Sara McPhee-Knowles has been appointed Chair of the Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
Sara McPhee-Knowles has a PhD in Philosophy specializing in Public Policy from the University of Saskatchewan. She has been seconded from her position as an Assistant Professor from the School of Business and Leadership at Yukon University. She is also an Adjunct Professor, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan.
On April 25, 2023, the Yukon Legislative Assembly adopted Motion No. 711, thereby establishing the Special Committee on the Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. The committee’s purpose, as set out in the motion, was to report to the Legislative Assembly its recommendations on terms of reference for the electoral reform citizens’ assembly.
The committee’s report was presented to the Legislative Assembly on October 31, 2023. On November 7, 2023, the Legislative Assembly adopted Motion Respecting Committee Reports No. 8, concurring in the report and the terms of reference for the Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
The Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform is a representative body of Yukoners established to recommend a model for electing Members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly. The Citizens’ Assembly will examine electoral systems and issue a report by October 31, 2024, recommending whether the current voting system should be retained or another model should be adopted.
The membership will consist of up to two individuals from each of the 19 electoral districts in the Yukon, selected randomly from the 1,793 respondents who declared their willingness to participate on the census of all Yukon residents aged 16 years and over conducted by the Yukon Bureau of Statistics from January 12 to March 5, 2023.
As Chair, Dr. McPhee-Knowles has administrative responsibility for the Citizens’ Assembly. Her duties include supervising the selection process for the membership of the Citizens’ Assembly. (See detailed position description)