; Jean-Pascal Ladroue; Hannah Engasser; my winter supply of kraut and a few good pots of borscht with Isabelle Bouffard; Kim Ouellette; Emeline Brocard; Audrey the beets, cabbages, and dill. Once at the market, I saw all of Percheron; l’Aurore boréale Julien Latraverse; et deux jeunes Sarah’s carrots scooped up before my very eyes by a visiting pour l’hommage aujourd’hui, Miléna Georgeault et chef.” Maxime Gouyou-Beauchamps. Bienvenue. Mr. Speaker, this is the kind of success and dedication that Applause we can all be proud of. Congratulations to Sarah, Yukon’s Farmer of the Year, and I wish Sarah all the best in her farming Speaker: Are there any further introductions of visitors? career into the future. To all of those listening today, please Tributes. continue to support Yukon agriculture, and I hope the delicious food from Sarah’s Harvest and many other Yukon producers TRIBUTES has a regular place on your tables at home. In recognition of Farmer of the Year Applause Hon. Mr. Pillai: I rise today on behalf of the Yukon Liberal government to pay tribute to Yukon’s Farmer of the Year Sarah Ouellette of Sarah’s Harvest. 492 HANSARD November 4, 2019 Mr. Cathers: I’m pleased to rise today on behalf of the beautifully laid-out tables of orderly vegetables and herbs. Her Yukon Party Official Opposition to pay tribute to table is so popular that you need to get there early or you might Sarah Ouellette of Sarah’s Harvest as our 2019 Farmer of the be disappointed when she is sold out of the top sellers. You can Year. find Sarah’s Harvest produce at both Riverside Grocery and As the minister mentioned, she operates a farm on the Wykes’ Independent Grocer, which she thanks for giving a Lendrum Ross Farm, and it’s really notable that Sarah not only small operation like hers an avenue for sales. She also grows fresh organic produce for distribution to stores, caterers, highlighted the importance of the restaurant and catering chefs, and for purchase directly at the Fireweed Community industry in Yukon for investing in local produce and how that Market, but the quality of that produce is always excellent and connection strengthens farming opportunities in Yukon. it is a great example of Yukon-grown produce and vegetables. If anything was clear on Saturday night at the North of 60 Sarah has also played an incredible role in promoting banquet when Sarah Ouellette was named the 2019 Yukon farming in the Yukon to a younger generation of Yukoners Farmer of the Year, it was that Yukon farmers are supportive through coordinating the Kids on the Farm Program, which and enthusiastic of others who are passionate about farming, brings students and farmers together on educational farm visits. because she made her way to the stage through a standing She is actively involved with the Growers of Organic Food ovation of her peers. Yukon and the Fireweed Community Market, and she is a Félicitations, Sarah. You totally deserve the break. member of the Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee, Applause which provides advice and guidance to the Yukon government on a number of agriculture and agri-food issues. In recognition of National Francophone Immigration I would like to thank Sarah for her continued involvement Week in and contributions to the agricultural sector here in the Yukon. Hon. Mr. Streicker: Monsieur le Président, c’est un Her dedication to organic farming and to the industry is a grand honneur de rendre hommage aujourd’hui à l’occasion de significant contributor to the success of farming here in the la semaine nationale de l’immigration francophone au nom de Yukon as well as to local food production. The Yukon has great tous les membres de l’Assemblée législative du Yukon.