Yukon Legislative Assembly Number 20 3rd Session 34th Legislature BLUES Thursday, November 7, 2019 — 1:00 p.m. Speaker: The Honourable Nils Clarke NOTE This document, referred to as the “Blues”, is the preliminary issue of the Hansard of the Yukon Legislative Assembly and has not been edited fully for errors, omissions or accuracy. It may be used as a reference only with the understanding that it will be superseded by the final, edited version, entitled “Hansard”, at a later time. November 7, 2019 BLUES 581 Yukon Legislative Assembly makers themselves, they are cognizant of the terrible cost of Whitehorse, Yukon war. Thursday, November 7, 2019 — 1:00 p.m. In World War I, it is estimated that 61,000 Canadians were killed in action and another 172,000 were wounded. Canada’s Speaker: I will now call the House to order. population in 1914 when the war began was just eight million We will proceed at this time with prayers. citizens. In World War II, it is estimated that 42,000 Canadians were killed in action and another 55,000 wounded. Canada’s Prayers population in 1939 when World War II began was 11 million. By comparison, today our population is just over 37 million DAILY ROUTINE citizens. It is estimated that in both World Wars, well over In recognition of Remembrance Day one million citizens were involved directly or indirectly in the war effort. The stunning enormity and brutality of these losses Speaker: Before the House proceeds with the Order and the concept of a desperate, all-encompassing national war Paper, the Chair will make a few remarks. effort is almost unfathomable today. This coming Monday is Remembrance Day. It is a day While it is true that our casualties have been less than in when Canadians from coast to coast honour those who have subsequent battles, the danger to our citizens and to our towns served and continue to serve in the Canadian Forces, the and cities in a nuclear age is actually far more dire than it was RCMP, and other related agencies and remember those who in either of the World Wars. were lost in the line of duty. In discussing remembrance and the importance of November 11 was declared a day of remembrance after the remembrance with Yukon students, I try to stress the important end of World War I. Every Canadian child learns in school that messages that war tells us. We need young people to avoid war the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 marked and seek alternative resolutions when there is conflict. War the armistice that led to the end of the First World War. Across should never be a first or second choice; it should be the last Canada, we continue to hold ceremonies to remember the men resort to settle disputes. and women who defended Canada during times of war and Recently, the Department of Education has worked with continue to try to bring peace to many troubled parts of the the legion to help to increase the understanding of the cost of world. war. The six-part documentary series that was recently The first Remembrance Day was held in Canada on delivered to Yukon schools covers both Canadian men and November 11, 1919 — 100 years ago this coming Monday. women in the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Given the passage of time since the end of World War I, the last the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War, the Canadian veteran of that war passed away a number of years Korean conflict, Afghanistan, and worldwide NATO missions. ago, and our remaining Canadian World War II veterans are This important resource was started in 2016 in Saskatchewan largely in their 90s. with the endorsement of the Royal Canadian Legion and has What is remarkable is that Canadians still mark spread across Canada from there. Educators across Yukon will Remembrance Day in the millions, and in the Yukon, once be able to engage students in meaningful discussions as to why again, thousands will mark this solemn occasion in ceremonies it is so important that we continue to honour the sacrifices of across the territory. Canadians. In 2018, we commemorated the 100th anniversary of Before I conclude my comments, I want to remind Canada’s 100 Days — a three-month series of Allied military members and our guests in the gallery today that tomorrow is victories in the closing months of the First World War. We also National Aboriginal Veterans Day. In Yukon, we talk of commemorated the centenary of the armistice that finally ended reconciliation with indigenous citizens as a priority; however, the battles of the Great War, tragically mis-named “the war to we have a history of not recognizing the sacrifices of our end all wars”. indigenous servicemen and servicewomen who served in the While Remembrance Day has always been a day to military in the same way as we have recognized non-indigenous remember those who have died in the service of Canada, we are citizens. also more aware that the price paid by our servicemen and It must be remembered that status Indians in Canada did servicewomen sometimes extends beyond their time in not have the right to vote or to be candidates for the House of uniform. We must remember this and continue to support these Commons or the Yukon Territorial Council until 1961. In other fellow Canadians. words, Canada’s aboriginal soldiers, sailors, and Air Force I, along with my MLA colleagues, have once again had the personnel who fought in World War I, World War II, and in the honour of marking Remembrance Day in our territorial public Korean conflict fought for rights that they themselves did not schools. I know that I speak for all Yukoners: It is our fervent yet have. Reconciliation must occur in many ways and in many hope that our children never have to suffer the terrible costs of areas, but the most urgent in the coming days should be those war and make the ultimate sacrifice that we have and continue indigenous veterans who served and, in many cases, are now to ask some of our citizens to make during times of global entering the latter years of their lives. conflict. However, it is important that they remember, appreciate, and are aware so that, when they become decision- 582 BLUES November 7, 2019 We also must continue to do better in recognizing the page — Josh Wanless, and also a former page, sacrifice of all of our citizens, regardless of their identifying Heather Mislang. gender or ethnic background. If the members could welcome this class. Thank you. As Members of the Legislative Assembly, we, like all Applause Canadians, are the beneficiaries of freedoms that have been provided to us by the sacrifices of others. These include the Hon. Mr. Streicker: I wonder if we could please rights of peaceful assembly, freedom of speech, and long- welcome past city councillor Mr. Dave Austin to the standing parliamentary privileges, all of which have been hard Legislature today. fought for. It is easy to take all of these for granted. Applause Lest we forget. Speaker: Are there any further introductions of visitors? DAILY ROUTINE Tributes. Speaker: We will proceed at this time with the Order TRIBUTES Paper. In recognition of Remembrance Day INTRODUCTION OF VISITORS Hon. Mr. Silver: I rise today in honour of Speaker: Under Introduction of Visitors, I have some Remembrance Day to pay tribute to our courageous Canadian guests in the Speaker’s gallery. Allow me to introduce World soldiers, sailors, airmen, and airwomen. War II veteran and retired Corporal Louise Miller. I believe Every year on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th Corporal Miller was also the recipient of a Quilt of Valour month, Canadians join together in honour of our veterans. On within the last six months. As well, we have legion second vice- Monday, we will once again be gathered at memorial halls, president Terry Grabowski, and Stan Borud is also in the schools, community centres, and cenotaphs across Yukon. We gallery supporting Ms. Miller — if we could recognize them. will bow our heads and reflect upon the more than 100,000 Applause Canadians killed in conflict since the beginning of World War I. We will remember the young men and women who answered Hon. Mr. Silver: I want to also recognize Louise Miller the call and paid the ultimate price on our behalf. for her service, but also, other members of her family are here Every November 11, we witness and endure grief felt from as well. We have Susan, Stan, and David Borud — I hope I am their loss. We see it in the eyes of veterans who live with pronouncing that last name properly — and Tammy McKay memories of friends who have never come back and in the and Jack Thompson, all members of Louise’s extended family. sadness of grieving spouses and the children of parents lost, but Also in the gallery, we have David Laxton, former Speaker not forgotten. By pausing to remember their sacrifices, we also of the House. We also have, as mentioned, Red Grossinger, remember why they fought on our behalf. They fought for our Serge Harvey-Gautier, Paul Scholz, Morris Cratty, values, for our human rights, for our democracy and our rule of Helmer Hermanson, Arthur Briss, Lorne Whittaker, law. Alex Truesdale, Chris Green, and Max Fraser. Mr. Speaker, Many were young Canadians who went to war simply combined with the Member for Kluane, what we have here in because they answered the call to serve, because they felt they the Legislative Assembly and in Yukon — Yukon veterans who could make a difference and help contribute toward a better have given a combined total of over 200 years of service.