Yukon Legislative Assembly Number 32 3rd Session 34th Legislature HANSARD Monday, March 9, 2020 — 1:00 p.m. Speaker: The Honourable Nils Clarke YUKON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 2020 Spring 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 Terry Grabowski Hansard Administrator Deana Lemke Published under the authority of the Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly March 9, 2020 HANSARD 933 Yukon Legislative Assembly Ms. Hanson: I’m not sure if this is a point of order or a Whitehorse, Yukon point — I am in no way disputing the ruling of the Speaker. I Monday, March 9, 2020 — 1:00 p.m. just simply wish to clarify that the motion that I tabled last Thursday in no way breaches the confidentiality of Public Speaker: I will now call the House to order. Accounts. It refers to a letter that was sent to the Chair, along We will proceed at this time with prayers. with 20 other people in this territory. Many other people across the territory have seen this letter. My motion doesn’t take any Prayers reference to the confidential discussions or decisions made by the Public Accounts Committee. Withdrawal of motions Speaker: The Chair wishes to inform the House that Speaker’s statement Motion No. 170, notice of which was given by the Member for Speaker: Thank you. I will review your assertion with Whitehorse Centre on March 5, 2020, was not placed on the the Clerks-at-the-Table and return to you, or to the House, as Notice Paper, as it references a document that forms part of the may be required. in-camera documents that belong to a committee. DAILY ROUTINE Speaker’s statement Speaker: We will proceed at this time with the Order Speaker: I will remind members that Standing Order Paper. 50(1) states: “All documents which come into the possession of Introduction of visitors. a Committee or which come into existence in the course of the conduct of the business and affairs of the Committee belong to INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS the Committee before it reports to the Assembly and belong to Hon. Ms. Dendys: I would ask my colleagues to help the Assembly after the Committee reports to the Assembly, welcome some special guests who are here today for the tribute subject to any direction of the Speaker acting on an order of the on International Women’s Day. I would first like to recognize Assembly.” the president of the Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle, Further, as I noted last fall in my ruling on Adeline Webber — thank you so much for coming — Yukon October 28, 2019, the Annotated Standing Orders offer the Human Rights Commission staff members Madeleine following clarification of Standing Order 50(1): “A member Desroches and Lisa Stewart — thank you for being here. We appointed to a committee should note that all documents have staff from the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre: Norma relating to the work of that committee belong to the committee. Germaine, Sarah Langlois, and Charlotte Kane — thank you so This limits the ways in which the member can share these much for being here. I’m not sure if we have members from documents and what can be done with the documents once the Queer Yukon. They were to also be here. I apologize if you’re committee has concluded its business, or the member is no here and I’m not recognizing you — thank you for being here. longer a member of the committee.” I want to recognize our wonderful Cabinet staff who are I would also draw members’ attention to Standing Order here today with us: Emily Farrell, Edwine Veniat, Michele 7(6), which states: “Unless otherwise directed by the Assembly, Shaw, and Sylvia Anderson — thank you — and I just want to it is not a breach of privilege for a member of a Committee to recognize all of the Cabinet staff, the incredible women who discuss with the members of the Assembly, on a confidential work in our office and who are listening right now. Thank you basis, matters that are under consideration by the Committee.” so much for all your hard work, and I thank everyone for being It is important to note that, while Standing Order 7(6) here today. provides for members of a committee to discuss with other Applause MLAs, in confidence, matters that are under consideration by committees, it does not provide for confidential committee Hon. Mr. Streicker: I will be giving a tribute today on matters to be shared with Cabinet staff or caucus staff, the Buckwheat Classic, and there are lots of friends and departmental officials, the media, members of the public, or organizers from the Buckwheat here today. If we could please others. welcome Jim Hawkings, Beth Hawkings, Tracey and Jason The unauthorized disclosure of in-camera committee Bilsky, and Trevor, Lareina, Audrey, and Ryder Twardochleb. proceedings contravenes the Standing Orders and may be found From the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club, we have Dermot to constitute a contempt of the Legislative Assembly or a Flynn and Jonathan Kerr. We have Sue Meikle, Karen breach of parliamentary privilege. Thompson, Lindy-Jo Aston, Tom Fairman, Sara and Thank you for your time and attention. Lene Nielsen, Alain Masson, Tanya Astika, Coralie and Tom Ullyett, Megan Cromarty, and I know that Mr. Jeff Brady from Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible) Skagway was too sick to make it, but he’s listening in, so a little shout-out there. Point of order We also have Mr. Dominic Bradford and his Yukon Speaker: Member for Whitehorse Centre. Montessori School class. Here I go; I hope I get this right: We have Gwen, Minty, Josephine, Nyah, Asher, Fin, who is 934 HANSARD March 9, 2020 wearing some of Team Yukon’s gear, which is great — Baden, organizations in Yukon. We know that organizations like the Coco, Mischa, Elliot, Ayla — I hope I get this right — Tyne — Yukon Women’s Transition Home Society, Victoria Faulkner I hope I pronounced that correctly, thank you — and we also Women’s Centre, Dawson Women’s Shelter, and Help and have Luka with a “k”, Luca with a “c”, and Lucas, also with a Hope for Families in Watson Lake provide not only basic “c” — if we could welcome them please. needs, but also offer advocacy, navigation, and community- Applause building opportunities for all women and children. Organizations like Women in Trades and Technology, Speaker: Are there any further introductions of visitors? Girls Rock Camp, and the Women’s Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub encourage young women to see themselves in TRIBUTES those spaces. Les EssentiElles, Yukon Status of Women’s In recognition of International Women’s Day Council, and many more organizations are working every day Hon. Ms. Dendys: I’m proud to rise today on behalf of to break down the barriers that still exist for women and gender- our Liberal government in recognition of March 8, diverse Yukoners. International Women’s Day. Today is a day to recognize the I encourage all of us to think of those people in our lives many achievements of women and girls and to raise awareness who showed us the importance of gender equality and to take of the work left to be done. This year’s national theme is some time to tell them, if you can, that it is because of you that “#BecauseOfYou”. There is a beautiful social media campaign changes are happening. that’s running right now and a website honouring the change- makers from across our country who have led the work on Ms. McLeod: I’m pleased to rise today on behalf of the gender equality, which I encourage my colleagues to explore. Yukon Party Official Opposition to pay tribute to women This interactive map of Canada includes two notable across the Yukon and around the globe on International Yukon women — Ione Christensen and Martha Black — who, Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8. between the two of them, have accomplished a number of firsts On this day, we celebrate the achievements of women and in our territory and our country.