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Yukon Legislative Assembly
Whitehorse, Yukon
Wednesday, May 13,=
2015
— 1:00 p.m.
Speaker: I w= ill now call the House to order. We will proceed at this time with prayers. =
Prayers
Daily
Routine
Speaker: We = will proceed at this time with the Order Paper.
Tributes.
TRIBUTES
In recognition of Nationa= l Police Week
Hon. Mr. Cathers: I rise today on behalf of the government to pay tribute to Nat= ional Police Week in Canada and the Yukon.
Nation= al Police Week is an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing work that police officers = do to keep people and communities safe. The role played by RCMP members in Yuk= on communities is both challenging and rewarding. It is the mandate of RCMP officers to enforce federal and territorial laws and to protect citizens. Oftentimes they are the first to respond to accidents or incidents of crime= and conflict, and many times they are the first to provide comfort and support = to victims.
On occ= asion, officers have to put themselves in harm’s way when performing their d= aily duties. Each year we are reminded of the risks taken by RCMP officers when = they put on their uniforms each and every day in performance of their duties. Tragically, four officers were killed on duty this year in Canada — t= hree in New Brunswick and one in Alberta. Through protocol and ongoing training, RCMP M Division, which is the Yukon division, works to guard the safety of = its police officers with the goal of ensuring they are able to make it home to their families, safe at the end of each day.
An often-overlooked component of RCMP duty includes the work officers do in consulting and working with citizens and communities, as well as with government and non-governmental agencies, and, in effect, working collabora= tively to reduce and deter crime. Because of the high level of responsibility and legacy of their profession, RCMP officers often become role models and lead= ers in communities throughout the Yukon and Canada.
The 20= 14 community safety awards recognize the exemplary professionalism of several = RCMP officers in the Yukon. I would like to recognize their efforts. Chief Superintendent Peter Clark was presented with a Lifetime Contribution to Community Safety Award, in recognition of his strong and responsive leaders= hip with the RCMP since 1982 and as the director of the Northern Territories Association of Chiefs of Police, ensuring that the unique policing needs of= the north are recognized and promoted at the national level. Chief Superintende= nt Clark also co-authored the transformative Sharing Common Ground report, which outlined 33 recommendations for building tr= ust between Yukon police and communities.
Consta= ble Ben Kingdon was presented with the Youth Mentorship Award= in recognition for his service on the Special Olympics Board of Directors. As a volunteer RCMP representative and role model, he contributes to the law enforcement torch relay and other events that link youth involvement with community policing.
As wel= l, Sergeant Cam Lockwood was awarded with the Outstanding Community Policing A= ward recognized for his dedication to community policing and his role in successfully fostering positive relationships and safety in the Town of Wat= son Lake. Sergeant Lockwood played a key role in establishing the innovative co= mmunity safety protocol, Together for Justice, between the Watson Lake detachment a= nd the Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society and that protocol established a community inter-agency collaboration framework that helps build community safety and end violence against women.
Consta= ble Craig Thur was recognized for his ongoing and dedicated ser= vice to Yukon and was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Community Safety Award. He is known for investigative excellence and for the compassi= on he shows for those who have been affected by crime or tragedy, and is a val= ued member of his unit’s team with great dedication to community safety in Yukon.
Even t= hough their roles and responsibilities are complex and multifaceted, RCMP officers are dedicated to their work, courageous and professional. In Yukon, the RCMP employs 135 regular RCMP members, 23 civilian members and 37 public service employees. The RCMP does not work in isolation in the territory. They are supported by many Yukoners who volunteer as auxiliary constables, victim assistance volunteers and citizens on patrol. Many community safety initiat= ives would not be successful without collaboration between the RCMP and organizations, including Yukon women’s coalition and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
This y= ear, during National Police Week, the RCMP Whitehorse detachment will be holding= a barbeque tomorrow, Thursday, May 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at their visitor parking lot. Everyone is invited to attend.
In clo= sing, on behalf of the government and Yukoners, I would like to express appreciation= to the RCMP for the work that they do to keep Yukoners safe and ask all member= s of the Assembly to join me in welcoming here to the gallery today, Chief Superintendent Peter Clark and Sergeant Cam Lockwood.
Applause
Ms. Moorcroft: Keeping our communities safe is a shared responsibility. As citizens and as politic= al leaders, during National Police Week we recognize Yukon RCMP for the vital = role they play in the safety and security of Canadians.
On beh= alf of the Official Opposition, I will begin by acknowledging, as stated in a Whitehor= se detachment media release of April 14 this year, that RCMP members take very real risks every day. On behalf of all of us, they s= tep into situations that may be dangerous, may be threatening or may be entirely unknown, and sometimes these situations result in very serious harm to those who are working to keep our communities safe. They and their families worry about what they will encounter each shift. I thank Inspector Archie Thompson for his statement.
We are= fortunate that the Yukon division has invested years of work to build good relations.= In recent years, RCMP has involved First Nations in liaison processes, mindful= of the overrepresentation of First Nation citizens in courts and corrections. =
During= the 2014 tribute to Police Week a year ago, I spoke about the Sharing Common Ground report on Yukon’s police and the wo= rk that continues. RCMP have worked with aboriginal women’s groups on the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women north of 60 and participated= in the Yukon women’s groups justice coalition formed in 2010.
Togeth= er for Justice, a protocol with Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society on police responses to violence against women and community inter-agency work, and increased resources for sexualized assault response teams and training for members are some highlights of those collaborations.
Nation= ally, RCMP and the Native Women’s Association of Canada have launched an awarene= ss campaign on violence against aboriginal women, mindful of the painful truth= of so many missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada.
Health= care and social services’ systems share in the responsibility of keeping our communities safe. One of the most challenging problems in policing today is= the way our society treats addictions and intoxication as a criminal matter rat= her than what it is — a public health issue.
At the= Kwanlin Dun and City of Whitehorse forum last month on vulnerable persons, RCMP Commanding Officer Peter Clark spoke about the 3,000 intoxicated people incarcerated by police last year who are in desperate situations. His words= were that we need to find a better way of dealing with that — of helping t= hem and supporting them, not giving up on them.
I woul= d like to welcome Commanding Officer Peter Clark in the gallery today and congratulate him for his recent lifetime achievement award. The commanding officer has issued a challenge to develop a collaborative plan to help police, to inter= vene in some way so that intoxicated individuals like that are no longer going through the revolving door. As he said, we need to deal with them in a compassionate, fair and supportive way without involving the police as the wrong tool.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, as legislators and decision-makers, we can make positive change that will improve the lives of our citizens and make police work easier and safer. The Yukon commanding officer has also tackled head-on the challenges inherent in the current legal system and showed his willingness to have difficult conversations when mistakes are made, when complaints are brought forward a= nd when people feel betrayed.
Referr= ing again to Inspector Thompson’s statement, RCMP fully ack= nowledge they owe it to the public to be accountable and professional. RCMP are working to earn our trust. In turn, we must give t= hem the opportunity to demonstrate that they will do what is right.
To clo= se, I want to thank the Yukon RCMP for the many contributions they make in our communi= ties as family members and as volunteers, over and above the contributions they = make in their official duties as public safety officers.
Applause
Mr. Silver: I also rise today on behalf of the Yukon Liberal Party to pay tribute to National Police Week, which runs from May 11 to 15.
Police= Week began in Canada in the 1970s as a way to connect citizens with their local police force. We also use the week to honour memb= ers of our local police force and to thank them for the hard work that they do = in the line of duty. Here in Yukon, the RCMP, or the North-West Mounted Police= as they were known at the time, had a long history and are closely tied to sto= ries of the Klondike Gold Rush. Inspector Charles Constantine was sent to the Yu= kon to report on activities in 1896.
Consta= ntine correctly forecasted the coming of the Yukon gold rush and as a result, enforcements were there to set the law and order and Canadian sovereignty w= as enforced. Now the Klondike Gold Rush, for all of its character and stories = of debauchery, was one of the most regulated and peaceful= gold rushes, thanks in no small part to the work of the NWMP.
Today = the RCMP still maintains a strong presence in our communities, with detachments in almost all of our communities. The RCMP deploys 135 officers throughout the territory. They volunteer at our community events and they raise their fami= lies here. On that note, it is worth noting — and I would like to add my v= oice in here as well — our thanks to Chief Superintendent Clark for his participation at the vulnerable peoples forum, which absolutely showcased h= is personal commitment to finding solutions. It absolutely deserves recognition here today.
Also, = in Dawson City, Sergeant Dave Morin and his wife Natasha and their family — they are perfect examples of community approach to law enforcement. They are a wonderful family and Sergeant Morin is such a positive male influence to our community.
The de= tachment in Dawson had their barbeque today in sunny Dawson. I hear that it was a complete success, with many folks from all walks of life coming to show the= ir support and to enjoy the day with our officers and the staff. I hope to do = the same thing tomorrow here in Whitehorse, with the Whitehorse detachment.
As we = pay tribute to National Police Week, I would just like to say thank you. Thank = you to the brave men and women of Yukon’s RCMP for their continued effort= s in keeping communities safe and for the sacrifice that they knowingly make eve= ry single day.
In recognition of National Road = Safety Week
Hon. Mr. Kent:= span> I rise today on behalf of the Yukon government to ackno= wledge National Road Safety Week.
From M= ay 12 to 18, all Canadians are reminded to do their part and make the commitment to safe, focused and distraction-free driving.
Here i= n the Yukon and across Canada, we aspire to maintain the safest roads in the worl= d. It’s an enormous job, but through continued education, awareness, technology and enforcement, each year we make tremendous progress in improv= ing our road safety. But we still have a long way to go.
Whether it’s impaired driving, distracted driving or not using the proper protection such as seat belts, the results are the same and the impacts are long-lasting and life changing. What is even more unfortunate is that the majority of these tragedies are entirely preventable.
Thanks= to the hard work of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and m= any others, most Yukoners are familiar with the dangers of impaired driving. Wh= at many may not realize is that distracted driving fatalities have now surpass= ed alcohol-impaired fatalities as the number one killer on our roads. We all n= eed to understand that talking on the phone or texting while driving is equally= as dangerous as drinking and driving. Therefore, next week marks the start of = the Yukon’s anti-distracted driving campaign. There is no question that anything that takes your attention from the road is a distraction and distractions can and often do have life-changing consequences.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, we live in an interconnected world, where it can be difficult if not imposs= ible to put down the phone. But as hard as it can be to unplug, all Yukoners = 212; especially young drivers — should join us in taking the national pled= ge and promise to “leave the phone alone” and do your part to help make our roads as safe as they can be.
In the= Yukon, cellphone usage while driving occurs at almost twice the national rate. According to the Canada Safety Council, texting while driving makes a crash= or near-crash 23 times more likely. The average text takes approximately six seconds to read — six seconds where your eyes are taken off the road.= At 50 miles per hour, that means you are going to travel the length of a footb= all field with your eyes closed. You would never close your eyes and try to dri= ve that length. Why would you look down at a phone and expect to be safe and in control?
Togeth= er, we can help put an end to so many needless tragedies. It should also be noted that= the RCMP in Yukon will continue to enforce safe driving practices and will be increasing enforcement for traffic violations, including distracted driving= , to help reduce incidents on our roads.
Sadly,= motor vehicle collisions remain the leading cause of death for children across Canada. Child carseats, when used correctly, can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent and reduce the risk of serious injury by 64 percent. By using a booster seat instead of a seat belt alone,= you reduce the risk of injury to your child by 59 percent. Highways and Public Works values the importance of carseat safety a= nd is dedicated to ensuring parents are assisted in correctly installing and using their child’s car seat.
This s= ummer, we will continue to promote carseat safety through= our child carseat safety program by providing free inspection clinics throughout the territory. Additionally, trained carseat technicians are available year-round for priv= ate carseat safety consultations. This free program is in= tended to assist both new and seasoned parents who want to make sure they are using their carseats as effectively as possible. I ca= n tell you, Mr. Speaker, that I recently took advantage of that program as we= ll with our young son. As an incentive, all children whose seats are inspected will be eligible for an annual draw for one of four $500 registered educati= on savings plans.
In clo= sing, I would like to wish all Yukoners a safe and fun-filled summer. While we are = out enjoying time with friends and family this summer, remember that it is up to each and every one of us to take responsibility and make safe driving habit= s a top priority — not just this week during National Road Safety Week, b= ut each and every time we get behind the wheel.
Ms. Moorcroft:= span> I rise on behalf of the NDP Official Opposition and the= Third Party to pay tribute to National Road Safety Week, May 12 to 18. The Canada Safety Council website posted a statement reminding motorists how to drive safely to save lives. In particular, when we are driving our cars, look out= for vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Remain calm= and courteous and be patient with children and the elderly, who may have more difficulty judging the timing and speed of traffic. Slow down and stick to = the speed limit. Leave lots of space between your vehicle and cyclists or motorcyclists. If there is not enough room in the lane, stay back and wait until you can pass safely. Focus — distracted driving and driver inattention are becoming leading causes of collisions in Canada. Turn off y= our cellphone while driving. Remember that hands-free is not risk-free. =
The Ca= nada Safety Council also said to say no to rigid metal bars, bull bars and grill guards. They significantly increase the severity of injuries to vulnerable = road users in the event of a crash. Take fewer car trips. Join the active transp= ort revolution by taking more trips on foot, bicycle and public transit. One le= ss car on the road makes the road that much safer for everyone.
An exa= mple of more pedestrian- and cycling-friendly infrastructure in the Whitehorse community would be a paved, multi-use trail from the C= owley Creek subdivision to the Crestview subdivision, and I advocate for that as = part of the Alaska Highway corridor plan.
Most f= atal collisions are caused by driver error. If you can walk or cycle more and dr= ive less, and if you observe the Canada Safety Council driving tips when you are behind the wheel, you might save a life.
In
recognition of as Huntington Disease Awareness Month
Hon. Mr. Nixon: I rise today on behalf of all members to ask my colleagues to = join me in recognizing May as Huntington Disease Awareness Month. It is time to spread the word and educate Yukoners about the disease that affects some 30= ,000 Canadians, because we are not immune to this disease here.
Huntin= gton’s disease is an inherited brain disorder. It causes cells in parts of the bra= in to die. As the brain cells die, a person with Huntington’s disease becomes less able to control movements, recall events, make decisions or control emotions. It has devastating effects on both body and mind. It is l= ike having the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and schizophren= ia all in one disease. Symptoms usually begin between the ages of 30 and 50 but can also affect children and seniors. Anyone could have sequences in their = DNA that can lead to diseases like Huntington’s. It’s usually diagn= osed using neurological and psychological tests and with a review of family hist= ory. Yukoners have access to visiting neurologists, services and supports accord= ing to their needs.
Unfort= unately, brain cells begin dying long before symptoms arise. Early proactive treatme= nt is really important and Canadian research is underway to create a new bioma= rker revealing brain changes. It will be a really powerful tool to monitor brain changes early in the disease.
People= who think they have symptoms can take a blood test to determine whether they have the gene that causes this particular disease. The society’s campaign asks, “Do you really want to know?” and highlights the impact of the disease it has on Canadians. We would like to think that, in this day and a= ge, that would not be an issue, but it is.
In
recognition of Celiac Awareness Month
Mr. Elias: I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing May as Celiac Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about celiac disease= and how it impacts individuals and families.
It is = estimated that celiac disease affects one in 100 people, and it’s not something= one outgrows. It affects children, young adults, middle-aged adults and senior citizens. Each one of us here today likely knows someone with celiac diseas= e.
Celiac= disease is a genetic autoimmune disease that damages the small intestine, the part = of the gut that digests and absorbs nutrients from food. When the small intest= ine is damaged, the rate of nutrient absorption from food is reduced. A wide ra= nge of symptoms may be present. Symptoms may appear together or singularly in children or adults. In many cases there are no noticeable symptoms. At pres= ent there is no known cure, but celiac disease is readily treated by following = the gluten-free diet.
Gluten= is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. In the case of wheat, gliadin has b= een isolated as the toxic fraction. It is the gluten in the flour that helps br= ead and other baked goods bind and prevent crumbling. This feature has made glu= ten widely used in the production of many processed and packaged foods. Respond= ing to the disease, many companies are now producing gluten-free products and restaurants are serving gluten-free meals. This allows the sufferer to enjo= y a wider variety of foods and social occasions.
By rai= sing the profile of celiac disease in the Yukon and across the country, we are reach= ing out to people who haven’t been diagnosed yet, as well as educating the public about gluten-free eating and celiac disease.
Mr. Silver: I also rise on behalf of the Liberal caucus and the Official Opposition to pay tribute to May as Celiac Awareness Month.
Each y= ear, more and more Canadians are diagnosed with the chronic autoimmune condition for which the only known treatment is a strict gluten-free diet. It is thought = that as many as 300,000 Canadians have celiac disease, but the majority of those individuals have not yet been diagnosed.
The Ca= nadian Celiac Association explains — and I quote: Celiac disease is a medical condition in which the absorptive tissues in the small intestine are damage= d by the body’s autoimmune reaction to a substance called gluten. This res= ults in an inability of the body to absorb nutrients…which are necessary f= or good health.
Essent= ially, it results in the starvation of nutrients from one’s body, which can contribute to infertility, osteoporosis, depression and anemia, among other conditions in both and women.
Testin= g to confirm a celiac disease diagnosis requires an individual to be on a gluten-contained diet and includes blood tests and/or a small bowel biopsy. These assessments are available in Yukon and can be ordered after consultin= g a physician. After diagnosis, individuals are encouraged to consult a dietiti= an or a counsellor to ease the transition into a gluten-free lifestyle.
The gl= uten-free options available in the Yukon increase daily and I would like to thank the community’s commitment to providing these options for all. However, c= are must be taken to ensure that restaurants are providing a safe dining experi= ence for those residents and visitors who require a gluten-free diet for medical= ly necessary reasons. The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness has several excellent free on-line resources to support food service establishments in providing safe options for their diners.
In hon= our of Celiac Awareness Month, I call for increased information on the resources available in Yukon for those living with this condition and how we as a community can best support them. There is currently an on-line campaign this month called “The Face of Celiac”, so in recognition, I would l= ike to thank Zara Soukoroff for submitting this tri= bute. She is a Yukoner living with celiac disease and I am glad that she was able= to share her experience with us.
In
recognition of World Hypertension Day
Ms. McLeod: I am very pleased to rise today to recognize World Hypertension Day, which is= on Sunday, May 17. This initiative is from the International Society of Hypertension and was inaugurated in May 2005.
The pu= rpose of World Hypertension Day is to promote public awareness of hypertension, or h= igh blood pressure, and to encourage citizens in all countries to prevent and control this silent killer. In Canada, one of five Canadians has high blood pressure or hypertension, which increases the risk of heart disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s and stroke. The scary part is that, of those, 17 percent are unaware of their condition.
This p= ast February, the chronic conditions support program of Health and Social Servi= ces hosted eight clinics in Whitehorse through the Know Your Numbers initiative. Through these clinics, 640 people had their blood pressure checked. Communi= ty health centres also offered the service and approximately 141 people in nine Yukon communities came to have their blood pressure checked.
These = clinics are important. They help screen for those who have undetected high blood pressure, identify those at risk and educate the public about the importanc= e of knowing their numbers. During this year’s clinics, 38 people were made aware that they had hypertension and were advised to have their condition followed up.
Accord= ing to the International Society of Hypertension, high dietary salt is one of the major global health risks. The society estimates that over three million people d= ie prematurely and over 300 million people are living with hypertension becaus= e of high dietary salt. Here in the Yukon, we are doing our part. The Department= of Health and Social Services is in its third year of promoting healthy blood pressure by reducing sodium intake through the “read — compare — go low” campaign. This year, Yukoners can hear about the camp= aign “read — compare — go low” on radio and social media= . We asked local people who have changed their salt intake because of previous campaigns to be this year’s voice by sharing how they benefit from reducing salt in their diet.
I woul= d like to conclude by encouraging all members of this House to know their numbers. Th= ank you.
Speaker: Int= roduction of visitors.
Introduction
of Visitors
Hon. Mr. Istchenko: I have a couple of staff members here today from our Policy, Planning and Aboriginal Affairs branch. They’re here for the tabling = of the state of the environment report. Please help me welcome Dan Polexe= , and Amy Law into the House today.
Applause
Hon. Mr. Cathers: I would like to welcome and ask members to join me in welcoming Steve Geick, president of the Yukon Employees U= nion to the gallery.
Applause
Ms. White: [M=
ember
spoke in French. Text unavailable]
Applause
Tabling
Returns and Documents
Speaker: Under tabling returns and documents, the Chair has for
tabling the Report on Subsistence, =
Travel
& Accommodations of Members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly 2014-15.
Are th= ere any other reports or returns for tabling?
Hon. Mr. Graham: I have for tabling the annual report for 2013-14 from Yukon Co= llege.
Hon. Mr. Istchenko: I have for tabling the State of the Environment Interim Report — 2015 — An Update on Environmental Indicators.
Hon. Mr. Nixon: I have for tabling today the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board Annual Report 2014.=
Speaker: Are= there any reports of committees?
Are th= ere petitions to be presented?
Are th= ere any bills to be introduced?
Are th= ere notices of motions?
Notices
of Motions
Hon. Mr. Istchenko: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Department of National Defence, in conjunction with a contributio= n of up to $250,000 from the Government of Yukon, to construct a new single-story Whitehorse cadet camp multi-purpose building in order to provide a year-rou= nd facility to support the training and operations of the 2685 “The Yukon Regiment” Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, 551 Royal Canadian Air Cad= et Squadron and 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group Junior Rangers. = span>
Mr. Silver: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to:
(1) rethink its plan to centralize extended care options i=
nto a
one-size-fits-all option in Whitehorse;
(2) co= nsult with First Nation governments to ascertain their needs for expanded continuing c= are facilities before building a $330-million warehouse in Whitehorse; and
(3) expand McDonald Lodge to 20 beds to accommodate the ne=
eds of
rural Yukon seniors.
Speaker: Is there a statement by a minister?
This t= hen brings us to Question Period.
QUESTION PERIOD
Question re: First Nations/government relations
Ms. Hanson: When this government announced that it was working with= the Kaska and White River First Nations to negotiate non-= treaty reconciliation agreements, it seemed that they had finally come to their se= nses and realized that their adversarial approach to First Nation relations wasn’t doing anyone in this territory any favours. Even the name of t= he proposed agreements — “reconciliation agreements” — spurred hope that this government had finally realized that working togethe= r, rather than forcing First Nations into the courtroom, is the way forward. H= owever, word is that the Yukon government walked away from the reconciliation agree= ment negotiations with the Kaska.
Can th= e minister confirm whether or not the Yukon government has unilaterally suspended the reconciliation agreement negotiations with Kaska First Nation?
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: Of course, the opposition is very big on rumours and innuendoes. They use them every day.
We con= tinue to negotiate reconciliation agreements with White River First Nation and with = the Kaska, but we won’t be negotiating here in the Legislative Assembly or through the media.
Ms. Hanson: When the Premier announced the reconciliation agreement= s in his Budget Address, he said that it was in everyone’s best interest f= or the Yukon government and Yukon First Nation governments to work together for the betterment of all Yukoners. A pattern is emerging. Yukon First Nations engage in good faith with this government, only to find out that as soon as things don’t go their way, the government walks out on the talks.
If the= Yukon government had acted this way during the devolution or the Umbrella Final Agreement negotiations, we can be assured we wouldn’t have those agreements today. But, here we are once again and this government has walked out on the reconciliation agreement negotiations with the Kaska First Nation.
Why ha= s this government unilaterally suspended reconciliation agreement negotiations with the Kaska?
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: I guess the Leader of the Official Opposition didn’t hea= r me on my first answer to her question. We will continue to work toward reconci= liation agreements, both with the White River First Nation and with the Kaska First Nation. These are negotiations that will benefit all citizens of Yukon and will ensure that the Kaska and White River First Nations will benefit from economic activities that oc= cur in their traditional territories, as well as all citizens within those communities and indeed, all citizens within the territory.
Ms. Hanson: Effective government-to-government relationships need to be based on trust and, as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission said, there = are no shortcuts to reconciliation. It appears the Premier has gone out of his way= to erode any basis for trust between this government and the Kaska. One has to look no further than his unilateral change of the Yukon Oil and Gas Act, removing the requirement for First Nation consent prior to developing oil and gas in the= ir traditional territory. This was one of his first moves as Premier. Walking = out of talks and unilaterally suspending negotiations won’t do much to rebuild trust. Significant mining investment hangs in the balance. Kaska traditional territory in southeast Yukon is one= of the most promising areas for mineral development.
What i= s the Premier doing to re-establish trust with the Kaska First Nation — a trust necessary for economic development in Yukon?= span>
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: Officials continue to work together with officials and representatives of the Kaska, as well as the Wh= ite River First Nation. In fact, it wasn’t very long ago that I had a face-to-face meeting with three of the chiefs from the Kaska right here in Whitehorse. We continue to work together. Everyone is not goi= ng to see eye-to-eye on every issue, but that is how we continue to move forwa= rd, Mr. Speaker, to ensure there is an understanding as we work toward a reconciliation agreement that will allow both sides to put behind them problems and issues that have arisen, not just through this administration, but those that go b= ack for decades — back through times when the NDP and Liberals as well we= re the government.
We wil= l continue to work with the Kaska and with the White River= First Nation. Of course, our primary focus — what we would like to see R= 12; is land claim agreements, but at this time that is not the case for those F= irst Nations. We will work toward reconciliation agreements and to ensure that t= hose First Nations will benefit on economic activities that occur in their traditional territories.
Question
re: Off-road vehicle use, select committee recommendations
Ms. White: The Select Committee on the Safe Operation and= Use of Off-road Vehicl= es was established over five years ago. Four years ago, the select committee gave = the recommendations to the Yukon government, all of which were theoretically accepted. Yet here we are, entering another summer, without any protections from ORVs in place for environmentally sensitive areas. This government mis= sed an opportunity to conduct the ORV consultation and survey process over the winter months. Had that occurred, more Yukoners likely would have participa= ted and we may have had ecological protections in place before another critical season passed.
Why di= d this government allow the ORV consultation to be delayed until the spring, there= by ensuring that we would have another spring melt without any environmental protections for ecologically sensitive areas?
Hon. Mr. Kent: This gives me the opportunity to inform Yukoners that there is currently a 60-day public review that started the week of April 20 that builds upon a previous 30-day review with First Nation governments. Development of the off-road vehicle regulations for public lands is a response to the recommendations brought forward by the select committee that the member opposite referenced= . It outlined the need for effective regulations and enforcement to protect the environment from damage caused by ORVs.
This g= overnment has taken action. We introduced legislative changes in the fall of 2013, an= d we are moving forward with the consultations on the regulations. That 60-day public review period began the week of April 20.
Ms. White: This government’s action on the ORV-use regulations — or lack thereof — really shows how low of a priority protecting these ecologically sensitive areas are to this government. The lack of urgency to get these consultations done is putting at risk huge tracts of ecologically sensitive Yukon wilderness. For this consultation, the government is seeking public feedback through written comments to a series of rather obtuse questions. T= here have been no clear language pamphlets mailed out to Yukoners, and there have been no public meetings scheduled. If the government wants public participation, it has gone about this consultation in the worst possible manner.
Why ha= sn’t there been any public meetings scheduled on ORV regulations?
Hon. Mr. Kent: There are a number of tools that this government employs when conducting public consultation. I join the Minister of Environment in confidence that we can develop regulations and management tools that will serve to protect the Yuk= on environment as well as the rights of off-road vehicle users for generations= to come. Work on the new regulations — the final regulations — will begin once the consultation is complete and an analysis of the results is conducted. It is anticipated that the review of the draft regulations will = be completed in the fall of this year. This government is working on a number = of fronts consulting Yukoners, whether it is for off-road vehicles or proposed biomass strategy or other aspects.
In Ene= rgy, Mines and Resources alone, I know that there are a number of strategies and other= opportunities underway across departments when it comes to improving the lives of Yukoner= s. We will continue to listen to Yukoners. I should remind all members that th= ere are Yukoners on both sides of this issue, and we welcome the response from = all of them — those who want to ensure that there is environmental protec= tion and those who enjoy responsible use of off-road vehicles in the Yukon wilderness.
Hon. Ms. White: The minister has talked a big game about his support for these protections, yet here we are four years after the select committee report — another summer with no ecological protections. When the territorial= Lands Act was amended, the ministe= r was given a tool to protect sensitive zones in the form of protection areas. The minister can issue a protection order for a period of 90 days to protect and manage a sensitive or at-risk area. The government has the ability to make = up for the delay in getting the ORV regulations in place by placing protection= s on some of the most sensitive and vulnerable areas throughout the busiest mont= hs of the summer.
Has th= e minister received any requests for protection areas or identified any areas that wou= ld require a protection order until the ORV regulations are completed?<= /p>
Hon. Mr. Kent: Again, we are in the midst of a 60-day public consultation with respect to off-road vehicle regulation on public land. Prior to that, discussions and consultat= ions were held with First Nations and subsequently discussion papers were mailed= to First Nations, industry and interest groups and will also be available on o= ur website. Dialogue has also been initiated with the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board as well as regional renewable resources councils to discuss their potential involvement when it comes to this regulation process.
There = are a number of Yukoners who have thoughts on this issue. There are often even mo= re than two sides to what Yukoners want to see. Again, we’re out listeni= ng to Yukoners. We’re listening to their concerns. There are many, many Yukoners who enjoy responsible use of off-road vehicles and there are also those Yukoners who would like to identify sensitive areas and see them protected. We’re trying to reach that balance. We’re working wi= th Yukon First Nations, we’re working with Yukoners, and we’re wor= king with organizations like the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board as wel= l as regional renewable resource councils so that we get this right when we deve= lop these regulations.
Question
re: YESAA process
Mr. Silver: One of the recurring characteristics of this Yukon Party government is its habi= t of picking and choosing when it wants to listen to advisory boards and First Nation governments, and its handling of Bill S‑6 is one of the latest examples.
Last f= all, the federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development was tired of taking the blame for this legislation and let the public know that the some= of the more problematic amendments were in fact slipped in by this Yukon Party government at the last minute.
On Apr= il 16, the chair of the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board wrote to the federal government urging it to stand down on these four amendments. The chair argu= ed that these amendments should be set aside, as they introduced an unstable element to environmental assessment in the Yukon.
Does t= he Premier agree with the chair of the board or does he side with his federal colleagu= es in Ottawa?
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: We have discussed this many times on the floor of this Assembl= y.
There = was a period between 2008 and 2012 where there was consultation on the five-year review that was mandated through the YESAA legislation, which came up with = many recommendations — almost all of them unanimously agreed upon by all parties.
Since = that time back in 2012, the federal government asked for comments regarding their northern regulatory regimes in terms of the consistency with enhancing those regimes in the north. We did provide comments to the federal government and= we also shared those comments with First Nations at the time. That began all t= he way back — either it was the end of 2012, in December, or early in 20= 13. We’ve had full disclosure of all our comments that we provided to the federal government. We fully disclosed those comments to the First Nations.= The member opposite, the Leader of the Liberal Party, continues to forget that YESAA and Bill S‑6 are federal legislation.
We fee= l that we were consulted adequately — that they considered our comments and our recommendations before they submitted their amendments to the YESAA legislation. We cannot speak for the First Nations or other organizations. = That would be disrespectful.
Mr. Silver: Many Yukoners are extremely upset to see that the Conservative-dominated committ= ee had decided that there would be no changes made to Bill S‑6, and it l= ooks like the purpose of the visit to the Yukon in March by the committee was me= rely to say that it had done it rather than to legitimately listen to the concer= ns voiced there.
If the= Premier had stayed for the day, he would have heard First Nations outline their opposition — instead, he spoke and left.
The Yu= kon Fish and Wildlife Management Board has now addressed = its voice to those opposed to the last-minute amendments slipped in by this government. The chair closed his April 16 letter by saying — and I qu= ote: “We respectfully request that the committee recommend to the House of Commons that further consultation of Bill S‑6 be deferred until such a time as all three parties, through further dialogue, reach agreement on tho= se four controversial elements.”
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, why is the Premier siding with Ottawa instead of with the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board?
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: The assertions made by the Liberal leader are absolutely wrong= . This government disclosed all of its recommendations and comments that were prov= ided to the federal government — disclosed all of that information with Fi= rst Nations that were involved in the consultation process. That began all the = way back in 2012. We continue to provide to the First Nations all comments that= we did provide to Canada.
We bel= ieve that having an environment assessment process that is consistent with other jurisdictions allows us to be competitive and it gives us a fair chance at securing more investment dollars for this territory, which helps create job= s, investment, opportunities and prosperity for Yukoners.
Mr. Silver: I don’t know if the Premier or any of his staff play poker but, in this case, the Yukon government gambled that it could go it alone and make unilateral changes to YESAA without First Nation support. The Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board says the changes will = bring an unstable element to our assessment process and they don’t support them.
Just t= his week, another issue — the government said it was pleased to accept recommendations from the same board. We heard about it today. It seems the government wants to pick and choose when it accepts advice from these UFA boards.
There = is a way out of the hole that this government dug for itself with this mishandling of these changes. It involves, however, this government admitting that it made= a mistake. Instead of blindly supporting the changes, the government could demonstrate that it is actually interested in working together with Yukon F= irst Nations by recommending that Ottawa put the brakes on these changes before = we once again find ourselves in court.
Will t= he Premier do that before it’s too late? It’s a simple question.
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: These amendments that are tabled by the federal governm= ent as Bill S‑6 are good for Yukon.
This i= s not only about a resource industry. YESAA affects all projects, whether they’re municipal projects — it may be right now as simple as someone who nee= ds to have a power pole put in for their property. We are supportive of amendm= ents that will ensure that our assessment process is consistent with environment= al assessment processes in other jurisdictions, which allows us to be competit= ive, giving us a chance to see those investment dollars come to this territory to allow for the creation of good jobs for Yukoners, to create opportunities to train our young people to move themselves into trades or specialized working fields. It creates security and allows Yukoners to stay at home in the Yukon and it creates the environment to create the willingness to have their fami= lies and keep their families here and ensure that we have prosperity and security for years to come.
Question
re: Ibex Valley shooting range
Mr. Barr: The residents of the Hamlet of Ibex Valley are anxious that the Yukon Handgun Association’s range within the hamlet’s boundaries is about to = be expanded into a 1,000-metre rifle range. They have expressed a number of concerns regarding its expansion — notably, the presence of a high-traffic dog kennel and private land that is downrange and downhill fro= m the firing line. Local residents are also concerned, for example, about increas= ed noise and the size of the berm at the end of the range.
Safety= around the range itself is paramount. Ibex Valley residents are anxious about which safety measures will be put in place to protect public safety. What is the government’s plan to secure the space surrounding the fire line to en= sure that both range users and the public are safe?
Hon. Mr. Cathers: I don’t think the member actually understands the issue = here. In fact, the existing handgun lease has been in place and this facility, as with all shooting ranges, is inspected by the RCMP. It has to be permitted = by them and they look at those issues around safety. This is an existing range that is applying for an extension to their existing lease, which has been in place since 1982 or 1983. Government is certainly considering the perspecti= ves of all who have commented, including those who are concerned. It is a matter that is dealt with by Land Management branch, but as MLA for the area, I ha= ve had the opportunity to attend meetings and have heard from people who have expressed concerns. I, of course, will pass those concerns on to my colleag= ue, the minister responsible. Government would encourage all who have concerns = or questions to contact the Land Planning branch to express their perspective = on this issue and that will be taken into consideration.
Mr. Barr: There are changes. Obviously the minister opposite is not listening to his constituents.
When a= space that permits the discharging of firearms is being considered for expansion, local residents need to have a central role in the decision-making process. This range isn’t like the one on Grey Mountain road where it is alrea= dy generally isolated from accidental public interaction. This one is on the Alaska Highway and is surrounded by private homes, high-traffic tourism destinations and other private spaces. This is not a question about Yukoners’ ability to build and access range facilities. We support Yukon’s hunters and target shooters, but Ibex Valley residents do not feel as though the government is taking their feedback seriously on an important local issue.
What s= teps is the government taking to address the concerns of Ibex Valley residents regarding the proposed Ibex Valley range expansion?
Hon. Mr. Cathers: I will withhold the temptation to use unparliamentary language. The member may not understand the issue or is choosing to reflect something different. In fact, I have talked to any constituents who have brought forward concerns. Among the people applying for this permit include residents of the Ibex Valley who are part of the handgun association that h= as the existing lease that goes back to the 1980s.= This matter has been considered and discussed as well by the Ibex Valley Local Advisory Council, which is considering whether or not to make a submission = on behalf of residents.
In fac= t, as members of the LAC noted at their meeting last month, some saw this as a solution to the problem of shooting at gravel pits that are not licensed or properly managed by the RCMP, as the one the member is referring to is. Thi= s is a lease site that goes back to 1982 or 1983. They have applied for an exten= sion to their lease. That is being considered by Land Management branch and a decision has not been made on that, to my understanding.
Govern= ment will take all those concerns seriously, but the member is presuming to speak for people who are on the other side of the Takhini River who, in fact, I have spoken to recently on other matters and have not expressed any concern about the application. So the member should not take liberty with that. My constituents know where to contact me and they do so.
Question
re: Rights of trans Yukoners
Ms. Moorcroft: Last month, the Yukon NDP tabled a petition urging the Yukon government to advan= ce equal rights for trans people. The petition supp= orted the inclusion of gender identity and gender expression in the Yukon Human Rights Act, full equality and respect for trans people accessing Yukon government programs, services and = jobs and the use of public education to fight violence against trans Yukoners. <= /span>
In sho= rt, the petition called upon this government to create a safer and more inclusive Yukon. The Minister of Justice limited his response to the petition to the = question of amending the Human Rights Act. <= /i>Even then, he says he fully expects Yukon courts or the Yukon Human Rights Commission to consider trans rights to be protec= ted.
Does t= he minister think it’s fair to place the onus of establishing the human rights of trans Yukoners on an individual trans = person who must file a complaint and go through an adjudication process?
Hon. Mr. Cathers: I think the member may not have understood my response, becaus= e in fact, I indicated that it’s the government’s view and our expec= tation that in fact this is already protected by section 7 of the Human Rights Act, and I listed out examples of other Canadian jurisdictions that do not explicitly list transgender or trans identity und= er their human rights legislation, but case law and decisions have determined = that it is indeed protected. I’ve indicated that it’s our view, on t= he advice of lawyers, that in fact, section 7 of the Human Rights Act already does protect the rights of transgender people and protects them from discrimination on that basis. My understandin= g is that the chair of the Human Rights Commission has also indicated that is th= eir understanding.
So we =
do not see
this as being the onus placed on a person. We have already stated that our
lawyers’ interpretation of the existing law is that the rights of
Yukoners, of trans people, are fully protected b=
y the
existing legislation. But we recognize that the next time the legislation is
opened, it may be appropriate to explicitly note that in section 7 of the Human Rights Act.
Ms. Moorcroft: Canadian jurisdictions of all political stripes include gender identity and gender expression under their human rights legislation. Trans Yukoners have the ri= ght to explicit protection under the law.
While = the minister says he’s content to leave trans = rights for a future government, he fails to recognize these rights are being infri= nged today by his own government. The Yukon Vital Statistics Act requires a trans person to have their anatomical sex structure changed and affidavits from two medical practitioners to confirm = this procedure was performed before a trans Yukoner will be issued a new birth certificate with their chosen sex. Just last year, an Alberta judge ruled a similar law violated the rights of trans people.=
Does t= he minister recognize that failing to establish the rights of trans Yukoners puts this government at risk of infringing on those rights at every turn?
Hon. Mr. Cathers: The member is referring to a specific process used, I believe,= by the Vital Statistics branch. I know the minister of Health and Social Servi= ces is listening and I’m sure will review that process with staff of his department.
In any= area, when it comes to changing someone’s identity papers, including someone changing their last name due to marriage, there is a process that, I’= ve been told by people who have gone through it, can feel fairly onerous. That= , of course, is because of the importance that is placed, particularly in today’s environment, on protecting identity and preventing forgery or identity theft. But certainly, if there — the specific issue the memb= er mentioned — I was not aware of until now and will certainly pass that= on.
Again,= we have indicated that it is the government’s view, based on the advice of our legal counsel, that the rights of transsexual, transgender and gender-varia= nt people are already protected under section 7 of the Yukon Human Rights Act, and that is consistent with several other Canadian jurisdictions, which do not explicitly list those under their human rights acts, but have found through court and tribunal decisions that those rights are already protected by the prohibition against discrimination on t= he base of sex, sexual orientation or gender. Again, that is the view of the government that, should someone bring forward a complaint, the Human Rights Commission or a court would consider section 7 to protect the rights of tho= se Yukon citizens.
Ms. Moorcroft: The Alberta judge ruled that province’s Vital Statistics Act violated the Constitution. He said — and I quote: “Transgendered persons encounter disadvantage, prejudice, stereotyping and vulnerability because their felt sex is not the sex recorded at birth…”. He said that the law contri= buted to this prejudice. Yukon law does so as well.
The pe= tition we tabled was not solely focused on ending discrimination. It was about equali= ty, respect and dignity. It is time for this government to support the positive rights of trans Yukoners and to take action.
Changi= ng our culture is not an easy process, but the sooner we start, the faster we’ll get there. Will the minister commit to modernizing the Vital Statistics Act to respect the rights of trans Yukoners?
Interruption
Speaker’s
statement
Speaker: I w= ill remind the gallery that they are here to spectate, not to participate. I do= not wish to ask you to leave but I will if it’s required. Please refrain = from doing so.
Hon. Mr. Cathers: In fact, that piece of legislation is the responsibility of the Minister of Health and Social Services. The member brought forward a specif= ic concern about the process used by Vital Statistics branch when it comes to Yukoners of transsexual or transgender in getting their gender changed on a birth certificate. I was not aware of that specific issue before. That issue would not be dealt with by the proposal that the member brought forward to change the Human Rights Act. Th= at issue falls under the Vital Statist= ics Act. We will, of course, immediately look into that issue with the Department of Health and Social Services and consider whether changes are necessary to the Vital Statistics A= ct to address the concern that the member brought forward, but perhaps the mem= ber, outside of the floor of this Assembly, could provide more specific informat= ion about other concerns encountered by whoever made that complaint to her and = we will take that into consideration in considering whether the Vital Statistics Act needs to be a= mended to prevent any steps that could be unduly onerous for transgender Yukoners.=
Question
re: Alcohol consumption statistics
Mr. Barr:= The social costs of alcohol abuse are extremely high. O= ur society pays by added hospital, corrections and policing expenditures and in lives lost, lives shortened and families wrecked.
In res= ponse to a question about Yukon’s high consumption of liquor, a previous Yukon P= arty minister called it a misconception. He said that the unusual number of tour= ists and summer workers in the Yukon do skew the statistics — and I quote: “… that consumption is no more in the Yukon than anywhere else.” Yet the Yukon has the second highest rates of impaired driving= and Statistics Canada shows that our consumption of alcohol was second highest = in the country.
Does t= he current minister agree with his predecessor that alcohol consumption is no more in = the Yukon than anywhere else and that only tourists drive up the consumption?= span>
Hon. Mr. Hassard: While we do recognize that Yukon has one of the highest alcohol consumption rates in Canada and that Yukon is also a leader in the nation of impaired drivers — although these results are, as the member opposite said, somewhat skewed by seasonal and tourism-related purchases, the Yukon Liquor Corporation recognizes the consumption rates among Yukoners are high= . To address these concerns, the Yukon Liquor Corporation has a strong social responsibility mandate. This is reflected in the regulation of liquor sales, the enforcement of liquor rules and the promotion of responsible consumptio= n.
Mr. Barr: If we are going to tackle Yukon’s conflicted and sometimes dysfunctional relationship with alcohol, we need proper information. After all, how can we manage what we don’t measure?
No dou= bt, tourists do buy and consume alcohol when they are in the Yukon, but we know= that alcohol abuse is a major problem that affects many Yukon residents. We need= to update the stats and research methods to help gather this information. Alco= hol research on monthly sales and sales by communities seems to have fallen off= the radar for the last seven years.
Why ha= s the Yukon Liquor Corporation and Yukon Bureau of Statistics stopped gathering t= hese statistics on alcohol consumption in the Yukon?
Hon. Mr. Hassard: While I can commit to looking into that, I think it’s important that the member opposite and all Yukoners understand that the Yuk= on Liquor Corporation has a strong social responsibility mandate. This is reflected in the regulation of liquor sales, the enforcement of liquor rules and the promotion of responsible consumption.
The Yu= kon Liquor Corporation has partnered with government and non-government agencies on a variety of responsible consumption initiatives such as the MADD Red Ribbon campaign and the PARTY — prevent alcohol and risk-related trauma in y= outh — program.
Mr. Barr: When the Official Opposition asked for monthly liquor sales as well as a breakdo= wn by community, we were told this information didn’t exist. This is odd. Every business — large and small — can produce monthly sales reports. This kind of information was included in a report dated May 2000 a= nd in monthly reports from the Yukon Bureau of Statistics but these ended in 2= 008. It appears that, since then, no one is keeping track of monthly alcohol sal= es, yet there have been customer service surveys on things like cleanliness in = the liquor store and whether it’s important that a bag be provided with purchases.
How do= es the minister intend to fill this research gap? Will he make alcohol research a priority so Yukon can better tackle the impacts of alcohol consumption?
Hon. Mr. Hassard: As I said in my second response, I would look into this matter= for the member opposite as well as for all Yukoners, but it is important to remember that we work very well in collaboration with the Department of Hea= lth and Social Services and other departments to ensure that Yukoners do drink responsibly.
Speaker: The= time for Question Period has now elapsed.
We wil= l now proceed to Orders of the Day.
Opposition
Private Members’ Business
Motions
other than Government Motions
Motion No. 792 — adjourned debate
Clerk: Motio= n No. 792, standing in the name of Ms. Moorcroft; adjourned debate, Ms. = ;Moorcroft.
Speaker: Me= mber for Copperbelt South, please.
Ms. Moorcroft: Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to resume debate, and I urge all members of this House to support the motion I have brought forward to advance equal rights = for transsexual, transgender and gender-variant people by introducing amendment= s to explicitly include gender identity and gender expression under section 7 of= the Yukon Human Rights Act as a prohibited grounds for discrimination, supporting full equality and respect= for trans people accessing Yukon government jobs, programs and services and usi= ng public education to fight intolerance, discrimination and violence against trans people.
A word= about the word “trans”: in our motion, trans is spelled with an asterisk, as in t-r-a-n-s*. Trans with an asterisk is an umbrella term that refers to all of the identities within the gender identi= ty and gender expression spectrum. Trans folks typi= cally have a gender identity or gender expression that is different from those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth. Conversely, the term cisgender, or “cis”, is a term used to describe folks whose gender identity or expression aligns with those typically associated with t= he sex assigned to them at birth.
Trans = with an asterisk is used in an effort to include all transgender, non-binary and ge= nder non-conforming identities including — but not limited to — transgender, transsexual, transvestite, genderqueer, g= enderfluid, non-binary, genderless, agender, non-gendered, = third gender, two-spirit, bi-gender, trans man and trans woman. For this motion, = when my colleagues and I say “trans”, we are referring to the umbrel= la term “trans” with an asterisk.
I woul= d like to acknowledge at the outset the support that I have had from a number of peop= le in the Yukon and I would like to thank all of those tra= ns people and human rights defenders who have come forward to share their knowledge and their stories. I think that the discrimination, the harassment and the violence that trans people may face is r= ooted in the fact that our society tends to have unhealthy attitudes toward sexuality. Much of our discourse and thought about sex is rooted in shame or fear and this can lead to violence and to the sexualized assault of women a= nd children. Unhealthy gender roles are at the root of much discrimination and human rights violations.
Mr.&nb=
sp;Speaker,
we can’t make issues go away by ignoring them. I think it is really
important that members take part in this debate and support the motion that=
is
before us. I would ask all members to think about how they would feel if it=
was
their child or their sibling who identified as trans
and who faced discrimination, harassment or violence because of it.<=
/p>
Recent=
ly in this
Assembly I introduced a Yukon teacher and hockey player who is a transgender
man — meaning he was assigned female at birth, but identifies and liv=
es
as a male. Transgender people encounter systemic discrimination, which can =
lead
to feelings of isolation. It is common for transgender people to be denied
access to health care, housing and employment because of their gender ident=
ity.
Many lose friends and family members. Many trans
people are not comfortable being out in public because of safety concerns. =
The
Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Canada report that 43 percent of
trans-identified persons attempted suicide as a result of the barriers they
face. In fac=
t, the
2013 Ontario amendments to make discrimination and harassment based on gend=
er
identity or gender expression illegal is known as “Toby’s
Law”. The amendment was introduced in remembrance of a trans
woman who died of a drug overdose in 2004 at age 51 and this speaks to the =
need
for tolerance, acceptance, education, law reform and programs and services =
that
accommodate the realities of trans people’s lives. Mr.&nb=
sp;Speaker,
we know that many jurisdictions in Canada have already added gender identity
and gender expression to their human rights acts. In 2008, during the Yukon
Legislative Assembly’s Select Committee on Human Rights review, the Y=
ukon
Human Rights Commission presented a submission recommending that trans rights be added, but that was one of the issues =
that
lawmakers chose to put on hold. We could begin to remedy that by supporting=
the
motion before us. I want=
to
congratulate and make note of the Whitehorse Women’s Hockey Associati=
on
for its leadership in trans rights. The Whitehor=
se
Women’s Hockey Association passed the first policy of its kind in all=
of
Canada formally welcoming male-to-female and female-to-male transgender pla=
yers
into their league. This precedent-setting policy allows transgender and tra=
nssexual
players to play in the league. The board considered problems that might com=
e up
and encouraged people to just talk to the board members if they had any
questions or concerns. That l=
eadership
is not only in the area of policy, but in the area of education and we can
follow it. That’s my argument today: that Yukon
legislators should now follow the lead of others — of other gr=
oups
and of other jurisdictions — and make Yukon a safe place for transgen=
der
and gender non-conforming people. Let=
217;s
think about why we should do that. As the understanding of the full range of
human sexuality and gender identity increases, it becomes clear that
discrimination can occur in ways that were not well understood at the time =
the Human Rights Act was first passed.=
There
have been further developments in the area of human rights cases dealing wi=
th
the rights of transgender people. Gender identity and gender expression are
linked to a person’s sense of self, and particularly, one’s sen=
se
of being male or female. Gender identity is different from and does not
determine a person’s sexual orientation and may not conform to a
person’s birth-assigned sex. Gender identity would include people who=
are
transgender, intersex, or cross-dressers. Mr.&nb=
sp;Speaker,
we have a number of leaders from the Public Service Alliance of Canada and =
the
Yukon Employees Union in the gallery this afternoon. As I said when I first
spoke on this motion two weeks ago, at the time, PSAC was holding its
tri-annual convention in Quebec City and they unanimously passed a motion to
include gender identity and gender expression in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The motion was to lobby
for that. The PS=
AC also
passed two other resolutions calling for its constitution to be amended und=
er
membership rights to prohibit discrimination and adding gender identity and
gender expression to that. The th=
ird PSAC
resolution was to encourage its components and membership to initiate
discussions with employers about creating positive spaces by implementing
gender-neutral washrooms and changing facilities where necessary. Access to
gender-neutral washrooms is a human right. I can use as an example the
washrooms just outside of the public gallery, which have a symbol for man a=
nd a
symbol for woman. There is an all-gender restroom symbol that could be used,
and that would include, if the washroom is wheelchair accessible, a person =
on a
wheelchair as well. I will provide a copy of that document for tabling for
members opposite to look at and to consider making that simple change, but =
one
that would accommodate the rights of trans people and remove one discrimina=
tory
measure. It als=
o would be
helpful to address the issue of violence against people who are discriminat=
ed
against in the Human Rights Act=
. At
the time of the 2008 Select Committee on Human Rights, the Yukon Human Righ=
ts
Commission recommended that lawmakers extend the protection of human rights=
by
including violence against people because of any prohibited ground of
discrimination. My proposal would be that, in amending the Human Rights Act to add gender identity and gender expression, =
we
would also add a provision stating that violence against people because of =
any
of those prohibited grounds would also be a violation of the act. I believe
that is necessary because trans people have repo=
rted
violence due to their gender identity and gender expression. This a=
fternoon I
asked the minister a question about his petition response to the petition
presented calling on the government to improve the rights of transsexual and
transgender people. The government put forward its position that the refere=
nce
in section 7 to sex and sexual orientation would include prohibiting
discrimination based on gender, and that would include men, women and
transgender people. The minister read into the record a number of legal cas=
es
and human rights tribunals’ decisions that have read in discrimination
against trans people as part of discrimination on the basis of sex or sexual
orientation, but the fact that the government would believe that it applies=
in
the Yukon does not in and of itself end discriminatory measures. The protec=
tion
does not exist when it comes to birth certificates. It has been reported to=
me
that protection does not exist when it comes to full access to medical
services. I am g=
oing to
turn to birth certificates and the provision in the Vital Statistics Act for the notation of change of sex. In sect=
ion
12, the act says, “If a person has had their anatomical sex structure
changed to a sex other than that which appears on the person’s birth
certificate, the registrar, on production of separate affidavits of two med=
ical
practitioners stating that the anatomical sex of the person has changed and
evidence satisfactory to the registrar as to the identity of the person, “=
;(a) if the sex of the person is registered in the Yukon,
shall cause a notation of the change to be made on the
registration…” It goe=
s on to
say: “(b) if the sex of the person is registered outside the Yukon, s=
hall
transmit to the officer in charge of the registration of births and marriag=
es
in the jurisdiction in which the person is registered, a copy of the proof =
of
the change of sex produced to the registrar.” The Vital Statistics Act says that eve=
ry
birth or marriage certificate issued after the making of a notation under t=
his
section shall be issued as if the registration had been made with the sex as
changed. As I s=
aid
earlier this afternoon, in Alberta, provisions very similar to the Vital Statistics Act in the Yukon =
have
been struck down as violating the C=
anadian
Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In man=
y other
jurisdictions, amendments to the law have been made so that there is not a
provision for two separate affidavits of medical practitioners stating that=
the
anatomical sex of the person has changed. A person should be able to take a
medical note from a doctor saying that they are trans=
span>
and that they are in the transitioning process and be able to have their bi=
rth
certificate and other identification changed. A person should not have to h=
ave
predetermined anatomical sex structure operations. It should be left to the
individual what surgery and what treatments they want to engage in. =
I̵=
7;ve
started talking about the second part of the motion in supporting full equa=
lity
and respect for trans people accessing Yukon
government jobs, programs and services. In order to be fully trans-inclusiv=
e,
the government would be obligated to offer full equality and respect for trans people accessing government jobs, programs and
services. That would mean a review of law, of policies and of programs and
services. I’ve already indicated the problems with the Vital Statistics Act and the
difficulties that are faced by a trans person to=
have
their gender changed on their birth certificate.
I was = pleased that the minister indicated that he would look into the matter if I provided more specific examples, and I’m confident that trans people who have spoken to me and who have also spoken publicly will contact the minister’s office and will hope that they do not have to go through a= long and protracted human rights complaint process and then a Human Rights panel= of adjudicators hearing in order to have that change made.
We nee= d to dispel the myths and prejudices and, when it comes to services, we also nee= d to look at access to health care for people who are trans<= /span>. People who are trans have indicated that they ca= n and do face discrimination and that doctors or other medical practitioners may refuse treatment when someone identifies as a trans person.
There = also needs to be work done to ensure that, in its human resource practices, Yukon government offices are fully inclusive. An example of a lack of trans-inclusivity can include a requirement to use legal names as e-mail addresses and requiring them in an application process. This can create a difficulty where a trans person has not yet been= able to change their identity. I’ve already spoken about the lack of all-gender restrooms and facilities in government buildings.
Suppor= ting diversity as a government is a claim that the government has made, but ther= e is a need for government to consult with the marginalized community members th= at they claim to protect. I would ask the Minister of Justice, who spoke on th= is matter earlier in his petition response and in Question Period, if he has i= n fact consulted with trans people or gender-non-conforming individuals in order t= o be aware of their needs and challenges.
Public= education is a significant activity to fight intolerance, discrimination and violence against trans people. We have seen great success= with public education campaigns on drinking and driving. We have seen success wi= th public education campaigns on consent for sex and breaking down harmful gen= der stereotypes that can result in emotional and physical harm and violence. = span>
Beginn= ing with children at an early age, we can educate kids about their bodies, about sex= and about their right to be who they are and to be in control of their own bodi= es. Children have the right to say no and to tell someone they trust if they ha= ve been harmed.
Trans people are widely margi= nalized and misunderstood. A recent blog by German Lopez identified 11 myths about transgender people. I will try to summarize those briefly here. A common misconception is that transgender people are confused, but trans people are certain about their gender identity and firmly reject the gender designated to them at birth. They’re clear about who they are.
Trans people are not homogeno= us. Trans people, like any people of other backgrounds = 212; socio-economic, racial or ethnic backgrounds — are not all the same. = They are diverse.
Many <= span class=3DGramE>trans people do not undergo a full medical transition.= They may choose procedures such as hormone therapy and sex-reassignment surgerie= s, or they may not. Trans people have to go through personal, legal and social changes, which is inevitably a long, complicated process. Transitioning is not as simple as one surgery.
A harm= ful myth is that children aren’t old enough to know their gender identity. At = the recent Out North Film Festival this April, I listened to Shaun LaDue, who has transitioned to male. He spoke quite eloquently about how open children in his home community were to his identi= ty.
Trans people are not mentally= ill. It is not a treatable mental disorder. Trans people= do not make up a third gender. People who associate with non-binary gender rol= es might identify as trans, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, or something else entirely. Many trans people explicitly identify as either male or female. If you don’t know what term people prefer, ask them.
Sexual orientation is not linked to gender identity. Trans people may be straight, lesbian, gay or bisexual. Here’s another myth identified by German Lopez: drag queens are not transgender — “transgender women are not cross-dressers or drag queens. Drag queens are men, typically gay men, who dress like women for” entertainment purposes. “Be aware of the differences between transgender women, cross-dressers, and drag queens. Use the term preferred by the individual.”
Finall= y, I would address the myth that trans-inclusive health benefits are expensive. The Hu= man Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group, estimates that trans-specific treatments are minimal compared to other health care needs. While surgeries= can cost $25,000 to $75,000, very few patients require those treatments. Trans people make up less than one percent of the population, making the one-time cost for surgery relatively small for major health providers, particularly since some trans people do not choose surger= y. These treatments can also save health insurers money in other areas since s= ome trans people may be less likely to struggle with gender dysphoria, depression and other mental health issues after medically transitioning.
When S= an Francisco began to offer trans-inclusive health coverage to its employees in 2001, the city applied a small surcharge to all employers enrolled in its health plan, but the city ended up just using $386,000 of the $5.6 million raised by the surcharge — a cost so low that it eventually dropped th= e additional charge altogether.
Public= education is more than dispelling myths, although that is important; public education= is about preventing discrimination and promoting responsibility and accountability.
We don= ’t have statistics on the numbers of Yukon children who have expressed a gender identity or gender nonconformity who experience verbal abuse or physical violence on school grounds. We do have some Canadian statistics and Rainbow Health Ontario has done some research work and has published some statistic= s. We know that LGBTQ people are more likely to be physically and verbally victim= ized than the general population. For trans people, t= he dangers are even more extreme. A 2004 Statistics Canada study showed that compared with heterosexuals, the odds of being victimized were nearly twice that for gays and lesbians and 4.5 times greater for bisexuals. LGBTQ youth also experience high rates of bullying and harassment in schools. The Canad= ian statistics on harassment, assault and discrimination found in our schools f= rom kindergarten to grade 12 are alarming. Here are their findings: those who expressed a transgender identity or gender nonconformity while in grades K to 12 reported alarming rates of harassment — 78 percent; physical assault, 35 percent; and sexual violence, 12 percent. Peer harassment and abuse also had highly damaging effects.=
I do w= ant to praise the Department of Education for passing their sexual orientation and gender identity policy in 2012. The policy states: “The Department recognizes that students and school community members identifying as lesbia= n, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, intersex, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) face a unique set of challenges within schools and communities, including being targets for discriminatory behaviours. All mem= bers of the school community share the responsibility for supporting students and staff in addressing and facing these challenges.” The policy states: “School communities, with the support of Area Superintendents and the= Social Emotional Learning Consultant, must develop, promote and implement respectf= ul, pro-active strategies (for example Gay/Straight Alliances) and school-based policies to ensure that LGBTQ members of school communities and their famil= ies are welcomed and included in all aspects of education and school life, and = are treated with respect and dignity.”
The po= licy goes on to say: “That language or behaviour that degrades or incites hatre= d, prejudice, discrimination or harassment towards students or employees on the basis of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identification will not be tolerated. The prohibition of such language and behaviour shoul= d be specified in the school’s student codes of conduct.”
The De= partment of Education also has educational resources and guidance in developing strategies and policies available. Our schools are ahead of other social institutions in some ways. Raising children in a violence- and discrimination-free atmosphere that is accepting and tolerant of everyone a= nd doesn’t judge us on the basis of who we ar= e or who we choose to love is a goal we should strive toward. Our school policies need to reflect our diversity, and our curriculum must celebrate our divers= ity and must not contribute to marginalization or making people invisible.
The On= tario government has recently brought in a new policy on transgender rights and h= as prepared a checklist for preventing discrimination because of gender identi= ty and gender expression. They start out with definitions and many of them wer= e similar to ones that I began the debate with this afternoon, but I will review some= of the language because I may not have made some of these points yet.= p>
“= ;Gender identity” is each person’s internal and individual experience of gender. It is their sense of being a woman, a man, both, neither or anywhere along the gender spectrum. Gender identity is fundamentally different from a person’s sexual orientation.
“= ;Gender expression” is how a person publicly presents their gender. This can include behaviour and outward appearance, such as dress, hair, makeup, body language and voice. A person’s chosen name and pronoun are also common ways of expressing gender.
Discri= mination happens when a person experiences negative treatment, intentional or not, because of their gender identity or gender expression. It can be direct and obvious or subtle and hidden, but it’s harmful just the same. It can happen on a large systemic level, such as in organizational rules or polici= es that look neutral, but end up excluding trans pe= ople. Harassment is a form of discrimination.
Everyo= ne has the right to define their own gender identity. Trans people should be recognized and treated as the gender they live in, whether= or not they have undergone surgery or their identity documents are up to date.=
I want= to refer to some of the best practices checklist from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, because it’s current and I think a good model for the Yuk= on to look at and to draw on the work other jurisdictions have done. This poli= cy was released in April of 2014, along with the checklist.
So = 212; maintain privacy and confidentiality; keep a person’s transgender his= tory and medical information private and confidential within any organization, in this case, within the Yukon government.
Look at identification documentation and records — Yukon government should undertake a review of its systems to identify how electronic databases, IT systems and other relevant information processes can be modified to recogni= ze a person’s chosen name and gender when it does not match legal document= s. Before collecting data on sex and gender, consider if it is relevant and necessary and what purpose it bears.
I woul= d like to close by urging members of this Assembly on both sides of the House to supp= ort this motion. I think it’s an important time to do it. I think it̵= 7;s a fundamental human rights issue that we need to take action on. I ask all members to support the motion.
Thank = you.
Hon. Mr. Cathers: I would like to thank all those who have joined us in the gall= ery here this afternoon.
I than= k the member for bringing this issue up for discussion. Again, I would like to emphasize, as I did in my response to the petition — which I had actu= ally intended to say more, and then you informed me, Mr. Speaker, that I wa= s at the end of the allotted time — but I do want to note that when this i= ssue was brought to our attention, as I noted briefly in the petition response, I asked the Department of Justice to look into this and to come back to us wi= th an indication of whether the existing references in section 7 of Yukon̵= 7;s Human Rights Act protect the right= s of transgender Yukoners — or transsexual, transgender or gender-variant Yukoners — through the existing wording in section 7 of the act, or if the member was correct in her assertion that those rights were not protecte= d.
As I n= oted in responding to the petition, there are a number of Canadian jurisdictions th= at have, in most cases, relatively recently made changes to their legislation = that specifically reference gender identity as a prohibited ground under human rights legislation. Those jurisdictions include the Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia. The remaining jurisdictions in Canada, including t= he Yukon, do not have gender identity specifically mentioned in human rights legislation. As I mentioned earlier, in fact, through case law and common l= aw, it has been determined that in jurisdictions with similar wording to that w= hich we have in section 7 of the Yukon H= uman Rights Act, prohibition against people on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity are covered by wording similar to w= hat is in our legislation.
Theref= ore, it is the view of the Department of Justice and the position of the Yukon governm= ent that Yukoners who are transsexual, transgender or gender-variant are protec= ted by section 7 of the Human Rights Ac= t, and that includes that discrimination against them on the basis of their ge= nder would also be considered a prohibited ground for discrimination under secti= on 7 of the Yukon Human Rights Act.<= /span>
I do a= ppreciate, as does the government, the perspectives of Yukoners who have asked for it = to be more explicit and to explicitly list those rights under section 7. While= the Human Rights Act is not current= ly under review, it was most recently reviewed — I believe that in 2009, changes were made.
We have acknowledged that the next time the act is open for review, it would be appropriate to consider — even if just for the sake of comfort to Yukoners who are affected by that section — that they have been explicitly recognized in the act. We believe it would be appropriate to consider including that specific wording at that point in time. Until that point in time, contrary to what the Member for Copperbelt South indicated in Question Period, it would not be up to the individual to establish their le= gal rights. We have already stated — and the Human Rights Commission has indicated that they agree with the Yukon government and the Department of Justice in our interpretation of the law — that section 7 of the Human Rights Act already prohibits discrimination against Yukoners on the basis of gender identity. Whether th= ey are male, female, transsexual, transgender, gender-variant — all are protected by that section of the Hu= man Rights Act as it currently stands because of case law and common law.= span>
I woul= d like to also just note that the one piece of legislation that the Member for Copper= belt South brought to my attention and referenced a situation that affected R= 12; I wasn’t clear on whether it was one or more individuals whom she had referred to and who had a negative experience in the Vital Statistics offic= e in getting the gender changed on their identification. What I should point out= to the member and I want to note to all Yukoners who have joined here today in= the gallery is that the change put forward by the member in her motion would explicitly list the references to gender identity and gender expression in = the Human Rights Act, but they would n= ot change the Vital Statistics Act= .
In fac= t, if there is a change that is necessary to the Vital Statistics Act — to the regulations or simply to the interpretati= on of it — the legal protection that a Yukoner affected by this currently has would not be changed by the member’s motion. They could currently file a human rights complaint with regard to the Vital Statistics Act.
I woul= d note as well for anyone who is currently affected or who might be affected by this = in future — as I committed during Question Period, we in fact will take a look at the issue that was raised and ask the member for any additional information beyond what she indicated in Question Period in her introductory remarks that might help us have a full understanding of the facts of the situation.
We wil= l ask the Department of Health and Social Services, which is responsible for the Vital Statistics Act, to take a lo= ok at this situation and we will consider whether changes should be made to the Vital Statistics Act, to the regul= ations or whether it is simply a question of interpretation. Without a full understanding of that, I don’t know what the answer is to that, but we will look into it and we will consider whether change is necessary in that area.
Whethe= r it be the Vital Statistics Act or another= piece of Yukon legislation or a process that has caused such a problem, the right= s of transgender or transsexual Yukoners would not be further enhanced by a chan= ge to the human rights legislation. They would continue to have the same abili= ty that they do this very day — filing a complaint with the Human Rights Commission because of the fact that they felt that a specific piece of legislation or process had been discriminatory toward them.
I woul= d also encourage Yukoners who are affected by this that, while indicating and emphasizing that you have the right to go to the Human Rights Commission, I would suggest that, rather than immediately proceeding= to the Human Rights Commission if you have run into a problem — wheth= er it be in a work place or in how you were treated in a government office = 212; they make them aware of that — to make senior staff or the minister responsible aware of the negative experience you had and bring that to our attention so that we can look into it prior to a human rights complaint hav= ing even been filed — though both avenues are, of course, open to you. = span>
A Yuko= ner affected by this section — if a complaint were filed about a piece of legislation such as the Vital Stati= stics Act or a process or treatment by government or within private sector — an employer, for example — the rights of Yukoners who are transsexual, transgender or gender-variant would be the same as they are fo= r a Yukoner who has been discriminated against because they are a woman or beca= use they’re a man or for reasons such as race, cultural background, disability, and so on. All Yukoners do have the right to file a complaint w= ith the Human Rights Commission for any of those reasons.
I just=
want to
take the opportunity to encourage people — rather than immediately proceeding to the Human Rights Commission — to
consider making someone aware of your experience and your perspective on it.
From my personal perspective, because discussion of transgender and gender
identity has not been as common in society, I think there are people who may unintentionally be offensive or act in a way t=
hat is
insulting or hurtful to someone who is transgender. I think that peo=
ple
are not always sure what terminology to use and may accidentally use
terminology that is offensive. They may, through simply lack of understandi=
ng,
act in a way that I recognize and acknowledge and the government acknowledg=
es
— for someone who is affected by that, it is undoubtedly something th=
at
is hard to fully understand until you have experienced it from that
perspective.
I woul= d like to also just note in making that point that for a long time, I didn’t re= ally know anyone who was transgender. I had the situation of someone whom I have known for probably close to 20 years — within the last year decided t= hat, although born a man and having lived most of his life as a man, he was goin= g to live the rest of his life as woman and he was close to 40 years old. I know that it was difficult for him figuring out how to communicate that to his family. That is something that I had not expected from that person. I don’t think that he — or she now — would have expected th= at or even contemplated it even 15 years previous to that, but that was someth= ing that affected him. I think, in that particular case, that it was due to hormonal changes caused by a condition that he had.
Again,= those are the types of things that I think, until you’ve met someone or know someone who has been a friend for years and is affected by it, it’s hard to really understand. Even then, quite frankly, I don’= ;t profess to feel that I can fully understand what it must be like for someone who goes through life as a transgender person — and I hope that my fr= ank admission of that will not offend anyone, but I do try to understand it and appreciate it but I don’t think that it’s really possible for someone to fully appreciate it until we’ve walked a mile in someone’s shoes who has gone through that.
Again,= in noting that — returning to the subject of the motion at hand — I want = to acknowledge that the Member for Copperbelt South and I have exchanged some heated debate on this, but I think, at heart, that the Member for Copperbelt South and I are both coming from a similar perspective in wanting to ensure that all Yukoners are respected and treated equally and with dignity regard= less of their gender or gender variance and regardless of sex, sexual orientatio= n or however they choose to identify themselves.
We as = a society and a government should attempt to be supportive of it, to understand it an= d to ensure that we — through legislation and the role we can play as elec= ted representatives in leading public opinion on these matters — are help= ing people realize the importance of this, which is an important step. Public education, public discussion and recognizing this as being an issue is something I hope the member would agree that we actually come from the same standpoint on that in wanting to ensure that people are treated with dignity regardless of how they choose to identify themselves and what gender they choose to identify themselves as.
I thin= k that bringing this forward for debate and asking questions in Question Period, t= he member has helped this become the topic of some public awareness. I think t= here are many people who simply have not had that much experience with it and don’t intentionally act in a way that is offensive toward Yukoners who are transgender, but they might unintentionally act in a way that could be = very offensive to someone who is experiencing life from that perspective, simply through a lack of understanding.
I woul= d like to make a further point on that topic. I think having public discussion, more public awareness and more public debate, and consideration and recognition = of this as a serious issue has value, so I do thank the member for bringing mo= re attention to it. I think public perspective on this — public acknowledgement and recognition of this as an issue — is something th= at is relatively new across the country. It is an area where human rights law = and people’s practices are evolving, as they should, but clearly there is more work that needs to be done.
In 200= 9, a number of changes were made to the = Human Rights Act — which is the last time it was amended — in response to the 25 recommendations form the Select Committee on Human Right= s, which was an all-party committee of the Legislative Assembly. Changes inclu= ded process-related changes, removing the specific wording around the definitio= n of “sexual orientation”, changing how complaints were handled and changing timelines for filing a complaint.
I will= note my personal perspective is, the next time this legislation is amended, looking= at a similar all-party committee would be valuable. I think the extent to which changes to the human rights legislation could be accomplished and supported= by all political parties could be a valuable thing, rather than having it be polarized or politicized to the extent that we can avoid that.
I thin= k that it doesn’t help debate on this issue if it becomes a partisan debate rat= her than one that is a recognition that human rights legislation and protections under human rights legislation affect people and, fundamentally, all people want anything that deals with their rights directly to be treated seriously= and with compassion and understanding.
I will= conclude my remarks fairly quickly here. I won’t read the entirety of what I s= aid in the petition response previously, but I do want to note a few excerpts f= rom it. I would mention, without listing all the cases again, that in coming to= the conclusion that section 7 of the Hu= man Rights Act does not explicitly list gender identity and gender expressi= on under that does currently — because of case law and common law — actually apply to and protect gender expression and gender identity.
The De= partment of Justice reviewed decisions from across the country, including especially jurisdictions that, like Yukon, don’t explicitly yet acknowledge gend= er expression and gender identity in their legislation. We have indicated that, based on that legal review and legal opinion done by the Department of Just= ice, it does apply in the Yukon. As I indicated, the Yukon Human Rights Commissi= on Chair has indicated and confirmed that they share the government’s interpretation of the legislation. That means, to the best of my understand= ing, that there should be no impediment to anyone filing a complaint on the basi= s of gender expression or gender identify with the Yukon Human Rights Commission. The commission would apply the same view to this of their legal rights as t= he Yukon government has and as I have indicated here today.
In the= cause of the member’s motion, we very much support the intent of the motion. I will be proposing an amendment to this because at this point in time the government is not currently reviewing the Human Rights Act, but as I indicated previously in my response to the petitio= n, we agree that this issue should be considered the next time the legislation= is reviewed. As I mentioned, my personal view is that an all-party committee w= ould be appropriate the next time the Hu= man Rights Act is opened for review and that changes are considered because, hopefully, it would create a less partisan debate and depoliticize the important issues around human rights law and protections.
I want= to emphasize the fact that we fully support full equality and respect for ever= yone — for all Yukoners. The Yukon government promotes a workplace that is free of discrimination and provides equal rights for all its employees. We = have a robust, respectful workplace policy. The goal of the policy is to promote= a respectful, healthy and well-functioning workplace.
I woul= d again note that if there are areas where someone’s personal experience vari= es from that, I would encourage them to avail themselves of the Human Rights Commission complaints process if they need to, but also, prior to that, consider that it might just require that they make someone else aware of the problem, whether it be senior managers, Public Service Commission, the Yukon Employees Union or the minister responsible because, if someone is not following the intention of a policy, it may not be the view of others, but simply be through that person’s views or lack of understanding of the situation.
That w= as section 2 of the member’s motion, which we fully agree with — supporting full equality and respect for trans people accessing Yukon government jobs, programs and services — and also fully support the member’s reference to using public education to fight intolerance, discrimination and violence against trans people, and again acknowledge and recognize that cle= arly there is more work that needs to be done by government and other partners in addressing this important topic and in reducing — ideally, eliminating — discrimination on the basis of gender identity or gender expression= .
I shou= ld also note that, in Yukon government’s collective agreement with the Yukon Employees Union, the parties to the collective agreement agree there should= be no discrimination, interference, coercion, harassment, intimidation or disciplinary action exercised or practised by employees, the union or the employer with respect to an employee, by reason of age, race, creed, colour, national origin, religious affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, family sta= tus, mental or physical disability or membership or activity in the union.
I̵= 7;ve been advised that the parties have also agreed, for the sake of clarity, that sex does include transgender identity or expression.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, the Yukon government has been selected as one of Canada’s top 100 employers for 2015, which is the second year Yukon government has been name= d to be a top 100 employer. I would like to thank all who have been involved in that, all the senior managers within Yukon government. I thank the Yukon Employees Union as well, and thank all employees who have played a part in making Yukon government workplaces both functional and effective places, but also a good place to work for employees, and one that is one of the best employers in the country.
With t= hat, Mr. Speaker, I will propose the amendment to this motion.
Amendment proposed
Hon. Mr. Cathers: I move:
THAT M= otion No. 792 be amended by inserting into clause (1):
(1) the word “considering” prior to the phrase
“introducing amendments to”; and
(2) the phrase “the next time the act is reviewed=
221;
following the phrase “grounds for discrimination”.
If you= will allow me to read how that would read, just for the clarity of members ̵= 2; Mr. Speaker, it would read then, as amended:
THAT t= his House urges the Yukon government to advance equal rights for transsexual, transge= nder and gender-variant people by:
(1) considering introducing amendments to explicitly inclu=
de
“gender identity” and “gender expression” under sec=
tion
7 of the Yukon Human Rights Act as a prohibited ground for
discrimination the next time the act is reviewed;
(2) supporting full equality and respect for trans people
accessing Yukon government jobs, programs and services; and
(3) using public education to fight intolerance, discrimin=
ation
and violence against trans people.
Speaker: The amendment is in order. It is moved by the Minister of Justice:
THAT M= otion No. 792 be amended by inserting into clause (1):
(1) the word “considering” prior to the phrase
“introducing amendments to”; and
(2) the phrase “the next time the act is reviewed=
221;
following the phrase “grounds for discrimination”.
Minist= er of Justice, you have 20 minutes on the amendment.
Hon. Mr. Cathers: I will not be taking 20 minutes on the amendment. I think and = I hope that I explained government’s perspective on this. Speaking briefly to the amendment, I will note that I’m sure that the Member for Copperbe= lt South would have preferred to see the motion not amended. I hope she appreciates the clear and strong indication by the government that we suppo= rt the protection of the rights of all Yukoners, including opposing discrimina= tion against people on the basis of gender or gender identity or gender expressi= on.
We are= confident that the existing provisions of the law already protect the rights of Yukon= ers who are transsexual, transgender or gender-variant as well as, of course, protecting the rights of Yukoners who are gay or lesbian. We believe that t= hose rights are fully protected as they should be, but we also believe that the = next time the legislation is open for review — whether it’s through = an all-party committee, as I personally believe it should be, or how that matt= er is reviewed — that this should be given consideration — explici= tly listing it for the comfort of Yukoners who are transsexual, transgender, ge= nder-variant.
I hope= that the member and all members of this Assembly will join us in supporting this mot= ion and the amendment to it, and I think that there is value for Yukon society = in having a motion unanimously passed by the Legislative Assembly which stands strong in supporting the protection of the rights of transsexual, transgend= er and gender-variant people. I hope we’ll unanimously send the signal to all Yukoners that it is important to recognize that people are people regardless of their gender and they should be treated with dignity and resp= ect regardless of their gender, their gender express or their gender identity. =
I woul= d also note that with the Vital Statistics= Act and with other pieces of Yukon legislation — if there are any that are not in keeping with this or if there are processes that transgender, transsexual or gender-variant Yukoners experience problems with, please do bring them to the government’s attention so that we can consider them, whether it’s at a management level or at Cabinet or at Legislative Assembly level. If we’re not aware of the experience that you’ve had and the problems you’ve had, then we simply aren’t aware of= it so that we can solve it.
I woul= d also like to note that we have supported in the past — and I would like to= thank the Member for Porter Creek North, the current Minister of Education and fo= rmer Minister of Health and Social Services for his work in bringing forward an amendment to Vital Statistics Act= i> previously that dealt with an issue that had been discriminatory to a same-= sex couple attempting to get both parents acknowledged on a birth certificate f= or their child. We did make that change and I believe it passed this House unanimously. Where specific issues are identified, we can consider specific changes if there are problems that need to be dealt with legislatively or through changes to policy or practices.
I woul= d note that in the area of public education, personally I think that’s one of the most powerful tools that can be used by government to help prevent discrimination against people on the basis of gender because — others make take a different view, but my personal belief is that there are many people who may unintentionally be offensive to someone, simply through lack= of understanding. Helping them understand how their actions, behaviour or treatment could be very offensive and hurtful to someone else is probably t= he most effective tool in dealing with it and, in many cases, it may not be necessary to go to the Human Rights Commission — although of course t= hat protection exists as it should if someone cannot see the error in their way= s.
With t= hat, Mr. Speaker, I will wrap up my remarks. I would again encourage all members to support t= his amendment and encourage all members to support the motion as amended to sen= d a strong signal to the Yukon public that the Yukon Legislative Assembly stands unanimously in support of the dignity of all Yukoners, regardless of gender= or gender expression.
=
=
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
Ms. Moorcroft: I am going to speak to the amendment. I appreciate that the Minister of Justi= ce made frank contributions to the debate this afternoon. I appreciate his assertion that he supports dignity and respect for all Yukon citizens, including trans people. However, I think that bo= th in his statements on the debate and in the motion that he has introduced, he h= as referred to unintentional, insulting or hurtful behaviour and he has failed= to recognize that I am talking about a discriminatory Yukon law that needs to = be changed.
I don&= #8217;t think this is an issue that can or should wait. As we have laid out today, trans people are subject to discrimination and face barriers on a daily basis. We can’t say that we’ll make the appropriate chang= es just when it’s convenient — just when we get to it. I think that the amendment shows a lack of understanding of the barriers that trans people face today, even under the current laws. =
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, I would like to read into the record the motion as amended so that the minister’s amendments can be understood by readers and by visitors in= the public gallery who are following this debate. With the amendment proposed by the minister, the motion would read:
THAT t= his House urges the Yukon government to advance equal rights for transsexual, transge= nder and gender-variant people by:
(1) considering introducing amendments to explicitly inclu=
de
“gender identity” and “gender expression” under sec=
tion
7 of the Yukon Human Rights Act=
as a
prohibited ground for discrimination the next time the act is reviewed.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, the question that raises is: When would be the n= ext time the act is reviewed? The act was reviewed by an all-party legislative committee in 2008, and in 2008, the Yukon Human Rights Commission recommend= ed that trans peoples’ rights be added to the= act. The Yukon Party was in government at that time. The Yukon Party was in government when the all-party committee delivered its report, and the Yukon Party government chose to make some changes and to not add the change to include trans peoples’ rights.
Respec= tfully, in regard to the Justice minister’s comments,= I don’t think we need an all-party committee to say that trans people should have the protection of human rights. I suppose that if the member wa= nted to take out the word “considering” and add the phrase “the next time the act is reviewed”, it might be considered more of a frie= ndly amendment.
In bri= nging forward his argument on this amendment, the minister referred to the statem= ent by the Yukon Human Rights Commission’s new chair — that was a public statement to the Yukon News<= /i> — and the minister put his interpretation on that statement and so I = want to read that statement into the record from the Yukon Human Rights Commission’s new chair, Al Huble: “= The Yukon Human Rights Commission has been asking for protection against discri= mination on the basis of gender identity under the Human Rights Act since at least 2008. The commission is of the view that, whi= le we can and do accept complaints that raise gender identity or expression is= sues under other prohibited grounds of discrimination, as set out under s. 7 of = the Human Rights Act, it is important = to make this protection explicit.
“= ;It is also important to understand that there is a difference between ‘gend= er identity or gender expression’ and ‘sexual orientation’ or ‘sex’, which are specifically protected under the Human Rights Act. The experiences = of individuals who identify as transgender are unique. A lack of change rooms = at public facilities is but one example of a barrier transgender individuals m= ay experience in participating in activities in our community.
“= ;The Ontario Human Rights Commission points out that, ‘People who are transgender, or who otherwise don’t conform to gender stereotypes, co= me from all walks of life. They are represented in every social class, occupat= ion, race, culture, religion and sexual orientation, and live in and contribute = to communities … around the world.’ This includes Yukon communitie= s.
“= ;However, ‘trans’ people are one of the most disadvantaged groups in soci= ety. They regularly experience discrimination, harassment, hatred and even viole= nce. People who are in the process of ‘transitioning’ are particular= ly vulnerable. Many of the issues they experience go to the core of human dign= ity and should be explicitly protected in our Act.
“= ;The Human Rights Act stresses the impo= rtance of recognizing that every individual is free and equal in dignity and rights and that all members of the human family have the right to be free from discrimination. Human rights legislation exists to promote equality and acceptance and was created to protect everyone, including vulnerable member= s of our society, from harassment and discrimination.
“Jurisdictions across Canada, including our neighbours in the Northwest Territories, provide for explicit protection against discrimination on the basis of gender identity under the= ir human rights legislation. The Yukon Human Rights Commission continues to ur= ge the Yukon government to join other jurisdictions across Canada in affording this explicit legal protection to our citizens. Such explicit protection wi= ll promote acceptance and send a clear message that in Yukon everyone has the right to be treated with equality, dignity and respect.” I think that full statement from the chair of the Yukon Human Rights Commission indicates that the minister’s comments did not quite accurately capture the position of the commission.
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Ms. Moorcroft: I don’t have a lot to add on this amendment. Frankly, I am skeptical th= at this government would bring forward an amendment to the Yukon Human Rights Commission in the remaining time in its mandate by amending this motion to = say that they will consider it the next time around when the act is reviewed. I= n my assessment, the amendment is a delaying and a stalling tactic. I am here pu= tting this motion forward because I think that this needs action now. I doubt the government would choose to bring amendments forward within this mandate, an= d so I am not going to be supporting the amendment.
Mr. Silver: If you notice, there has been an awful lot of talking going back and forth bet= ween members from all parties. We really want to make this as non-partisan as possible. After consulting with the Minister of Justice, we are going hopef= ully to work on the Yukon Party doing a subamendment= to this amendment.
The di= alogue was basically this: if you put the word “considering” in this amendment, it takes all of the power out of this amendment — it really does. We understand that the act being reviewed has to be part of this proc= ess — and far be it for us to go against consultation and proper democrat= ic processes — but at the same time, if the government is interested in protecting the rights of all people, then they would not amend this motion = by having the word “considering” in there because it lends to the ability for a government to stall, quite frankly. We did have conversations with the Minister of Justice and with the House Leader for the New Democrat= ic Party and we all agree that we would support a subamen= dment to this amendment taking that word out of the amendment.
I̵= 7;m not going to put it forward, because I thought it would be a lot more powerful = for the government — for the Yukon Party, which supplied the amendment — to bring that forward, and it seems like they’re in full agreement of that. With that being said, I can’t support the amendmen= t as it stands, but I absolutely would support the amendment as subamended.
Hon. Mr. Dixon: In following the comments from my colleagues across the floor, we’re scurrying to take care of the appropriate paperwork, so perhaps members can bear with us as we fill out the appropriate paperwork.= p>
As tha= t occurs, I would be happy to provide some comment on the amendment.
The am= endment was brought forward with the intent of noting that we are certainly support= ive of the principle of the original motion and certainly the subsections (2) a= nd (3). When it comes to ensuring that trans people accessing Yukon government jobs is addressed, that’s something that w= ill fall to me as minister responsible for the Public Service Commission. We= 217;ll have some work to do and I’ll have some more comments, perhaps once t= he motion is amended and subamended, I suppose.
With t= hat, Mr. Speaker, I think I will just go ahead and give this a shot, and perhaps members can = bear with me.
Subamendment= proposed
Hon. Mr. Dixon: I move:
THAT t= he amendment to Motion No. 792 be amended by removing clause (1).
Speaker: We&= #8217;ll wait for the copies.
The subamendment is in order.
It has= been moved by the minister responsible for the Public Service Commission:=
THAT t= he amendment to Motion No. 792 be amended by removing clause (1).
Minist= er responsible for the Public Service Commission, on the = subamendment, please.
Hon. Mr. Dixon: I will be very brief. Obviously the amendment to the amendment — the subamendment — is pretty self-explanatory: removing the first line in the original amendment. It is = my understanding that this may be more amenable to members on both sides of the House and, through some informal discussions, I believe we came to the conclusion that this would help to that end. I’m given to understand = that this would perhaps lead to unanimity in support for the amendment. So that’s it Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Doe= s any other member wish to be heard on the subamendment?
Ms. Moorcroft: It
always makes for an interesting afternoon when there are amendments and
To put= that in layperson terms, it means that the word “considering” making amendments to the Human Rights Act<= /i> will be removed from the first amendment, and that would leave the second <= span class=3DSpellE>phrase of the amendment still on the floor for debate, which is that proposed amendments to section 7 of the Human Rights Act, adding gender identity and gender expression = as a prohibited grounds for discrimination, would be done the next time the act = is reviewed.
We hav= e had some discussion about this not being a partisan political issue, and members from both sides of the House have spoken about their support for human rights; however, I do still have the concern that the Yukon Party government has fa= iled to add gender identity or gender expression to the Human Rights Commission = as of yet, and now they’re proposing amending it the next time the act is reviewed — and we don’t know when that might be. My position is that it should be within the current mandate of the government. It would certainly be in the mandate of the next government, if it’s not done = by this government.
Mr. Silver: I’ll be very, very brief on this. I just want to thank everybody for thinking on their feet here today and just make the statement that,= clearly, all eyes will be on this government as to when this review of this= act will come forth. I will even make a prediction that I’m sure tomorrow you’ll see motions produced by opposition member parties asking and urging the government to conduct a review sooner rather than later and to commit to a time frame.
I woul= d support the subamendment.
Hon. Mr. Cathers: I would like to thank the Member for Klondike, as well as the = NDP House Leader, for the discussion that we had off the floor of the Assembly = that has allowed us to come closer to a shared position on this. I will of cours= e be supporting the subamendment and thank the minis= ter responsible for the Public Service Commission for moving it.
Just f= urther to the comments that the Member for Klondike, the Liberal leader, made —= I want to again emphasize that the government’s position is that these rights, although not explicitly listed in the Human Rights Act, are already protected, as they should be, but we’re supportive of, the next time the act is reviewed, explicitly listing it to provide that greater comfort and greater acknowledgement in legislation for persons who are transsexual, transgender or gender-variant.=
I will= be supporting the amendment and hope that the motion will pass this Assembly unanimously and send a strong signal on behalf of the Legislative Assembly = to all Yukoners that people are people, regardless of their gender or their ge= nder identity, and should be treated with respect and with dignity.
Speaker: Doe= s any other member wish to be heard on the subamendment?
Subamendment=
to Motion No. 792 =
agreed
to
Speaker: Is = there any further debate on the amendment as amended?
Mr. Silver: I’m very happy to rise and to speak on this motion as suba= mended.
Speaker’s
statement
Speaker: Ord= er please. I believe the member — the Leader of the Third Party — = has already spoken to the amendment.
Mr.&nb= sp;Clerk, is there debate permitted?
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Speaker’s
statement
Speaker: Sor= ry, you can’t speak to the amendment. You have already spoken to the amendmen= t, but we haven’t passed that one yet. Is there any further discussion on the amendment as amended?
Ms. White: Before this amendment passes, I’m just flagging my concern that, by using the language “the next time this act is reviewed,” it isn’t setting out clear timelines or guidelines. We’ve seen this government move with great haste when reviewing other acts, and we’ve seen molas= ses in February in other cases. My hope is that, in good faith, when we move th= is amendment, the government understands that we have great expectations that = this will happen sooner rather than later.
With t= hat, I look forward to speaking to the amended motion, I guess.
Speaker: Doe= s any other member wish to be heard on the amendment?
Amendment to Motion No. 792 agreed to=
Speaker: Is = there any further discussion on the motion as amended?
Mr. Silver: I want to just begin by thanking the Member for Copperbelt South for bringing forward this original motion today. I have stood in this House before and spoken of my support for the LGBTQ community on many other issues. I think it’s really important that we move this motion forward.
There = was a time of same-sex marriage debate in Canada, and we led North America — we = led Canada — and today I believe we’re starting to get back on a positive track when it comes to human rights.
Transg= ender people face some of the highest rates of discrimination in the world. Sadly, Canada is no exception to that rule. It has been reported that 73 percent o= f trans people have been bullied; 26 percent have said t= hey have been assaulted; and as many as 24 percent have even been harassed by members of police. It is important that we show solidarity and ensure that = we enshrine these terms in the nation into the Human Rights Act absolutely.
Also, incorporating gender identity and gender expression into the Human Rights Act should not be gro= unds for a lengthy debate today. It should be straightforward, and the reason wh= y it should be straightforward is because these changes absolutely ensure greater equality in the territory. That’s something I believe every single me= mber in this House believes we need to work toward.
Other = provinces have been able to incorporate gender identity into their human rights codes, including the Northwest Territories. I’m lending my voice to urge the government to do so as well, and it looks like we’ve made some strides here today.
WeR= 17;ve seen the Department of Education, as mentioned earlier today, adopt a policy explicitly referencing gender identity and stating — and I quote: “Homophobic and gender-based comments, discrimination, and bullying a= re demeaning to all students, parents or guardians and employees regardless of their actual or perceived sexual orientation” — and that this behaviour will not be tolerated in the classroom.
As a f= ormer educator, I know how valuable education can be in combatting ignorance, whi= ch is why I also support clause (3) in the Member for Copperbelt South’s original motion — “using public education to fight intolerance, discrimination, and violence against trans people.” To be truly succe= ssful, we must start young and see how it develops in the classroom environment so that the blindness of our generation is not carried over to the next. Perha= ps this is something that the Yukon Party will do and will rebuild the educati= onal curriculum as we have been discussing on the floor of this Legislative Asse= mbly — something to consider in this made-in-Yukon K-to-12 curriculum.
Variou= s reports have said that as high as 39 percent of trans pe= ople have missed employment opportunities due to discrimination in the workplace= . I am an optimist and I would like to hope that this is not an issue within the Government of Yukon. There are ways that we can support equality and respect for trans people accessing government jobs, prog= rams and services. I think the other two pieces of the motion deal very, very ap= tly with this. Education within the public service can help prevent discriminat= ion from occurring, and enshrining gender identity in the Human Rights Act will also allow the Human Rights Commission to fight discrimination when it occurs.
We tal= ked about other acts and we talked about a discrepancy here in beliefs as to whether = or not certain acts go far enough. I just wanted to start by thanking the Memb= er for Takhini-Kopper King for conversations we had today. We were scrambling around to make other amendments, if necessary, bu= t we are going to leave that for today. There was a discussion — I have co= pies of another amendment here. It is a conversation for a later day because I believe that there was an awful lot of positive work done here today.
I just= want to read the part of the Vital Statisti= cs Act that we were considering adapting as well — to address the comments t= hat were made by the Minister of Justice as far as other acts going far enough. That doesn’t necessarily negate the fact that some of these acts need= to changed. Let me read a direct quote from the Vital Statistics Act under “Notation of change of sexR= 21;. This is section 12(1) — and I quote: “If a person has had their anatomical sex structure changed to a sex other than that which appears on = the person’s birth certificate, the registrar, on production of separate affidavits of two medical practitioners stating that the anatomical sex of = the person has changed and evidence satisfactory to the registrar as to the ide= ntity of the person, (a) if the sex of the person is registered in the Yukon, sha= ll cause a notation of the change to be made on the registration; and (b) if t= he sex of the person is registered outside the Yukon, shall transmit to the officer in charge of the registration of births and marriages in the jurisdiction in which the person is registered…” I will leave it there — but again, “two medical practitioners” according = to this act.
We hav= e a long way to go with other acts that we have currently in the Yukon as far as discrimination for trans people. Although a grea= t day for moving forward in human rights, this is just another example of further work that is necessary to be done. We will be urging, in the future, amendi= ng section 12 of the Vital Statistics = Act, in consultation with the public, to remove barriers to gender identity ther= e.
I am n= ot going to spend much more time on this. Thank you very much to the Member for Copperbelt South — as always, very well-researched and great informat= ion here for us all to share today. Thanks to the members of the Yukon Party for their ability to think on the fly and to work, non-partisan, on this motion= .
Ms. White: I am incredibly grateful to the House today that it looks like we are moving tow= ard a positive resolution. I have done some work, but I have a researcher who h= as put a whole lot of time into this and I think this is important and invalua= ble to bring to the discussion. Before I do, I have nothing but gratitude for t= he people in the House. This is pretty fantastic — especially a certain someone. I am going to leave the feelings behind and I am going to talk abo= ut this as the issue it is.
I thin= k it is really important that we know that we have the conversation that trans people have been made invisible for far too many years. It is important to provide some basic background on what gender is, = how it relates to the experience of trans people and= why it is also so important for Yukon to take action to advance full equality a= nd respect for trans people in the Yukon.
Gender= identity — it is your own internal personal sense of being a man or a woman or someone outside of that gender binary. Sexual orientation is a person’= ;s enduring physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction to another person. = Trans people may be straight, lesbian, gay or bisexual — just like anybody else. You love who you love; it doesn’t mat= ter about what title you have. Gender stereotypes can be harmful for trans people, just like for any other person, because = they force society’s ideas about what it means to be a man or a woman on people, regardless of how they actually think, feel or want to live their lives.
There = has been a great movement in the community to talk about gender boxes and the vice-principal of F.H. Collins, in Challenge Day — they talk a lot ab= out gender boxes. It’s the idea that men are put into boxes and not allow= ed to have feelings — don’t cry; be a man. As a woman, you get “put inside the flower”. It is expected that you should behave = in a certain way as opposed to being able to express yourself how you want to and that affects people negatively.
It is interesting because in recent years we have so many expressions that mean so many different things and I am not embarrassed to tell you that I have had = to Google some, because at times I think, “What exactly does that mean?” = All those letters in front of something; what does that mean? Cisgender is an important one to bring to the conversation because cisgender is a word that applies to the vast majority of people. It describes a person who is not transgender. If a doctor announces: “It’s a girl” at birt= h, based on the child’s body, and they grow up to identify as a woman, t= hat person is cisgender. I, as a cisgender person, face a heck of a lot less discrimination than our trans friends, or our le= sbian, gay, bisexual — you know — the whole alphabet soup of sexual identity. As a cisgender person, sometimes it is really hard to put yoursel= f in those shoes, because we don’t face that same discrimination. It is im= portant to have the empathy and the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes to have the conversation.
Cissex= ism is what happens when trans people are viewed as dif= ferent from, or less than, cisgender people, whose gender identity and expressions align with the sex given to them at birth. It assumes that being cisgender = is the default and that trans is abnormal or unnatu= ral. This discrimination tries to force gender boxes on tran= s people, and when cissexist ideas of what bodies must correspond to are not = met it can lead to transphobic and trans-misogynistic violence.
Transp= hobia describes the range of antagonistic attitudes and feelings against trans people based on the expression of their internal gender identify. Transphobia refers to emotional disgust, fear, anger or di= scomfort felt or expressed toward people who do not conform to societal gender expectations. Imagine facing that fear or that disgust or that anger and wh= at that would be like. That’s part of why this motion is so important. <= /span>
These = forms of gender discrimination overlook the simple fact of the matter, which is that= trans people are just people. They’re just peopl= e and this gender discrimination places trans folks at= risk of intolerance, discrimination and violence. So I’m excited to know t= hat it seems right now that in Yukon we’re ready to support the trans community — maybe not as soon as I would l= ike it to be, but hopefully soon enough.
ItR= 17;s supporting the trans community and their allies = by acknowledging and taking action to address their struggle for safety, suppo= rt, acceptance and equality. The time for trans righ= ts and visibility is right now. In Yukon we can lead. We have a jurisdiction of wh= at, 35,000 people? We can be at the forefront of legislative changes, policy changes and equality and rights for trans people= .
So Can= ada is behind in recognizing and bringing the struggles facing the trans community forward. So when we’re speaking today, I can’t even t= alk about statistics in Canada because we just don’t have them. We haven’t collected them. It hasn’t been high on our list of priorities, so sometimes it’s going to be talking about studies in the United States because they’ve put it at the forefront.
Access= to housing, employment, education and health care are just a few areas in whic= h trans folks are more likely to face discrimination, exclusion and invisibility on an individual or a system-wide level. Trans people in Canada and in the Yukon face a variety= of barriers to accessing basic programs and services that are taken for grante= d by cisgendered people because we don’t face = the same challenges. Trans folks who also experience ongoing racism, classism and misogyny can face barriers and discrimination = that is even more severe. In addition to barriers riddling everyday life, trans people also face far higher rates of suicide and violence and that is just a tragic reality.
Some s= tatistics from down south — U.S.-based Trans Student Educational Resources repo= rts that 80 percent of trans students feel unsafe at school because of their ge= nder expression — so 80 percent; eight in 10. Fifty-nine percent of gender non-conforming students experienced verbal harassment in past year because = of their gender expression, compared to 29 percent of their cisgendered peers. That’s 30 percent more. Half of trans students reported physical abuse in a 2007 survey, so one in two. One Canad= ian study found that while 71 percent of trans peopl= e in Ontario have at least some college or university education, about half make $15,000 per year or less. So there is that discrimination in the workplace.=
The na= tional gay and lesbian task force and National Center for Transgender Equality in the United States published a study in 2009 that found 26 percent of trans workers reported losing their jobs because of th= eir gender identity. Ninety percent reported other negative experiences in the workplace, such as harassment, mistreatment or discrimination on the job. <= /span>
ItR= 17;s shocking that, statistically, trans people exper= ience unemployment at twice the rate of the general population with rates for vis= ible minorities up to four times the national rate. Perhaps relatedly, trans people were found to be four times more likely t= o live in poverty. These are the facts that we’re collecting south of the border.
Transg= ender Canadians face a disproportionate risk of being homeless and living in pove= rty, and these factors not only negatively impact health but also present further roadblocks to accessing treatment, such as having no phone and no money for transportation. We’ve talked about programs, we’ve talked about departments, and I disagree with the Minister of Justice because I really t= hink that vital statistics are very much a Yukon government program. It’s = very much a service and we have those limitations. I mean, we’ve heard = 212; we can’t even imagine.
When w= e talk about health and we talk about well-being, trans health care is a human right. You know, we should have an equitable access across. Trans people can face prejudice and discrimination in accessing health care. Imagine how hard it is to find a d= octor in the territory and then imagine if you can’t find a doctor who acce= pts you for who you are. This makes trans people more vulnerable to marginalization and exclusion. It increases risks to mental a= nd physical well-being.
The 20= 13 Healthcare Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign found that 70 perc= ent of trans respondents had one or more negative experiences including being refused needed care, health providers refusing = to touch them or using excessive precautions, health care providers using hars= h or abusive language, or being blamed for their health status. Imagine what that would feel like. You’re trying to access health care and you’re being persecuted for who you are. It’s shocking. It does say that, for those trans people who do gain access to primary care, they can face extrem= ely long wait times and a patchwork of requirements and coverage for medically necessary care, so then we have another limit — we have another barri= er.
From w= hat we have heard on various issues that I have raised, they also exist here in the Yukon, and it’s my understanding that the Yukon does not have specific policies and practices in place to govern universal tra= ns health care. That’s something that I would like to see addressed. Yuk= on policies identify trans people as having the medical diag= nosis of gender dysphoria or a gender identity disorder. Even the terminology is a bit offensive — a disorder. It’s not a disorder.
Most <= span class=3DGramE>trans people in the Yukon end up leaving the territory= and the support of their communities for transition procedures. It appears uncl= ear whether or not costs of travel for the procedure would be covered. Imagine leaving your community for the biggest transition in your life because you = just can’t get the support here. A patchwork of coverage for transition surgeries that sounds like it may depend on a case-by-case basis — and Yukon health insurance will only cover surgeries below the waist and not ab= ove, and that, to me, is appalling. If you’re born as a woman, you have certain endowments that you may not want as a man and it’s left to yo= u to figure out how to get rid of them — that seems to me like something t= hat we should change here.
On top= of that, this coverage only kicks in if a trans patient m= eets certain requirements, such as living in their chosen gender for a year and seeing a psychiatrist.
We kno= w that there are risks when you lose in your chosen gender — when you are fo= rced to go into washrooms with the “man” or the “woman” = sign — when you might not be what someone thinks you should be. The challe= nges and stuff that you have to face are hard. We are lucky in the Yukon that hormones are covered. I think that is fantastic. On the flip side, in Yukon, because we are under the B.C. health program, we can face wait-lists of 18 = to 22 months. After we have gone through the entire process, it can take up to= a year and a half — almost two years — before you can go through = with the surgery.
We hav= e heard that Health and Social Services is reviewing its policies to make sure that= the Yukon lines up with other places, but we don’t know when that review = will be complete or what other jurisdictions we are comparing ourselves to, and I think that is going to be an important one. It is simply not acceptable tha= t trans patients in the Yukon suffer health disparities = or fail to access or receive the quality of coverage or services they deserve. These barriers to health need to be addressed in health care settings, in workplaces and in learning environments. We need government and medical professional associations to review policies and practices to eliminate sti= gma toward trans people and ensure equal access heal= th care and, as such, ensure that we are upholding the Canada Health Act and the Yukon Health Act.
The st= atistics that we do collect — according to the Canadian Mental Health Association, = 77 percent of trans people in Ontario had seriously considered suicide and 45 percent had attempted it. That is being forced to live in the wrong body. It’s not having access to services. = p>
There = is some pretty big progress being made in Canada — there is in some places. In Saskatchewan, we had an incredible moment of leadership on March 31 this ye= ar when the transgender pride flag was raised at the Saskatchewan Legislature = as part of the International Transgender Day of Visibility during the province’s Transgender Awareness Week. That’s lovely. It was the first time that the flag was flown at a provincial capital in Canada. The Saskatchewan Legislature was celebrating diversity of gender, and that celebration came in small steps toward recognizing transgender people as fu= ll citizens. The Saskatchewan Human Ri= ghts Code language has been included to protect trans people. They focused on changing gender markers for ID and introducing more= resources for health professionals so that trans people ha= ve better access to health care. That is a jurisdiction that I would really li= ke us to compare ourselves to.
I am g= oing to end on a really positive note. I have never been a hockey player; I donR= 17;t even know how to skate. I was born in the Yukon and that is the truth: I don’t know how to skate, I don’t like hockey, and I don’t watch the playoffs, but I am no less a Yukoner because of it. I have never wanted to be a hockey player more than I wanted to be on December 19, 2014 — last year. I have never been as proud of the hockey community as wh= en the Whitehorse Women’s Hockey Association put this out on their Faceb= ook page: “As you may know we have a player who is in the news talking ab= out his journey transitioning from female to male. We have heard some questions about his status as a player in our league — mainly, if he is male, i= s he allowed to play?”
I shou= ld note that this player is the best goalie in the league, so maybe it was a way th= at the other teams could move up in the ranks.
“= ;The short answer is, yes. But it got us thinking, we can t= ake inspiration from this player and develop a proactive, progressive and inclu= sive policy regarding gender/transgender that creates safety for all current and future players of our league. So the board had a meeting this week to discu= ss wording and came up with the following policy:” — this is it. M= r. Speaker; it’s beautiful: “Whitehorse Women’s Hockey Association welcomes any player who was born or identifies as a woman.” That̵= 7;s beautiful — I agree.
So the incredible thing with this is that this was in hockey magazines across the country. This was a big deal. What this means is players born female who identify as female, players born female who identify and live as males, or players born male who identify and live as females. There were some questio= ns, so there is a little question and answer.
“= ;Does this mean that any man can play? We understand the question reflects people̵= 7;s worry that our women’s league will become co-ed and have a different dynamic. People might also want their boyfriends/brother/male coworkers to = play and are hoping that our league will now be open to men who don’t want= to play with the men’s league. The answer is no. Individuals born male w= ho live their lives as male cannot play with our league. Those men have many o= ther options — men’s league, oldtimers, = et cetera” — except for sometimes people use men as goalies. So, y= ou know, they make the exception when they need goalies — I think that’s great.
These = two paragraphs sum it up beautifully: “Players who were born as women, regardless of their current gender identification, lived with the same barr= iers to sports. We also don’t know if players born as women, who are now m= en, would be welcomed/celebrated/safe in the men’s league. So the WWHL, w= hich tries to address historical inequity for women in hockey and create safety = for women to learn/play hockey is an appropriate league for individuals born as women who identify as women or men.”
“= ;If a person lives their life as a woman, then they are experiencing many of the = same benefits and barriers we all experience as women and are welcome to play ho= ckey in our league. This might mean an individual who was born a man and is now living as a woman, even if she hasn’t taken surgical steps to become a woman. This does not mean a person who was born a man, who lives their life= as a man, and who says ‘I’m a woman’ on their registration f= orm for no other reason than to play with us.” They also don’t think this scenario will ever happen.
I thin= k my very favourite question and answer came about the change room. It says: “If you are truly uncomfortable then we can look into trying to find a separate change room. That said, we will talk to you abou= t why you are uncomfortable. It you are worried that a transgender player might be checking you out, we will point out that our league is filled with players = of all different sexual preferences and the potential for ogling is not limite= d to gender. We are a diverse league and can’t assume that a male/female-o= nly change room will avoid the potential for ogling.”
“= ;So instead of a bunch of different change rooms, we may want to make sure that every player is being respectful and not making other players uncomfortable= . So please, no ogling for anyone.” The change room is for changing, drink= ing beer and talking trash about the other teams.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, in December of last year, I wanted to be a hockey player and I hope the Yuk= on government can follow their leadership and make sure that we become a truly inclusive place.
Speaker: If = the member now speaks, she will close debate. Does any other member wish to be heard?
Ms. Moorcroft: First of all, I would again like to thank all of the trans people and the human rights defenders for all that I have learned in the la= st year, since I first introduced this motion.
Recent= ly I attended the Out North Film Festival at the Beringia Centre and Shaun LaDue, who is a Yukon-born, transgender man, spoke ab= out his transition to a man and how tolerant and accepting people were in his h= ome community of Ross River. In fact, children and youth can be the most tolera= nt and that is why we start with children. That is why this motion speaks to public education. In schools, we could offer more comprehensive sex educati= on that recognizes that not everybody is the same, but everybody has the same right to feel how they want to feel, be who they want to be, and like who t= hey want to like. It is the fundamental human rights of tra= ns people that this motion is about today.
I also= want to thank members of the community who attended in the public gallery this afternoon to hear the debate. I want to acknowledge Chase Blodgett, who I introduced earlier in this Sitting in the Assembly and who also contributed= to my own learning and to learning in the community. Thank you to the members = who attended in the gallery.
I want= to thank the Yukon Employees Union and the PSAC for their leadership. The labour movement and the public sector unions have always been in the foreground wh= en it comes to human rights and they continue to lead by example. I want to th= ank the Whitehorse Women’s Hockey League that has welcomed trans people to play hockey and who has also led by example. I thank my colleague, the Member for Takhini-Kopper King, for her rem= arks and for her reading into the record part of the Whitehorse Women’s Ho= ckey League policy, that any player who was born or identifies as a woman would = be welcome in their league.
I hear= d agreement in the debate this afternoon that public education should be used to advance equal rights for trans people and to fight intolerance, discrimination and violence against trans people. I want to th= ank the Minister of Justice for his frank remarks. I think he showed leadership= in talking about something that can be uncomfortable for adults to talk about — and adults make it uncomfortable for children to talk about —= and that is sex and sexuality. We need to become more comfortable in talking ab= out that. We need to bring these public policy concerns to debate in the Legislature.
The mi= nister also made the assertion in his remarks that section 7 of the Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex and sexual orientation, covers gender identity = and gender expression. He asked that anyone who encounters insulting behaviour = or discrimination — although they could go to the Yukon Human Rights Commission and file a complaint, they could also choose — and he invi= ted them to speak to a senior official or a minister. I think his exact words w= ere “to consider making someone aware of your experience and perspective”.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, it isn’t just about experience and perspective. This motion is about = the law. The law is outdated and discriminatory. The argument that the Human Rights Act in its present wo= rding captures gender identity and gender expression and so therefore we don̵= 7;t need to amend it ignores the fact that, under the Vital Statistics Act, we require trans people to meet discriminatory requirements.
Other jurisdictions are making legislative changes. The minister referred to 2009 amendments to the Yukon Human Right= s Act, which omitted trans rights, and he spoke about avoiding polarizing or politicizing, and said it doesn’t help to beco= me partisan. Well, Mr. Speaker, there would be absolutely nothing partisa= n if the Yukon government takes action to change the law and to change any policy — to change any law and any policy that discriminates against trans people. That would be relatively easy to do in my submission. It would not = be a lengthy project for legal drafters to add the expressions “gender identity” and “gender expression” to section 7 of the Yuk= on Human Rights Act.
I am p=
leased
that the members opposite indicated that they support the intent of the mot=
ion.
I do want to note though that the other elements of this motion spoke about
having non-discriminatory programs and services in the Yukon government and
that means we need to look at laws. We need to look at questions of identit=
y,
including birth certificates, health care cards and driver’s licences.
The Yukon government, in order to equitably offer services to trans people, needs to look at the provision of health=
care
and what services are covered and what are not. The Yukon government needs =
to
look at its policy, at its programs and its services. Just one simple examp=
le
that I brought forward this afternoon is that there are washrooms within Yu=
kon
government buildings that could, by simply changing a sign on the door, bec=
ome
inclusive by posting an all-gender restroom sign. I thank members of the trans community who provided this to me and I’ve
circulated it to all members here in the Assembly.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, I’m pleased to hear a signal from the government that they will suppo= rt this motion as amended. I would urge them to follow up on their amendment t= he next time the act is amended by actually amending the act within the current mandate of this government. But as I said earlier this afternoon, if it is necessary for the next government to amend the law, then the next government will amend the law to include trans rights in th= e Human Rights Act and in all Yukon government programs and policies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Are= you prepared for the question on the motion as amended?
Some Hon. Members: Division.
Division
Speaker:=
195;Division has been called.=
Bells
Speaker: Mr.= Clerk, please poll the House.
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: Agree.
Mr. Elias: Agree.
Hon. Ms. Taylor: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Graham: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Kent: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Istchenko: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Dixon: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Hassard: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Cathers: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Nixon: Agree.
Ms. McLeod: Agree.
Ms. Hanson: Agree.
Ms. Stick: Agree.
Ms. Moorcroft: Agree.
Ms. White: Agree.
Mr. Tredger: Agree.
Mr. Barr: Agree.
Mr. Silver: Agree.
Clerk: Mr.&n= bsp;Speaker, the results are 18 yea, nil nay.
Speaker: I d= eclare the motion, as amended, carried.
Motion No. 792, as amended, agreed to=
Motion No. 845
Clerk: Motion No. 845, standing in the name of Mr. Tredge= r.
Speaker: It = is moved by the Member for Mayo-Tatchun:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to work closely with the Village of Carmacks = and the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation to provide a budgetary allocation in the 2015-16 fiscal year and a development timeline to upgrade Carmacks̵= 7; recreational facilities.
Mr. Tredger: I’m honoured and pleased to be able to bring forward this motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to work closely with the Village of Carmacks = and the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation to provide a budgetary allocation in the 2015-16 fiscal year and a development timeline to upgrade Carmacks̵= 7; recreational facilities.
WeR= 17;ve just heard how powerful sports can be in setting the way for our citizens, and I’m here to talk in particular about Carmacks, although I will talk a= bout a Yukon-wide strategy.
The pe= ople of Carmacks have been requesting an arena for some time now. As far back as 20= 06, their outdoor rink was identified as problematic. The base on which it was built was shifting. That made the flooding of the ice very, very difficult.= It was an outdoor skating rink but it was widely used. After school, the kids would run down there to play. I can remember stopping at the store sometimes and hearing the snap of the sticks hitting the puck, the puck hitting the boards, and an echo on a cold day. That is a very Canadian sound. They had a recreational hockey league that played, but the pillars were starting to disintegrate, and this year an engineer’s report advised that the building was no longer safe. Nine years after the problem was first identif= ied, it was getting worse and worse and worse, and finally the kids and the community were told that it was no longer safe to use the rink.
As I m= entioned, Carmacks has long wanted a covered rink. Hockey is big in many of our communities, even in Old Crow. Our recreational facilities play a central r= ole in our communities. The request for a covered rink came after much thought. They found that quite often it was too cold on an outdoor rink — certainly it was too cold for organized scrimmages and practices. There may= be a few brave people out there skating around a bit for a short period of tim= e, but having that facility covered enables Canadians wherever they are to play through the winter.
The cu= rling rink, which is attached to it, is also having settling problems although it= is still in use. It serves a central function — again, I attended a bons= piel there this spring — the Sweetheart Bonspiel. It was a lot of fun and = the whole community came around.
The re= ason I think it’s important to talk about our recreational facilities is bec= ause they are central to our life. When we talk about our communities and attrac= ting people to live in our communities, when we do surveys of the workforce R= 12; the teachers, social workers, conservation officers, Highways and Public Wo= rks people, maintenance people, Yukon Housing, government workers, employees of First Nations and, increasingly, people who are employed in the mines ̵= 2; and ask them what they are looking for in our communities? They talk about health, schools, and recreation. They want to raise their family, they want= to have a healthy family, and they want their kids to have something to do. = span>
I̵= 7;ll leave talking about Carmacks in particular for a few minutes and talk about asset management and risk assessment. In 2009, when talking about education, the Auditor General said that strategic planning is a management tool that help= s to set priorities and goals and develop a plan to meet those goals. It also he= lps to assess how resources are to be allocated and gives it the scope to adjust its direction in response to a changing environment.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, Yukon has been well-served in many ways by our buildings — recreation= al, municipal buildings, our schools. We have invested millions and millions of dollars. Successive governments have invested in our community infrastructu= re. However, as these infrastructures age and as our O&M costs increase, we need a management plan. We need to be able to identify and inventory all our buildings — all our facilities — including our recreational facilities. What condition are they in? What are the O&M costs doing? W= hat maintenance is necessary? Who is responsible and how are we going to ensure that our buildings are maintained? We need a strategic plan. We need to work with our communities to articulate future needs, to start putting aside mon= ey to meet future costs, and to meet the requirements of a community around health, around education and around recreation. What government services do= we need? That type of planning should be done on a territory-wide basis and in every community.
As I s= aid, many of our buildings are aging. Problems are occurring. We look at the Ross Riv= er School. Problems identified over 10 years ago finally closed it. We look at= the outdoor rink at Carmacks. Problems identified nine years ago finally closed= it. We look at Dawson City — and I’m pleased to note that there is = some funding for the refurbishing of their arena. It was built in 2002. Thirteen years later, they still haven’t been able to use the upper storey from the time it was built. They still don’t have artificial ice. <= /p>
There = have been many promises, many starts and stops, but hats off to the people of Dawson City, to the municipal government of Dawson City, to the public service = 212; Community Services and Highways and Public Works, which are working with th= em and working on a plan that, hopefully, will get them an arena.
The po= int of all this is that we need a long-term facilities plan. That plan needs to be community-driven, connected to official community plans. It needs to involve the First Nation governments, the community, Yukon government and, where th= ere is one, the municipal government. It should be a collaborative effort.
When I= went and visited my communities and different communities around the Yukon, I asked: What are the plans for your arenas? For your municipal building? They weren’t sure. They weren’t sure how to go about getting them. The government made a good start, and I must congratula= te the minister responsible for “Our Towns, Our Future”. It was a = good start and it involved the communities, but we can’t leave it there. We need to move from there to tie that into our official community plans, to o= ur dreams and hopes for the various levels of government, and to be prepared so that, when industry moves into the area and when workers come to our communities, they want to stay — that our recreational facilities are there, that we can compete with the draw of Whitehorse or of the south.
What w= e need is political leadership and will, a belief that the Yukon people can work toge= ther to create a fiscally responsible, adaptable and very effective plan around = our buildings. What we are seeing is an ad hoc, or seemingly ad hoc, decision-making process where we have one branch of government buying a new fire truck and another branch of government saying that it doesn’t fi= t in our existing building. When we have things like the Dawson arena or the Ross River School — I heard of another one, the Pelly Crossing arena. The = roof has been leaking but it hasn’t been repaired for two years now. In fi= ve years, two years, 10 years — when will we have to condemn that one and start over again?
We mus= t have a plan for maintaining our buildings to ensure that our operation and mainten= ance costs aren’t rising too quickly, to find a way to ensure that the maintenance costs are there.
Many o= f our municipal governments don’t have a large revenue base. They don’= ;t have a lot of taxpayers so they’re stuck, and they’re caught in= a bit of a catch-22 because, on one hand, they ne= ed the facilities to attract people to the community. On the other hand people won’t move into the community until they’re there but they need people there to be able to maintain them and pay for them. It needs some coordinated thought, some working ahead. It needs and it begs for a strateg= ic plan.
The ot= her reason I think we need a strategic plan with all communities involved is that we h= ave needs in each of our communities and, because we’re closest to them, = we think they’re the most important needs, but we can’t build ever= yone a new arena at the same time. We have to move that to a strategic plan inst= ead of an ad hoc decision-making. Who lobbies the best? Who has the right membe= r in the Legislature? Who has the ear of the minister? We need a strategic plan = to move away from that.
I look= at the case around schools. I’ve mentioned this in the House before — = and bear with me, because I think it’s an important lesson. In the early = 1990s many communities wanted a new school and many communities needed a new school and they had been built or promised or talk= ed about on an ad hoc basis. What the Minister of Education of the day, Piers McDonald, did was have an assessment done of all the existing schools ̵= 2; what state they were in, what was needed to be done right away on an emerge= ncy basis, and what could be put off two, three, four or five years. He brought= all the school councils together and said, “Here’s what it looks like.”
The sc= hool councils looked at that and determined the order that the buildings would be built in. One school — Pelly Crossing — needed an addition. It = was built. Mayo knew that they were on the list and they would get theirs in tw= o, three or four years and started to plan. It was the same in Carmacks, the s= ame in Hidden Valley, the same in Golden Horn — and they started to make their plans and, lo and behold, they agreed on it and it rolled out. We were able to build over 10 schools within that decade — a belief in Yukon people, a belief in strategic planning.
We hav= e a similar problem with our swimming pools. The government of the day in the <= span class=3DSpellE>1980s built swimming pools in many of our rural communities. Those pools are now getting on toward almost 40 years old. For some of them, the operation and maintenance costs are skyrocketing. The rep= airs are more, but do we have a plan? Are we going to build a new one in Pelly Crossing this year and one in Carmacks the next year?
It doe= sn’t appear that there is a plan. I asked in the communities and they are not su= re. What they are sure of is their O&M costs are increasing. What they are = sure of is that they perform a valuable function in the community. Much efficien= cy can be achieved if we work in the community and work with the needs of the community. I believe we can overcome some of the inertia that has prevented= us from moving ahead in a coordinated fashion, so that we don’t wait unt= il a building is closed or needs to be torn down before we begin the operation a= nd maintenance.
We kno= w that the Yukon Party government values sports and recreation. We have seen that they= are willing to put $7 million into an artificial turf soccer field in Whistle B= end. We have seen that they are willing to bail out golf courses. We have seen t= hat they support the X Games. It is important that we also support recreation in our communities. Imagine what it feels like in Carmacks to have your outdoor skating rink condemned and to have to drive either to Pelly Crossing or to Whitehorse for soccer practices and pick up the paper and read that the government is going to put $7 million into a soccer field.
If thi= s was part of a strategic plan and if we had all of our ducks in a row the government could say, “Yes, we’re doing that today; next year we’re building Dawson’s; the year after we’re building Carmacks’ and in the meantime, we’re doing these things to alleviate the problem.” But, no we don’t have a strategic plan. We are just making it up as we go.
I am s= ure that is only a perception. I would hope that when we are spending $1.3 billion, = we have a strategic plan and I am hoping that not only do I get support for th= is motion for this year — that I hear from the minister’s office, “yes, this is the order that we’re working on; this is our plan= for recreational facilities in Mayo, in Dawson City, in Watson Lake”, so = that the people there know when they can anticipate an upgrade. They know what t= hey can expect in terms of maintenance and they know where they can go with it. Wouldn’t that be nice?
Recrea= tion is the centre of our communities in many, many ways. It doubles as a meeting place. When I think of the Carmacks recreation place, I have been to celebrations in their gym, taken part in their curling, attended funerals, = had meetings upstairs — visited. Many of our communities don’t have= a lot of visiting places, so the recreation place serves as it. There is no T= im Hortons, so you meet at the recreation centre.
We hav= e an opportunity to build centres and complexes we can be proud of, and to manage them responsibly in a fiscally sustainable way. We have invested, over the years, millions of dollars in our facilities. We have built trails. We have built greenhouses and campgrounds. More and more, I see support for traditi= onal activities and community members getting together in their recreational cen= tres for beading; getting together and then leaving to go berry-picking or fishi= ng. It’s a hub of activity. Carmacks is very, very fortunate in that their recreational director is outstanding in his ability to bring people into th= is facility and to be in the gym after school and play.
I want= to read from the Community Recreation Facil= ities Inventory and Assessment, which was completed in 2009. It says on the Carmacks rink — and I quote: “The outdoor skating rink was visi= ted on May 9, 2006 and again on August 27, 2008 and was found to be in fair to = good condition. The main deficiency is the concrete floor, which has cracked and heaved in numerous places. This has led to an uneven surface with low and h= igh spots, making ice development very difficult.”
That w= as in 2008. Little was done until it was condemned in 2015. The people of Carmacks talked about a new arena. The previous MLA petitioned the House for it. The Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation asked for it and made offers to the government to work on it. Nine years later, this winter, it was closed. The pillars were collapsing and it was declared unsafe.
The cu= rling rink remains to shift — an ice-making nightmare. As I mentioned, Carmacks = has long been asking for a covered arena. Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation m= ade it a priority. The previous MLA spoke in this House about it. The school, t= he nurses and the RCMP have written letters of support. Tonight, the youth are meeting in Carmacks and their question is: What are you going to do about a= new arena for Carmacks? That’s the question to their leadership. There’s a meeting there.
I talk= ed to a parent from Carmacks. He has three boys between the ages of 10 and 18. He drives to Whitehorse three times and sometimes five times a week so his boys can play hockey. How many years will he do that before he decides, “M= aybe I’ll just live in Whitehorse”? That’s the dilemma that our communities are facing. I talk to the people in Dawson and the people in Da= wson love their community — and it is a beautiful community — but on= e of them said, “How do we compete with the Canada Games Centre?” We talked about it and he realized there are other ways and other draws in the community, but I can look around the room and anyone here from a rural community knows that draw and knows parents like the fellow in Little Salmon Carmacks who makes that drive regularly — whether it’s in Tesli= n or in Haines Junction or in Carmacks or in Pelly Crossing.
I reme= mber growing up and playing on the local rink and it was a real draw. That’= ;s where the friends went after school. Quite often — most often, it kep= t me out of trouble. I said “most”. We have an opportunity in Carmac= ks. The community is ready to sit down and do some long-term planning. They hav= e a number of aging facilities. We could work with them to build a centrepiece. Carmacks is looking at a possible influx in the area of several mines coming on. The mining companies want their employees to live in their communities. People want to raise families there, but in order to do so, as we said, the three key things — health, education and recreational facilities.
Now is= the time for territory-wide, long-term planning to use our biggest resource — = the Yukon people. I can guarantee you that if we involve them in the planning of facilities in their community, we will do them for less money, they will be better used and they will be much better taken care of because local people will have that sense of ownership and involvement.
I ask = members of this Legislature to join Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation, the Village of Carmacks, the citizens of Carmacks, the teachers, the RCMP, the nurses and = the youth of Carmacks to approve this motion, to approve the repeated requests = to move ahead with a recreational complex so that tonight, when I report to the leaders in Carmacks and their students and children ask them what they are going to do about a new arena for Carmacks, they can look those kids in the= eye and say, “We are going to work with the Yukon government, we are goin= g to work with the Village of Mayo, we are going to work with Little Salmon Carm= acks First Nation, and we’re going to start the process.” We donR= 17;t expect it to be built next year, but there is a process.
What t= his motion asks is a budgetary allocation in the 2015-16 fiscal ye= ar and a development timeline to upgrade Carmacks’ recreational faciliti= es. I know that some people in Carmacks were concerned about that because they looked to Dawson. In 2002, they were starting to plan to fix their arena. H= ere it is, 13 years later, and they have a plan in place, the community has pul= led together and done awesome work, and they’re moving ahead. Hopefully it will be followed up on.
I don&= #8217;t want the citizens of Carmacks, the children of Carmacks, to wait 13 years, = so I urge everyone to support this motion and we can move ahead.
Hon. Mr. Dixon: It’s a pleasure to rise today to speak to this important topic. I wanted to start by thanking the Member for Mayo-Tatchun for bringing it forward. The motion, as it reads, is urging the Yukon government to work closely with the Village of Carmacks and the Little Salm= on Carmacks First Nation to provide a budgetary allocation in the 2015-16 fisc= al year and a development timeline to upgrade Carmacks= 217; recreational facilities.
Obviou= sly the focus has been on the recreation centre and the hockey rink as a result of = the recent challenges that those facilities have faced — in particular, t= he hockey rink. I wanted to acknowledge and thank the member for bringing forw= ard the concerns of the community that he represents, the Village of Carmacks, = and the concerns expressed by his constituents.
This i= s a topic that I know is important to the residents of Carmacks. They were obviously disappointed, as I’m sure many Yukoners were, when the determination = was made earlier this year that their facilities would have to be closed down, = or at least shut down for the immediate future.
It is = something that we are certainly working actively with the village to resolve. The mem= ber made a number of comments about recreational infrastructure in general, the planning thereof, asset management and the different roles of different ord= ers of government, when it comes to supporting recreation in the territory. I t= hink he is correct, in some respects, that there is a role for a variety of orde= rs of government.
I do t= hink it is important to recognize that the facilities we are talking about today belon= g to the municipality of Carmacks. That is certainly not to say that they are le= ft holding the bag alone. Obviously the Yukon government has demonstrated throughout t= he territory that we are willing to work with different orders of government to advance recreational infrastructure. When it comes to things like asset management and operation and maintenance, those types of issues rest with t= he municipality, and we are happy to work with them on them.
I will= cover that off, Mr. Speaker, in my comments. I will discuss the different ro= les that governments can play with regard to recreational infrastructure. I wan= t to talk a little bit about some of the funding sources and opportunities that = are available, both for this project and for recreational facilities in general. One of the lines that jumped out at me in this motion was the idea that we = should provide a budgetary allocation in this year’s budget. I will return to that in a few moments.
I shou= ld say, at the outset — because I know that there is a lot of information and a = lot of comments that I want to make today — but I did want to say that the general principle of the motion, I certainly agree with and support. Howeve= r, I will make some comments throughout the afternoon and provide some perspecti= ves that I think will be valuable for members in considering this motion.
The me= mber did correctly point out that a few years ago, in 2009, the Community Services Sport and Recreation branch did conduct a bit of an over= view of all community recreational facilities that year. They conducted the inventory assessment of both incorporated and unincorporated communities and looked at the assets and structures in all of those communities, both incorporated and unincorporated. That inventory and assessment is still relevant and important. It is a bit dated now, obviously. It is a few years old, but I think it does provide a bit of a baseline for us to look at the territory-wide recreational infrastructure.
As the= Member for Mayo-Tatchun correctly noted, the Village of Carmacks is the local authority for recreation and, in that community, there are a number of assets, including a community hall, curling rink, gymnasium, swimming pool, outdoor rink, playground and gazebo as well. The rec centre = is a wood frame structure that was built in 2001 as an add-on to the adjacent existing curling rink. The recreation centre includes a main entrance that provides access to it and the curling rink, a gymnasium, meeting rooms, a kitchen, a weight room, washrooms and showers, a youth centre and a daycare= .
The Le= ader of the Official Opposition is correctly pointing out that this is from a few y= ears ago, and I certainly acknowledge that, but this is the most recent overview= of recreational infrastructure we have in the territory. I would appreciate it= if she would keep her comments off-mic to herself perhaps, while I attempt to = make some comments on this motion.
The ex= terior of the building is fitted with sheet metal for the siding and roofing; the foundation is concrete; interior finishes are mostly drywall with some wood paneling; floors are linoleum; and ceilings are T-bar with fluorescent lighting; and the building is connected to municipal water and sewer servic= es.
The co= mmunity hall and adjacent curling rink and outdoor skating rink are located on lot = 10 in the community.
As was= noted by the Sport and Recreation branch in March 2006, the gymnasium extends eastwa= rd beyond the main entrance to the recreation centre building. It is full size with floor markings and basketball hoops to accommodate two smaller playing surfaces. There is no divider. The flooring is hardwood and the ceiling is = open to the roof trusses.
Access= to the gymnasium is through glass doors located midway along the side of the room.= The doors lead from the main hallway of the building. An overhead viewing balco= ny is located above the doors and is accessed from the second floor of the bui= lding. Two emergency exits with double doors and push bars are located on the northeast side of the gymnasium.
There = is no natural lighting, but artificial lighting is provided by overhead strip fluorescent fixtures and vapour lights. Heating is provided by a hot-water boiler system, with strip radiators located along the perimeter walls at the height of about 2.5 metres. There was also included, in this 2006 report, information about the weight room, the kitchen and the youth centre, which = are all held in that building, as well as a daycare.
The bu= ilding itself — unfortunately, we were unable to find design or construction documents or drawings for the facility, and I’m not sure if we’= ve been able to find them since, but certainly in the most recent report I hav= e, we weren’t able to find those original construction documents or drawings.
The re= creation centre was visually assessed on May 9, 2006. The exterior was revisited on August 27, 2008, and the building was found to be in excellent condition, w= ith no significant deficiencies noted. The one item of concern noted by the Vil= lage of Carmacks staff was the wall-mounted heating system, which has required repairs on several occasions and is not considered by them to be particular= ly effective.
Also i= n that March 2006 report, it was noted that the Village of Carmacks had a three-sh= eet curling rink attached to the south side of the rec centre and accessed thro= ugh the centre. The rink is of unknown age. Two doors provide access to the rink from a raised viewing area at the north end, which is equipped with windows that cover almost the whole width of the rink. The viewing area is also equipped with a bar.
The ex= act structure of the rink is somewhat difficult to discern, because both the interior and exterior surfaces have been finished. However, it appears to b= e a wood frame structure with laminated beams and side pillars built on a concr= ete slab with spread footings. The outside walls and roof are finished with she= et metal. The inside walls and ceilings are finished with painted plywood.
There = are two double-door emergency exits equipped with push bars, one at the south end a= nd one on the west side of the viewing area. Interior lighting is fluorescent. Again, as with the rec centre, the curling rink did not seem to have any de= sign drawings that we could locate at that time. The curling rink was visually assessed on May 9, 2006, and it was found to be in good condition, with no significant deficiencies noted or reported by staff. No changes to the exte= rior of the building were noted during the August 27, 2008, visit.
Turnin= g to the rink, the Member for Mayo-Tatchun already read = the portion about the hockey rink, so I won’t turn to that, but I will no= te that there are a number of other pieces of recreational infrastructure in t= he community. Since the motion does speak to recreational facilities in general and not specifically the rink or the rec centre, I do want to note that the= re are other recreational facilities in the community, although we have been focused on those because of the issues related to them.
Within= the context of Yukon government’s support for sport and recreation in the territory, we’ve provided funding opportunities for a number of communities to advance recreational opportunities. I want to note that our continued investments in sport and recreation provide Yukoners with a wide range of opportunities to be active and engaged in healthy living. From community recreation to funding that helps support the development of athle= tes, coaches and officials in their pursuit of sport excellence, our government = has invested in the quality of life of Yukoners.
In 201= 4-15, Community Services invested $250,000 for the implementation of the renewed active living strategy. That investment continues on an annual basis. The active living strategy is something that’s available on-line. I wante= d to just quickly note some of the comments that were made about that strategy at its time of inception by the previous Minister of Community Services.
She no= ted that the renewed strategy provides opportunities to address our government’= ;s commitment to new national priorities. Its goals and recommendations for ac= tion will counteract the rising incidence of obesity and inactivity and support Yukoners to reach Canada’s physical activity guidelines and targets.<= /span>
The re= newed strategy emphasizes the importance of the after-school time period, a time = when all children and youth need access to programs that increase levels of phys= ical activity. Our government will continue to collaborate with partners through= out Yukon to meet these goals. Through the renewed strategy, we will ensure that every Yukon person has opportunities to choose a healthy lifestyle and to be active. Together we can overcome challenges, improve our overall personal health and build healthier communities.
To tha= t end, Mr. Speaker, the then minister presented the renewed Yukon active living strategy and invited all Yukoners to join the growing number of partners that, through innovative and creative initiatives, contribute toward a common vision of vibrant, healthy and sustainable communities.
The ac= tive living strategy has guided actions throughout the Yukon since then. As I no= ted before, the Department of Community Services provides support in the amount= of $250,000 annually to support those goals identified in that strategy.
As wel= l, in 2014-15, Community Services negotiated a funding agreement with the Public Health Agency of Canada for $2 million over the next five years under the northern wellness project. This is a project that was announced earlier this year, on April 7, 2015. At that time, it was announced by the federal Minis= ter of Health, the Hon. Rona Ambrose, as well as the current Minister of Health= and Social Services, the Member of Parliament, Ryan Leef= span> and me as Minister of Community Services. We announced on April 7 that fund= ing for the Yukon northern wellness project was available.
The Pu= blic Health Agency of Canada is investing more than $2 million over five years in community-based programming that aims to improve the health and well-being = of Yukoners, especially among children and youth.
The Yu= kon northern wellness project will bring together several community-based partn= ers under one agreement to build on the strengths of northern communities to increase physical activity and reduce the trend of unhealthy behaviours that increase the instances of chronic disease and tobacco use among youth. The project will be delivered in Yukon communities by active living partners working with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Government of Yukon’s Department of Community Services’ Sport and Recreation branch, the Government of Yukon’s Department of Health and Social Services and the Recreation and Parks Association of Yukon.
This p= roject will provide continued support for events and programming like winter active for life, Yukon active living, after-school programming, RPAY’s lendi= ng library, the rural healthy eating active living program and many more.
The ne= ws release for that announcement included a number of interesting facts that I think a= re worth sharing. Only four percent of Canadian children are getting the recommended amount of daily physical activity. A third of all Canadian chil= dren and youth are already overweight or obese. High levels of sedentary behavio= ur increase health risks in children. The economic costs of obesity are estima= ted at $4.6 billion in 2008, based on costs associated with the eight chronic diseases most consistently linked to obesity. A large number of factors, su= ch as an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use, can be reduced to prevent and delay the start of chronic diseases.
The Yu= kon northern wellness project builds on the strengths of northern communities to overcome health challenges and reduce the incidence of chronic disease, physical inactivity and the use of tobacco.
The Go= vernment of Canada is committed to working with the provinces and territories and the private and not-for-profit sectors to encourage all Canadians to adopt healthier lifestyles. I can say with certainty that the Government of Yukon= is also committed to working with the Government of Canada to meet those objectives as well. That announcement was done in April, as I noted, and was done by the Minister of Health and Social Services who is a great proponent= of active living in the territory.
He is = using the resources of his department to encourage healthy lifestyles throughout Yuko= n. Both the Yukon active living strategy and the northern wellness project are providing active living opportunities for all Yukoners — children and youth, adults, seniors and elders. We are helping communities build capacit= y so they can design and lead programs and projects to meet their unique needs. Through these initiatives, we are providing funding for after-school progra= ms to help create opportunities for children and youth that will enhance their sports skills, their well-being and encourage them to take part in healthy activities every day.
We als= o continue to support seniors and elders by encouraging them to take part in active li= ving opportunities such as local, friendly competitions and competitive sport training. This encourages them to stay involved and continue to hone their skills in helping lead healthier and happier lives, regardless of age.
We are= providing action grants so that non-governmental organizations, communities and schoo= ls can expand active living programs for Yukon’s children and youth. We = are enhancing leadership training and programs for community leaders that offer after-school programming. We are providing equipment to deliver active livi= ng programs in schools. We are continuing our commitment to programs like Movi= ng to Inclusion, active start and the Yukon developmental games, which are off= ered through Special Olympics Yukon.
We are= providing funding for the Rural Healthy and Active Living leaders program in rural communities across the territory. We continue to support the ElderActive Recreation Association of Yukon, which ke= eps seniors and elders active, healthy and connected to their communities throu= gh ongoing programming and activities. We are also continuing annual support f= or Team Yukon at the Canada 55+ Games, which occur every second year. Once aga= in, Team Yukon represented our territory well at the 2014 Canada 55+ Games in Alberta. They brought home 69 medals and were awarded the spirit of the gam= es award yet again.
The ElderActive Recreation Association is dedicated to
supporting a large variety of programs and activities for Yukon’s 55-=
plus
population and is building capacity for supporting leadership training in a
number of those activities. I had the opportunity to attend the ElderActive AGM a few weeks ago and was much impresse=
d with
the incredible turnout at that event. They had over 140 people participate =
in
their AGM and filled the Elks Hall on a morning a few weeks ago to discuss
these important issues.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, we believe in the importance of active and healthy living for all Yukoners,= and I want to acknowledge the importance of community volunteers and leaders who provide opportunity for kids, youth, adults and seniors to participate.
Early = in October 2014, Community Services partnered with the Recreation and Parks Associatio= n of Yukon to host the Yukon recreation gathering with participants from recreat= ion organizations, boards and societies from across the territory. The gathering was a great opportunity to work together on priorities for territorial and national initiatives. By coming together, Yukoners in the recreation commun= ity, staff and volunteers were able to strengthen relationships, establish new connections and explore ways to enhance recreation in communities.= p>
In Feb= ruary 2015, provincial and territorial ministers endorsed, and the Government of Canada supported, A Framework for Recreation in Canada 2015, a collaborative effort between provincial and territorial governments and the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association.
The fr= amework presents a renewed definition and a vision of recreation, and it confirms common values and principles. The framework provides opportunities to enhan= ce mental and physical well-being, connect people and nature, and address cons= traints to participation. Implementation of the framework will now begin at the territorial, municipal and community level, as organizations are invited to apply the framework to their own policies, practices and procedures. We continue to connect with territorial sports organizations to map out our priorities in sport for the next five to 10 years in conjunction with the n= ew Canadian sport policy.
This w= ork will culminate with a new Yukon sport action plan in 2015, which will guide our direction, funding and focus for years to come in sport across Yukon. We continue to invest in community leadership through our Yukon sport and recreation groups, which bring tremendous benefits to athletes, coaches, officials, recreation enthusiasts and all Yukoners.
In 201= 3-14, we began a partnership with the departments of Education and Economic Developm= ent, F.H. Collins Secondary School and Sport Yukon for the first-ever Yukon sport school and physical literacy program. The sport school had a very successful first year and, for the 2014-15 school year, the= re were 34 students registered in the sport school for the first semester, and= 30 in the second semester.
This p= rogram gives students in grades 10 to 12 opportunities to train and enhance physic= al performance to better perform in the sport of their choice. It is based on a program in British Columbia that has had tremendous success and has had a v= ery successful record in that province. This program gives students a new way to improve sport and school performance during the school day.
We are continuing our support for the sport school this year by providing funding = for the physical literacy coordinator position at Sport Yukon who plays an inte= gral role in the programming.
Sport = Yukon has been funded again this year to provide programming in the area of physical literacy in rural communities as part of our sport action plan from the new Canadian sport policy. Our Sport and Recreation branch, Sport Yukon and RPAY will work together in this area, which will provide great benefits to our communities and schools in rural Yukon. Physical literacy community resource kits were developed for use in this program in partnership with Yukon Lotte= ry Commission.
Here in Whitehorse we provided support to the Friends of Mount Sima whose tremendous efforts opened Mount Sima in 2013-14. This facility plays an important role as a home to three of our territorial sport governing bodies that provide both recreational and competitive opportunities for youth in Yukon. The hill is supported by the = business community and by other sport organizations for the benefit of Yukon and is a future hosting destination for both summer and winter sports. It will conti= nue to provide recreational, health, social and economic benefits for all Yukon= ers.
Commun= ity members supported the hill in the winter of 2013-14 by purchasing over 900 season passes, much more than the average annual pass sales of approximately 250. = We are proud to be part of the solution in ensuring the hill opened for the 2013-14 season. In 2014-15, we invested $50,000 in hill operations that will help ensure our athletes have a facility for training in the sport of alpine skiing, snowboarding and freestyle skiing, and we look forward to them havi= ng a sustainable future.
We con= tinue to provide funding in our sport and recreation community and contributions to umbrella sport and recreation delivery partners, including Volunteer Yukon, Special Olympics Yukon, Sport Yukon, Recreation and Parks Association of Yu= kon, the 29 Yukon sport governing bodies and the six Yukon special recreational organizations. Community Services specifically funded sport and recreation = by providing in 2014-15: $67,000 to Volunteer Yukon; $184,000 to recreation groups; $549,000 to Yukon sport governing bodies; $127,000 in core funding = to Sport Yukon; $17,500 for the Special Olympics national games; $25,000 for t= he Canada 55+ Games; $25,000 for the 2015 Canadian Masters Curling championshi= p; $50,000 for Friends of Mount Sima; $100,000 for= the 2014 ISF men’s junior world championship; $150,000 for the Canada Win= ter Games; $50,000 for the Western Canada Summer Games; $90,750 for high-performance athletes, coaching and officials grants; $54,000 in elite athlete funding for six nationally carded Yukon athletes, including Aidan L= ove for wheelchair basketball, cyclist Zack Bell, cross-country skiers Emily Nishikawa, Dahria Beatty and Knute Johnsgaard and of course, Bronwyn Pasloski, a s= wimmer from Yukon. This support assisted them in their development as athletes and role models. Emily’s rise to the Sochi Olympics in 2014 is a perfect example of the importance of this funding.
$145,0= 00 for the Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle was provided, as well as $417,000 in Sport for Life funding to enhance athlete and coach development and encourage rural a= nd aboriginal participation in sport; and $90,000 for the North American Indigenous Games.
We als= o continue our commitment to ethical and harassment-free sport in Yukon. The government contributes annually for the training of coaches, leaders and parents throu= gh respect in sport programs. The coach/leader program was originally launched= in 2007 and a parents program in 2012. These are effective and informative on-= line training resources for coaches, leaders and parents of active children in a= ll sports in Yukon.
In the= year ahead, as we have done in previous years, the Sport and Recreation branch w= ill assist communities interested in benefitting from sport and recreation community capacity-building workshops. These workshops are critical to skil= ls development among sport and recreation organizations, municipal, local and First Nation recreation staff and volunteers, and encouraging the interchan= ge of ideas among them to build a more resilient sport and recreation system across the territory.
To inc= rease participation and access to sport in the territory, Yukon and Canada will continue their bilateral agreement, which began in 2003. Both governments h= ave committed $252,000 on an annual basis within a new four-year agreement, beginning in 2015-16. Together with Canada, Yukon is building a strong foundation for sport that will assist our athletes, coaches and officials to succeed in events like the Arctic Winter Games and the North American Indigenous Games.
The new four-year agreement will focus on physical literacy, coaching and leadership development, as well as rural and aboriginal enhanced athlete sport development. In addition to working together to continuously improve access= to sport and recreation in Yukon, Community Services is pleased to provide fun= ding that directly benefits enthusiasts, athletes, coaches, officials and organizations at the local level.
In 201= 4-15, we allocated $110,000 to help with repairs and upgrades to existing recreation= al facilities in 12 unincorporated communities. In addition, we allocated $417,000-plus in 2014-15 for community recreation assistance grants for 12 unincorporated communities to support recreation programming, facility operation and maintenance, seasonal pools and recreation staffing. We also recently announced that we have updated the formula for this funding to our unincorporated communities, which will see an overall funding increase of m= ore than $400,000 beginning in this budget. This means that our new total for t= his fund will be over $800,000 in the budget that we have before us in this cur= rent Sitting.
In res= ponse to community concerns regarding the rising costs to deliver recreation opportunities in rural Yukon specifically, the costs of maintaining and operating recreation infrastructure and retaining staff, the Yukon Recreation Act and regulations were reviewed and revised.
We con= tinue to support Team Yukon’s participation in all major games, such as the Ar= ctic Winter Games, the Canada Games, Western Canada Summer Games, Special Olympi= c games, North American Indigenous Games and the Canada = 55+ Games. Our support for Team Yukon provides substantial value, tremendous benefits and inspiration to the participants and organizations involved in these life-changing opportunities. Like the Olympic experience, these events bring our territory and nation together to celebrate sport excellence.
This p= ast year, we saw territorial contingents participating in the 2014 North American Indigenous Games, the 2014 Arctic Winter Games, the 2014 Canada 55+ Games a= nd the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
The 20= 14 North American Indigenous Games were in Regina in August, and $90,000 assisted Te= am Yukon’s participation in these major North American games that includ= ed 5,000 participants from across Canada and the U.S.A. The team brought home = 11 medals and we’re very proud of our young aboriginal athletes. =
In Feb= ruary 2015, over 100 Yukon athletes travelled to Prince George to compete in the Canada Winter Games. Team Yukon won eight medals in sports such as cross-country skiing, biathlon and figure skating and also received the Jac= k Pelech Award given to the team that best demonstrates competitive performance, sportsmanship and the spirit of play.
In the= fall of 2014 at the annual sport awards night, 34 awards of excellence were present= ed to athletes who excelled in national and international competitions in the sport of athletics, cross-country skiing, cycling, kayaking, five-pin bowli= ng, orienteering, snowboarding, swimming, whitewater canoeing and wrestling.
We als= o had three teams receive awards of excellence in the sports of soccer, bocce and five-= pin bowling when they participated at the Special Olympics 2014 Canada Summer Games. Not only did these athletes win medals in these events but they also inspired each other, communities and Yukoners through their hard work, perseverance, talent and humility.
With o= ur ongoing support for Team Yukon and Yukon sport and recreation programs, we will continue to watch Yukoners excel in their chosen pursuits. Our support for major games and Team Yukon’s participation in high-level competition contributes to the development of Yukon’s athletes, coaches and officials, and healthy communities.
We wer= e also pleased to see Softball Yukon host the 2014 International Softball Federati= on Junior Men’s World Championships in Whitehorse. We supported this eve= nt with $150,000 of funding. Yukon and Softball Yukon are recognized nationally and internationally for excellence in hosting major competitions, including= the 2012 ISF Senior Women’s World Championships and the 2008 ISF Junior Men’s World Championships. Softball Yukon is also now recognized as a major partner to the Friends of Sima organizati= on. The junior men’s championship was a huge success and we thank all the volunteers and Softball Yukon for doing such a great job.
We rem= ain committed to working with our colleagues from across the north to ensure maximum participation in the 2016 Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk, Greenland, as well as in Iqaluit. The sports excluded, due to lack of facilities, will be included in an alternate event, so that all athletes will have a memorable experience in 2016. Yukon has agreed to host this alternate, multi-sport ev= ent at the same time as the Arctic Winter Games will be held in 2016.
I am a= lso very pleased to highlight Community Services’ ongoing support for Special Olympics Yukon. This organization provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Special Olympics programs for children and adul= ts. It works to provide opportunities for its athletes to develop physical fitness, enhance athletic skills and improve self-confidence, while developing a positive self-image.
In 201= 4-15, the department is providing over $66,000 — or just under $67,000 — = to support Special Olympics Yukon, which includes an annual increase to contin= ue our support of the development games in Yukon and support our athletes attending national games in the winter and summer.
We are= also very proud to support the Special Olympics Ambassador Program, in which selected athletes are empowered by learning what it takes to be an ambassador for Special Olympics Yukon. Ambassadors learn appropriate dress and conduct, al= ong with how to write, prepare and deliver speeches that promote Special Olympi= cs at various public events. We have had many of these athletes involved in pr= ess conferences, sport and recreation workshops and events, and their skills and confidence in delivering very passionate messages and information are truly remarkable.
I thin= k any of us who attended the Special Olympics gala dinner this year saw some great evidence of that with Mallory Pigage’s speech to the gala dinner, alongside Mark Tewksbury, who was the guest this year. Mallory delivered what I thought was a wonderful speech about her lif= e, how sport has benefitted her, how she has enjoyed it and how the Special Olympics has helped her get to where she is toda= y.
The co= ntribution of Special Olympics Yukon to Yukon athletics began in 1978 and has been gro= wing ever since, thanks to strong community and volunteer support. Today, Special Olympics Yukon boasts close to 100 athletes across Yukon and makes a genuine difference in so many people’s lives. Dozens of volunteer sport coach= es — over 70, in fact — help and support Special Olympics Yukon at= hletes achieve their sport goals.
In Jul= y 2014, Yukon shattered personal bests and brought home 14 medals from the 2014 Spe= cial Olympics Summer Games in Vancouver, B.C. We are also very happy to hear that for the first time in over 30 years, Yukon will be represented on Team Cana= da at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, California.=
I know= that the government, and I’m sure all members of this House, wish Darby McInty= re the best of luck as he will compete in track and field events. Darby has be= come a sensation on-line as a result of his collaboration with TSN to host that exceptional television ad that was broadcast both on TV and the Internet. I know that anybody who watched very much appreciated his commitment to his s= port and his willingness to go on national television to promote the Special Olympics gala dinner. I wanted to especially congratulate Darby for going to the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles and thank him for his role and his contribution to Special Olympics Yukon.
I̵= 7;m proud of the Government of Yukon’s support for Special Olympics and Yukon’s commitment to active living through an excellent and inclusive sport and recreation system.
A numb= er of issues were raised previously in discussion about the asset itself in Carma= cks, but I think asset management is an excellent issue when it comes to municip= al infrastructure throughout our territory. I noted previously that the rink a= nd community centre in question were owned by the municipality of Carmacks and= that asset management in general is a challenge for a lot of Yukon municipalitie= s. Currently, the Yukon government is working with the Village of Teslin and t= he Teslin Tlingit Council to conduct a pilot project on asset management, which has been an interesting endeavour for officials in the Department of Commun= ity Services, as I’m sure it has been for those officials in the Village = of Teslin and the TTC.
What I= have heard from that —
Speaker: Ord= er please. The time being 5:30 p.m., this House now stands adjourned until 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.
Debate on Motion No. 845 accordingly adjourned
The House adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
The following sess=
ional
papers were tabled May 13, 2015:
33-1-161
Report on Subsistence, Travel & Accommodations of Members of the Yukon Legisla= tive Assembly 2014-15 (Speaker Laxton)
33-1-162
Yukon College 2013-2014 Annual Report (Graham)
33-1-163
State of the Environment Interim Report — 2015 — An Update on Environm= ental Indicators (Istchenko)
33-1-164
Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board Annual Report 2014 (Nixon)
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