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Yukon Legislative Assembly
Whitehorse, Yukon
Thursday, October =
22, 2015
— 1:00 p.m.
Speaker: I w= ill now call the House to order.
Instea= d of a prayer: this morning, at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, the Governor General, the Hon. David Johnston, outgoing Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a= nd the Prime Minister-designate, Justin Trudeau, as well as many others, gathe= red to commemorate the first anniversary of the shootings at the memorial and on Parliament Hill.
They g= athered to remember Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo, who lost their lives on our homeland.
Let us= take a moment of silence to reflect on this painful anniversary and also the impor= tance of the work we are about to undertake.
Moment of silence observed
Speaker: We will remember them.
Please= be seated.
I woul= d like to welcome everybody back to the Legislature. You’ll notice that I walke= d in this time instead of being wheeled in. I’m going to try to keep it th= at way.
Introduction of PAGES
Speaker: It gives me great pleasure to announce that the followi=
ng
students will be serving the House as Legislative pages for the 2015 Fall
Sitting. I’ll try my best not to mess up their names. They are: Esthe=
r Huot, Abby Cuenza, Andrew=
Smyth
and Naomi Duru from Vanier Catholic Secondary S=
chool;
Sigourny Whipple-Grantham, Joe Parker and Tomas=
Tokic from F.H. Collins Secondary School; and Torsten Petersson and Con=
nor
Cottrell-Tribes from Porter Creek Secondary School.
Today = we have with us Esther and Naomi, and I would like all members to give them a warm welcome in joining us.
Applause
Bills
ordered dropped from Order Paper
Speaker: The= Chair wishes to inform the House of changes that have been made to the Order Pape= r. There is a long list, so bear with me. Bill No. 105, entitled Act to Amend the Vital Statistics Act = (No. 2), standing in the name of the Member for Copperbelt South, has been removed from the Order Paper as it is now outdated.
Withdrawal of motions
Speaker: The following motions have been removed from the Order Paper as they are outdat= ed: Motions No. 126, 901 and 987, standing in the name of the Member for Copper= belt South; Motions No. 441, 499, 623, 741, 803, 804, 946, 966, 978 and 982, standing in the name of the Leader of the Third Party; Motions No. 448, 656= and 844, standing in the name of the Member for Riverdale South; Motions No. 76= 4, 809 and 935, standing in the name of the Member for Takhini-Kopper King; Motions No. 643 and 786, standing in the name of the Leader of the Official Opposition; Motions No. 788 and 984, standing in the name of the Member for Mayo-Tatchun, and Motion No. 953, st= anding in the name of the Member for Vuntut Gwitchin.
The following motions have been removed from the Order Paper as the action requested in the motion has been taken in whole or in part: Motions No. 222, 284, 409, 770, 805, 844, 897, 898, 906 and 922, standing in the name of the Member for Watson Lake; Motions No. 267, 411, 480, 543 and 632, standing in= the name of the Leader of the Third Party; Motion No. 482, standing in the name= of the Member for Takhini-Kopper King; Motions No.= 553, 895, 931 and 963, standing in the name of the Member for Vuntut Gwitchin; Motion No. 821, standing in the name of the Leader of the Official Oppositi= on.
The following motions have been removed from the Order Paper due to the dissolu= tion of Parliament for a general election: Motions No. 357 and 490, standing in = the name of the Member for Mayo-Tatchun, and Motion= No. 905, standing in the name of the Leader of the Third Party.
The fo= llowing motions have been removed from the Order Paper as they refer to a bill that= has passed the Parliament of Canada: Motions No. 715, 890 and 900, standing in = the name of the Leader of the Official Opposition, and Motions No. 731, 777, 82= 6, 827 and 996, standing in the name of the Leader of the Third Party. We̵= 7;re not quite done yet.
Motion= No. 882, standing in the name of the Member for Watson Lake, has been removed from t= he Order Paper as it is the same as Motion No. 781. Motion No. 696, standing in the name of the Leader of the Third Party, has been removed from the Order Paper as it is similar to Motion No. 423, which was adopted by this House on April 24, 2013. Motions No. 180, 282, 301 and 321, standing in the name of = the Leader of the Third Party, Motion No. 125, standing in the name of the Memb= er for Copperbelt South, and Motion No. 343, standing in the name of the Member for Watson Lake, have been removed from the Order Paper at the request of t= hose members.
Finall= y, Written Question No. 8, standing in the name of the Member for Riverdale South, has been removed from the Order Paper as it is outdated.
We wil= l now proceed with the Order Paper.
daily
routine
TRIBUTES
In recognition of Nationa= l Foster Family Week
Hon. Mr. Nixon: I rise in the House today on behalf of all members to acknowledge national fo= ster family appreciation week, which is taking place this week, from October 18 = to the 24.
Caring= for children is society’s most important job and foster families play an essential role by providing homes for children whose families, for whatever reasons, are temporarily unable to look after them. Fostering is challenging and demanding. It requires love, patience and strong parenting skills.
I am a= sking that members of the Legislative Assembly join me in commending the approximately= 75 Yukon foster parents for stepping up and caring for our next generation. We thank you for opening your hearts and homes to Yukon children and families needing support.
On thi= s very special week, we would like to say how much you are appreciated and say tha= nk you for your great service to our collective community.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, this morning we launched a new foster care awareness and recruitment campai= gn, entitled “fostering is inclusive”. We are using this campaign to dispel some of the misconceptions around fostering. We always need new fost= er homes and new foster parents who can offer a variety of skills and perspect= ives to better match children’s specific needs and specific characteristic= s. The campaign addresses the misconceptions about who is qualified to be a fo= ster parent. A foster parent can be from many culturally diverse backgrounds. Th= ey can be single or married, same-sex couples, home= owners or home renters. An inclusive foster care force is truly key to a healthier foster care system for Yukon, and we continue to build just = such a force with those who are fostering today and future foster parents.
In con= clusion, I would like to extend this government’s sincere thanks to all of the foster families across Yukon, a thanks to those working as foster-care supp= ort workers in government and anyone who is involved in extended care with fost= er families, working with children and youth. Their work is extremely important and it makes a difference.
I ask = all members to join me in welcoming two foster parents, Terry McCallum and Mari= lyn Lawrence, along with others involved in foster care in our amazing territor= y.
Applause
In
recognition of democracy
Ms. Hanson: Across this vast country, the past three months have be= en a wild political ride. On behalf of the Yukon New Democratic Party, I would l= ike to congratulate our new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and our new, yet familiar, Member of Parliament, Larry Bagnell. =
Citize= ns in the Yukon have been through municipal elections, the federal election and conte= sts for the leadership of the Ta’an Kwäch’= än Council, on whose traditional territory this Legislature sits. I would like= to congratulate Chief Kristina Kane on her re-election. I would also like to congratulate Whitehorse Mayor Dan Curtis on his re-election, along with all members of council.
Throug= h these contests, Yukoners have exercised their right to participate in the democra= tic process of selecting the women and men who have earned their trust and their hopes for the future. There is a mix of old veterans and new faces. In fact, over 100 Yukoners put their names forward as candidates in the past few wee= ks.
In some contests, like the federal campaign, the winds of change have blown. In oth= ers, people have rallied around incumbents in whom they trust. Elections are hard work. There is phone-calling, canvassing, fundraising, event planning, organizing to get out the vote. Elections are also about ideas, big and sma= ll, and who has delivered and who has captured the collective dream of voters. = In the middle of a tough campaign, it can feel like a battle that all hopes and dreams are dependent on the outcome; but when it’s done and dusted and the people have spoken, there is the space to reflect and be thankful.
I want= to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those who put their name forward to = be a representative of the public in some capacity. You know, as I ponder my own life in politics and what was going on in my mind when I decided to jump in= to the fray, I know that the decision to run for a First Nation government, fo= r a local area council, for a municipal council, for a school council or for the Legislative Assembly or a Parliament is not taken easily or lightly. Politi= cs disrupts one’s family life and routine. Quick jaunts to the grocery s= tore can turn into hour-long discussions on issues. So, to all those of all political stripes who have put their names forward, thank you. You epitomize the value of public service and good government; and to those whose time in public office has passed for the moment, thank you for your service.
Of cou= rse the person with the name on the ballot is the publicly recognized figurehead, b= ut no candidate can succeed without a team effort. So thank you to all the volunteers, the canvassers, the phone-callers, the folks who put up signs, = the friends and family members who are always there in the background. Thanks to those who organize the elections and ensure the process is fair and that the public’s right to vote and participate in their democracy is safeguar= ded; and thank you, most especially, to the voters who tuned into the campaigns, attended debates, weighed the pros and cons, and cast ballots.
The tu= rnout in the recent federal campaign defied expectations and has staunched a declini= ng voter turnout and allayed fears that the public was tuning out of politics. Canadian and Yukon democracy is revived and stronger now. This flourishing bodes well for our territory. I look forward to being part of the debates o= ver the remaining months in this Legislative Assembly as we prepare to go before the Yukon public for the next major exercise of Yukon democracy. Thank you,= Mr. Speaker.
Applause
Introduction
of Visitors
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: I rise to invite all members of this Assembly to join me in welcoming a few people. Grand Chief Ruth Massie is here. Of course, she is = also formerly the Chief of the Ta’an Kwäch’= än Council. I would also like to recognize Bev Buckway, who is the executive director of the Association of Yukon Communities ̵= 2; a very well-known former mayor of the great City of Whitehorse and a constitu= ent of mine.
I woul= d also like to acknowledge Murray Martin, a local reporter and also a constituent = of mine. Again, I would invite all members of this House to join me in welcomi= ng them today.
Applause
Ms. McLeod: I invite all members today to join me in welcoming a constituent of mine, and certainly no stranger to this House, Diana Raketti.
Applause
Mr. Elias: With your indulgence, Mr. Speaker, I ask all members of the Assembly to joi= n me in welcoming a good friend of mine, Mr. Joseph Binger, who is an instructor at Yukon College. Apparently his birthday is in the next coming days, so welcome.
Applause
Mr. Silver: I would like everybody to help me in welcoming an ex-Klo= ndiker and EMS paraprofessional, Devin Bailey.
Applause
Hon. Mr. Nixon: I would ask all members to join me in welcoming former deputy minister Jeff O’Farrell, a good friend of mine — welcome, Jeff.=
Applause
Ms. Hanson: I would like to welcome to the House today Tamara Goeppe= l and Dr. Fink, as well as Brad Halt, executive assistant to the Grand Chief.
Applause
Mr. Barr: I would ask the House to welcome Peter Percival, past chair for the Mount Lor= ne Hamlet Council. Thank you for all your work.
Applause
Speaker: In = an effort not to be outdone, I would like to welcome Diane McLeod-McKay, our Ombudsman, Information and Privacy Commissioner and Public Interest Disclos= ure Commissioner.
Please= also welcome a good friend of mine, Terri McLeod, who is a director with ICT, Department of Highways and Public Works.
Applause
Speaker: Any= body else?
Mr. Tredger: I would like to welcome to the Legislature, or should I say back to the Legis= lature, former MLA Don Roberts.
Applause
Speaker: Last chance.
All right; tabling returns and documents.
Tabling
Returns and Documents
Speaker: Und= er Tabling Returns and Documents, the Chair has for tabling the Conflict of Interest Commissioner’s annual report for the period ending March 31, 2015. This report is tabled pursuant to section 19 of the Conflict of Interest (Members and Ministers) Act. It was distributed to members and made public on June 23, 2015.
The Ch=
air also
has for tabling the Yukon Child and Youth Advocate Office 2014-15 annual report. This report is tabled pursuant to section 24 o=
f the Child and Youth Advocate Act.
The Ch= air also has for tabling a report from the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly on the absence of members from sittings of the Legislative Assembly and its committees, dated October 22, 2015.
Are th= ere any other returns or documents for tabling?
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: I have for tabling the Yukon Public Accounts for 2014-15, fully audited by the Auditor General of Canada, with an unqualified opinion ̵= 2; meaning, in lay terms, a clean bill of health.
Speaker: Are= there any other returns or documents for tabling?
Are th= ere any reports of committees?
Reports
of Committees
Hon. Mr. Hassard: I have for presentation the 17th report, as well as= the 18th report, of the Standing Committee on Appointments to Major Government Boards and Committees.
Speaker: Are= there any further reports of committees to be presented?
Are th= ere any petitions to be presented?
Are th= ere any bills to be introduced?
Introduction of Bills
Bill No. 20: Second Appropriation Act, 2015-16 — Introduction and First
Reading
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: I move that Bill No. 20, entitled Second Appropriation Act, 2015-16, be now introduced and read a first time.
Speaker: It = has been moved by the Honourable Premier that Bill No. 20, entitled Second Appropriation Act, 2015-16, be now introduced and read a first time.
Motion for introduction and first reading of Bil=
l No.
20 agreed to
Bill No.
19: Fourth Appropriation Act, 2014-=
15 —
Introduction and First Reading
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: I m= ove that Bill No. 19, entitled Fourth Appropriation Act, 2014-15, be now introduced and read a first time.
Speaker: It has been moved by the Honourable Premier that Bill No. 19, entitled Fourth Appropriation Act, 2014-15, be now introduced and read a first time.
Motion for introduction and first reading of Bil= l No. 19 agreed to
Speaker: Are there any further bills to be introduced?
Notices of moti= ons.
Notices
of Motions
Hon. Mr.&nb= sp;Pasloski: I rise to give notice of the follow= ing motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to:
(1) co= nduct a thorough review of the recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation Comm= ission’s report that fall within Yukon’s jurisdiction in relation to the curre= nt programs, actions and initiatives being undertaken by Yukon government departments in order to assess the work that has been done to date in meeti= ng those recommendations and to identify areas where more work is required; an= d
(2) present this review to Yukon First Nation governments =
and
Yukon communities as part of the engagement process to determine future ste=
ps
that can be taken by the respective parties in implementing Yukon’s
response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report.<=
/p>
Mr. Elias: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Premier and Yukon government Cabinet ministers to:
(1) me= et with the Yukon First Nation leadership as soon as possible to discuss a report prepared by the Yukon government deputy ministers that reviewed the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that fall within Yukon’s jurisdiction in order to assess the work that the Yukon gover= nment has done to date to implement these recommendations and to identify areas w= here more work is required; and
(2) en= gage with Yukon First Nation governments and Yukon communities to determine the next steps that can be taken by the respective parties and explore possible solutions that will promote the well-being of Yukon First Nations and all aboriginal Canadians within the Canadian family.
Ms. Hanson: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT i= t is the opinion of this House that in order to build a diversified Yukon economy wi= th good jobs, opportunities for all, where no one is left behind, there are significant challenges to be addressed and opportunities to be pursued, including:
(1) ensuring the sustainable use of Yukon’s land and
minerals for economic development;
(2) fostering renewable and green sector industry developm=
ent;
(3) building of the knowledge and ICT economy;
(4) developing and implementing a strategic plan for touri=
sm;
(5) creating and implementing regional economic developmen=
t plans;
(6) st= imulating opportunities for local business, industry and First Nation development corporations through sound capital project management and progressive contracting rules; and
(7) engaging in sound economic decision-making, in the sho=
rt,
medium and long terms, guided by job, income, and economic analyses.=
Ms. Stick: I rise to give notice of the following motion:= p>
THAT i= t is the opinion of this House that in order to create an inclusive, equitable and healthy society where all Yukoners can participate in meaningful community = work and life, there are significant challenges to be addressed and opportunitie= s to be pursued by the Government of Yukon, including:
(1) reducing poverty and increasing social inclusion and equity;
(2) adoption and implementation of Housing First and other policies of harm reduction;
(3) increasing<= /span> access to safe, affordable, appropriate, accessible and supportive housing;=
(4) developing<= /span> coordinated and community-based mental health and addictions treatment and after-care;
(5) elimination= of violence against women and children;
(6) creating more affordable and high-quality daycare;
(7) building on long-term wellness planning and the long-term sustainability of our public health system;
(8) providing= span> a continuum of options and caregiver supports to enable Yukoners to age in pl= ace;
(9) addressing<= /span> safety and quality controls related to adequate human resource and staffing levels; and
(10) collaborat= ing with Yukon First Nations, local business and non-government organizations.<= /span>
Ms. Moorcroft:= span> I rise to give notice of the following motion:= p>
THAT i= t is the opinion of this House that in order to re-establish respectful, inclusive a= nd democratic government-to-government relationships with Yukon First Nation governments, there are significant challenges to be addressed and opportuni= ties to be pursued, including:
(1) pulling Yukon government support for the four unilater=
al
amendments in Bill S-6 and encouraging the federal government to remove the
four unilateral amendments to the Y=
ukon
Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act;
(2) accepting the Peel watershed final recommended land use
plan;
(3) ensuring that discussion, consultation and good-faith negotiation happen first in or= der to avoid lengthy court battles;
(4) re-engaging the Yukon Forum;
(5) me= eting the obligations set out in the Correcti= ons Act to incorporate the cultural heritage and needs of Yukon First Natio= ns people into the Whitehorse Correctional Centre’s programs and service= s;
(6) implementing the 94 recommendations of the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission’s final report; and
(7) expanding our K to 12 curriculum to include residential
schools history, the Umbrella Final
Agreement and land claim treaties, civics and human rights education. <=
/span>
Mr. Barr:Q= 95;I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT i= t is the opinion of this House that in order for the Government of Yukon to practise open, transparent, responsible and democratic governance, there are signifi= cant challenges to be addressed and opportunities to be pursued including:
(1) reforming our electoral system to change the first-pas=
t-the-post
system;
(2) reforming our Legislative Assembly to create a more
productive space for important debates and foster public participation;
(3) respecting Yukon First Nation governments;
(4) respecting Yukon municipal governments, including local
advisory councils, which are uniquely challenged to represent their citizen=
s;
(5) ensuring that public consultations are meaningful and
inclusive, that the public is engaged and participates and that their contr=
ibutions
inform and shape government policy;
(6) developing lobbying legislation that addresses concerns
about who has access to decision-makers;
(7) am= ending whistle-blower protection rules so they are stronger and provide greater protection to public servants who speak out in the public interest; and
(8) including community participation in territorial budget
making.
Mr. Tredger: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT i= t is the opinion of this House that in order to create a Yukon educational system th= at is first-class and prepares our children for success in life, there are significant challenges to be addressed and opportunities to be pursued, including:
(1) planning the construction of new schools to meet the needs of students, teachers and par= ents and their communities;
(2) maintaining and purposing existing schools so that the=
y are
functional places of learning and will last into the future;
(3) li= ving up to the spirit and intent of the widely consulted Education Act, New Horizons consultations and other public discussions which constitute Yukon’s education vision;
(4) supporting teachers to teach, empowering them to speak=
out
in the best interests of students and the school community;
(5) building inclusive, welcoming school environments where
violence and bullying have no place;
(6) le= arning from the positive examples of individual learning, experiential learning in arts, environmental science, in order to create more dynamic, cutting-edge pedagogy that will help children to graduate and succeed in life; and
(7) expanding= span> our curriculum to include residential schools history, the Umbrella Final Agreement and land claims agreements, civics and human rights education, and other matters of importance.
Ms. White: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT i= t is the opinion of this House that in order to secure the long-term health and sustainability of Yukon’s land, communities, natural resources and wildlife, there are significant challenges to be addressed and opportunitie= s to be pursued, including:
(1) shifting our energy dependence away from fossil fuels;=
(2) developing and implementing aggressive climate change
mitigation and adaptation policies;
(3) setting ambitious territorial targets to reduce greenh=
ouse
gas emissions;
(4) creating and implementing an independent power producer
policy;
(5) developing green, renewable and sustainable energy; =
span>
(6) collecting adequate baseline water data and establishi=
ng an
enforceable quality and quantity thresholds for water use; and
(7) developing and implementing cumulative impact assessme=
nts.
Mr. Silver: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to ensure officials from the Yukon Development Corporation appear as witnesses during this Fall Sitting.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to ensure officials from the Yukon Hospital Corporation appear as witnesses during this fall session.
Speaker: Is = there a statement by a minister?
This t= hen brings us to Question Period.
QUESTION PERIOD
Question re: YESAA process
Ms. Hanson: Monday’s federal election offers Yukon a new opportunity — a course correction= for the Yukon Party government’s approach to intergovernmental relations.= The new federal government has promised that the contentious amendments to Yukon’s environmental assessment act in Bill S-6 will be removed. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is clear: reconciliation is an ongo= ing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships at all lev= els of government.
This Y= ukon Party government talks about reconciliation. Now it has an opportunity to put wor= ds to action.
In the= spirit of reconciliation, will the Premier support the withdrawal of the contentious amendments in Bill S-6, work with First Nation governments and Canada to re-establish the respectful and collaborative approach to decision-making s= et out in our final land claim agreements?
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: Both formally and informally, I have reached out to First Nati= on leadership, inviting them to get together, either bilaterally with Yukon government or hopefully trilaterally with the Canadian government, to discu= ss the Bill S-6 amendments and how they could be implemented here in Yukon.
I̵= 7;m proud to report to this House that Yukon First Nations have replied to that respo= nse and are willing to sit down and begin discussion= s on those amendments.
Ms. Hanson: This Premier’s continued support for Bill S‑6 is a rejection of= reconciliation. The four unilateral amendments to YESAA weren’t born of respectful and inclusive negotiations. Negotiations after the fact are not respectful or inclusive. The Premier does not seem to understand that the principle of reconciliation isn’t just achieved by spending promises, but rather through an inclusive, respectful and democratic approach to governance, and this principle isn’t unique to what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission said. Yukon’s own final agreements were negotiated with an understanding that decisions about how we govern this territory will be sha= red in a respectful and inclusive manner.
The Premier’s use of divisive politics is disrespectful. This week, Canadian’s rejected divisive politics. Will the Premier do the same a= nd drop his support for the contentious amendments and not try to sell them af= ter the fact?
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: As I have mentioned, I have reached out both through the House= of Commons committee when they were here talking about Bill S-6 and formally b= y letter, and also informally, to ask First Nations, as leaders in this territory, to= sit down and to have discussions on how we would be able to move forward with t= he implementation of Bill S-6.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, I’m proud to announce that Yukon First Nations have agreed to sit dow= n. Their request is to include Canada, so it would in fact be a trilateral discussion. I have, in response, suggested to the Yukon First Nations that I would help them write that letter urging the Prime Minister-elect to join u= s in those deliberations.
Ms. Hanson: Mr. Speaker, First Nations have been clear. They have gone to court. Reconciliation requ= ires a shift away from the colonial mindset that is embedded in the culture of t= his government. He says words about reconciliations, but his actions contradict that language.
What w= ill it take for the Premier to pull his support — not try to re-sell them, b= ut pull his support — for the four unilateral amendments that the former Prime Minister, the former minister and four MPs, and our former MP, all sa= id this Premier has pushed?
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: Mr. Speaker, I have said on many occasions that the feder= al government has put forward legislation on multiple occasions and that, as leaders here in the territory, we have sat down = and found a way to move forward together as leaders in this territory for the best of Yukoners. Yukon First Nations have said that they are willing to sit down a= nd to discuss this issue and to talk about how we can move forward. They would also like to see Canada there and, quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, so woul= d I. I am willing to help First Nations in drafting that letter to Prime Minister-elect Justin Trudeau, requesting his participation in those discussions.
Question
re: Continuing care facilities
Ms. Stick: Mr. Speaker, in September the Yukon NDP did what t= his government had not done. We invited all Yukoners to a conversation about the future of continuing care in the Yukon. Nearly 100 Yukoners showed up. A pa= nel of experts spoke, and person after person stood to express frustration with this government and the process it is following to build the continuing care complex in Whistle Bend. Even the former Minister of Health attended and sp= oke out about the location.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, time and again Yukoners asked: “Where are our voices in these decisions?” On Tuesday I went to a public presentation by the directo= r of the Whistle Bend facility. The public again asked for meaningful consultati= on with decision-makers, including the minister and the Premier.
Meanin= gful consultation relies on listening. When will this government listen to Yukoners about what they need to age in place?
Hon. Mr. Graham: Mr. Speaker, I have been graciously granted the opportuni= ty to respond, in part because the member opposite, first of all, misquotes me. S= he did not tell the truth in the letter that she sent out to all MLAs —<= /span>
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Speaker’s
statement
Speaker: You are not allowed to use props.
Did you have a further point of order?=
Point of order
Ms. Stick: I would suggest 19(h), where the member has accused another member of utterin= g a deliberate falsehood.
Speaker: Gov= ernment House Leader, on the point of order.
Mr. Elias: I do believe that the Hon. Minister of Education has evidence to suggest that something was said out of order in the public domain.
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Speaker: Eno= ugh. Opposition Leader, did you want to comment on the point of order? = p>
Ms. Hanson: Only to say that it does violate the House rules. Thank you.
Unparliamentary language
Speaker: I w= ill take this opportunity: the word “liar” is unparliamentary and if you’re going to use it in here at all, whether heckling or not, it’s still unparliamentary. So don’t use it.
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Speaker: He did not use the word; you did when you were heckling=
. I
caution you right now not to use that word at all, even when you’re
heckling. It will still be out of order.
Speaker’s
ruling
Speaker:=
195;As for this point of orde=
r, this
is a dispute between members about the facts of who said what. Members are =
free
to — in this House and outside this House — represent the facts=
or
portions thereof, in their own manner.
Ms. Ha=
nson: Mr. Speaker, I must =
rise on
this. The member opposite said that my colleague here was not telling the
truth. Is that not the same as saying that she’s uttering a falsehood=
? Is
that not against the Standing Orders?
Speaker:=
195;I will look at the exact =
wording
in the Blues and give a further ruling, if required.
Hon. Mr.&nb=
sp;Graham: Mr. Speaker, once ag=
ain,
I’ll quote from a letter given to all Members of the Legislative Asse=
mbly
on September 14, 2015, signed by the member, Jan Stick, MLA for Riverdale
South. In that letter, the Member for Riverdale South said respecting the
continuing care facility in Whistle Bend: “in the absence of a needs
assessment”. Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely incorrect. On the Y=
ukon
Health and Social Services website, six months in advance of this letter se=
nt
by the member opposite, there were two needs assessments published, so that=
was
very disconcerting to me as a member and then to have the member opposite
misquote me by saying I was not in favour of the Whistle Bend location R=
12;
I simply said that it was not our first choice.
If the members opposite are going t=
o be
this kinder, gentler Opposition, I wish they would first of all learn to gi=
ve
the facts.
Ms. St=
ick: A needs assessment, a pop=
ulation
projection — these are two different things. Business case plans are
different from a needs assessment, which looks at options and comes out wit=
h a
variety of choices.
Mr. Speaker, the one thing I took= from our public town hall is that continuing care is a deeply personal experience for seniors, elders and the communities and their families. We must keep th= ose individuals at the centre when planning these services. Whether it’s a loved one’s involvement with home care or a profound experience helpi= ng a parent or a spouse have a dignified death, Yukoners spoke of a need for compassion. There was never a word said against the exemplary work of our front-line health care professionals. Everyone was supportive of them, but shouldn’t meaningful consultation have happen= ed prior to a decision to build a costly facility in Whistle Bend?
Hon. Mr. Nixon: Mr. Speaker, since we have been elected, we have been eng= aging with Yukoners on continuing care and looking forward to the best-possible-c= ase scenario to address the needs that we have here in the territory. Speaking = of needs — there were two needs assessments completed, followed by the completion of a business case, which clearly demonstrated to us the need to build a facility in Whitehorse that could accommodate 150 people in the next couple of years. Looking forward and planning, there is the potential of an addition on to that building to accommodate a number of other beds.<= /p>
Really= , everyone here should consider the real needs of Yukoners. We are building a continui= ng care facility in Whistle Bend. This will be a home for people with a sense = of community and a pride of community, but also a real, true home environment = that provides that high level of care for people who are the best fit for this facility will need.
As par= t of our work of engaging with Yukoners, the information sessions that the member sp= eaks of are very important in moving forward. If there are questions or concerns arising from those discussions, certainly department officials will follow = up with those.
Ms. Stick: I heard from the people, from the public, from families and from caregivers t= hat they want meaningful consultation. They wanted it before these decisions we= re made. This is a small territory. We have many wonderful and creative famili= es and people out there who have many ideas about how this could have been presented. Instead, initially it was presented as a 300-bed facility and now it’s a 150-bed facility with maybe some extra beds later. Yukoners wa= nted the consultation before the decisions had already been made. That is the pa= rt they are not happy about.
What i= s this government going to do to have meaningful consultation and not present plans and say it’s a done deal, it’s in Whistle Bend, it’s this= big and this is who it is for? It has not happened. When will there be meaningf= ul consultation?
Hon. Mr. Nixon: Mr. Speaker, the member opposite really does need to pay attention to the facts. Since we were elected in 2011, we have clearly demonstrated a desire to reach out to Yukoners to discuss the needs of cont= inuing care and the facilities. I indicated earlier that we conducted two needs assessments followed by a business case that supports our plan moving forwa= rd for the continuing care facility. In fact, the continuing care facility is = part of our plan for sustainable, quality health care in our amazing territory. =
In add= ition to providing this kind of high-level care, we are also focused on helping Yuko= ners stay in their communities and in their homes as long as possible. One only needs to look at the investments we’ve made in home care — some= 350 percent over the last number of years — and we are doing just that. W= hen it is possible for individuals to stay in their homes, home care can step i= n. But at a point in time, when people require a high acuity of care, the Whis= tle Bend facility is very important to them. That’s what we hear from Yukoners.
Question
re: Government relations with Yukoners
Mr. Silver: For many years, the Government of Yukon, no matter which party was in charge, h= eld community fall tours to engage with citizens and gather input for the spring budget. That practice was scrapped in 2010 and not revived with this govern= ment when they came into office, until now — sort of.
I̵= 7;m pleased with the Yukon Party announcement that it’s actually going to consult some Yukoners in the upcoming election-year budget. After four year= s in office, the Yukon Party is finally admitting that they are out of touch and they want to start listening to Yukoners. The good people of the north are smarter than that, and this death-bed conversion from the Yukon Party is a = hard pill to swallow and it begs many, many questions.
The go= vernment released a press release saying it had a local consultant hired to develop a list of potential participants who will be invited to take part in these discussions. Why did the government have to hire a consultant to tell them = that it’s a good idea to talk to Yukoners?
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: This government, to a man and a woman, meets and talks and lis= tens to Yukoners on a daily basis. In this community and every other community, = that has not changed. That will continue to go forward as we listen to Yukoners,= and we deliver on what we hear. In 2011, after listening to Yukoners, we put forward to the citizens of this territory what our platform was, what we had heard from Yukoners, and I’m proud to report, Mr. Speaker, that = we have essentially almost completely delivered, or are currently delivering, everything in that platform. We’ve worked hard, we’ve been responsible with taxpayers’ money, and we’ve done it responsibl= y. I enjoy speaking about the fact that other jurisdictions like to talk about deficits and surpluses and live within the moment of that current fiscal ye= ar — the reason being is that those other provinces, territories and the federal government carry billions of dollars of debt that they have to pay interest on. They don’t talk about that debt because they have that d= ebt.
I am p= roud to report that this jurisdiction does not have that debt. We have not mortgaged our children’s and our grandchildren’s futures to pay for things today — and we’ll continue to do that.
Mr. Silver: We’re forgetting to talk about the corporations’ debts, but we’ll lea= ve that for another day.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, this news release announcement reads more like an admission of guilt than an exercise in diplomacy. The Yukon Party, as an organization, has isolated and alienated so much of the general public over the years — they have finally looked around the room and realized they’re alone. The room is empty because people are so sick and tired of not being heard and nobody believes this government genuinely wants to hear their views — from t= he Peel consultations to the fracking committee report to education reform to = Bill S-6. When the Yukon Party says, “We really want to hear from you̶= 1;, nobody is listening anymore and they have themselves to blame for this.
Why is= the government making these meetings invite-only and refusing to hold public meetings?
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: What we’ve heard from Yukoners is what their priorities = are, and those are our priorities: focusing on jobs, focusing on opportunities f= or youth, training opportunities, focusing on education with our new vision th= at is focused on successful outcomes for students in health care. Those are th= is party’s focuses because that’s exactly what we heard from Yukon= ers.
All pe= ople have the opportunity to provide their input to this budget process that we are doing, simply by going to community.conversations@gov.yk.ca. I invite all people who have thoughts or suggestions on how we should continue to move forward to send their emails = and their thoughts to us. We’ll continue to listen to Yukoners, as we have from the beginning. The good news is that Yukoners know that, when this government says they’re going to do something, they get it done.
Mr. Silver: Entering the 14th year of office, at least t= he Yukon Party has finally admitted that they are only listening to a select g= roup of Yukoners behind closed doors. Yukoners who aren’t on the Yukon Party’s hand-picked, secretive list should be asking themselves why t= he Premier doesn’t want to hear their opinions. Meetings behind closed d= oors with secretly selected Yukoners are not the kind of public consultation that encourages more people to get involved in politics. It only breeds the kind= of mistrust and scepticism in the political process that causes people to give= up, to disengage.
So why= did the government have to hire a consultant to tell them that they should be talki= ng to the public? Why did the Premier make the decision to have invite-only discussions? How did they decide who gets to speak to their deaf ears?
Hon. Mr. Pasloski: Who we are engaging with is a broad spectrum of people from all sectors of our society here in the territory. We are going out to communiti= es as well and talking to a broad range of people, as we will continue to list= en to Yukoners, both in community conversations that we’re having across this territory and on a day-to-day basis — as we’ve heard in the grocery store, in our offices and in the communities. We’ll continue = to listen to Yukoners — Yukoners who have told us that they are focused = on jobs, they’re focused on education and health ca= re. We will continue to keep our focus there and do it in a responsible and fiscal= ly responsible manner.
Question
re: Climate change
Ms. White: Climate change is the single biggest challenge facing future generations. Planetary weather systems and ocean currents are rapidly shifting and we need to shif= t as well. This human cost situation will require human solutions — jobs, = the economy and our very lives depend on healthy ecosystems. Per capita, Canadi= ans — Yukoners included — use unsustainable amounts of fossil fuels= .
In just under three weeks, leaders = from around the globe will be meeting in Paris for the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP21. In 2009, the previous Yukon Party government sent= a delegation to Copenhagen for COP15. Is the Government of Yukon planning on sending representatives to COP21 in Paris?
Hon. Mr. Istchenko: This government here does have a plan. The member opposite spo= ke to it. In our 2009 climate change action plan, our government has demonstrated leadership and commitment to the issue of climate change. The Yukon is currently preparing a progress report on the climate change action plan tha= t we have been doing. There are 33 priority actions in our climate change action plan, and just about all of them are complete.
I had = the opportunity, when I took over as the Environment minister in June, to be do= wn with the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. <= /span>When we were down, one of the things that we all established t= here with climate change is that it is a huge issue in Canada and there are a nu= mber of subcommittees on that. So we worked together and we created a new subcommittee with all the ministers, called the climate change committee. I have a meeting coming up here — a phone call meeting with all the ministers again — to talk about moving forward when it comes to COP21 over in Paris.
One of= the things that I did find talking to the other ministers, our southern jurisdictions understand that we in the north ar= e a little bit different. I think our three premiers have spoken to that in the past. For us, carbon — sometimes it’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity.
What I= will say is, recognizing that we need to use energy and that climate change is very important to us — and they’re closely linked — we have a climate change action plan we’re working on and this will also be coordinated with our energy strategy for Yukon.
Ms. White: Our northern reality is the very reason we should be attending the COP conferen= ce in Paris. Imagine sitting in a room of climate change advocates and experts= and learning from other experiences around the world. Imagine what we’re missing out on right now by not attending. Yukon should participate in Pari= s to ensure there is no delay in doing our part in the international agreement. COP21 will be a crucial conference as it needs to achieve a new internation= al agreement on the climate, applicable to all countries, with the aim of keep= ing global warming below two degrees Celsius. Political direction is an essenti= al part of the solution, but it’s going to take effective teamwork to ad= apt well to the new climate realities.
Yukon = is blessed with talent and expertise that can help elected representatives make the ri= ght choices. Whether they are individuals in the private sector or staff in the Climate Change Secretariat and the Yukon Energy Solutions Centre, Yukon has champions.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, why isn’t the government sending a delegation of Yukon climate change= —
Speaker: Ord= er, please.
Hon. Mr. Kent: This gives me an opportunity just to respond to one of the things that the member opposite addressed in her first question, and that’s energy and what we’re deriving from renewable sources.
We hav= e a great story to tell here in the Yukon. Last year, 99 percent of the electricity generated on our grid was from renewable sources. The Yukon Energy Corporat= ion and Yukon Development Corporation, of course, are working on that longer-te= rm bookend, which is the next-gen hydro. We’ve put in place a micro-gen program. During this current Sitting of the Legislative Assembly, I am plea= sed to be introducing an independent power producers program that we will be ab= le to debate on the floor of this House. Mr. Speaker, even the energy efficiency measures that we introduced earlier this year are already paying dividends.
Of the= 269 incentives that have been put in place, we see annual cost savings of close= to $70,000 and 176 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions displaced. We do have a great story to tell in the north, as far as our renewable power and the ene= rgy efficiency programs that we have in place, and we have a great story to tell within Canada. We do not have legacy coal projects, like they do in Alberta, that we’re combatting. We have a good renewable energy story to tell here in the Yukon and we should all be very proud of that.
Question
re: Oil and gas development
Mr. Tredger: Currently, the Yukon Party is directing that two fully separate energy consultations o= ccur on projects that will not proceed any time soon. There is a $2-million-and-counting consultation about a big next-generation megadam be= ing hosted by YDC. Then there’s yet another 20-year resource planning consultation being housed by YEC. The NDP is all for meaningful consultation and informed consent. We also believe the energy projects this Yukon Party government most supports and that have active applications should also be c= onsulted on and have social licence. There are active applications that are likely to involve the development of unconventional gas — that is, fracked gas.=
Why is= there no consultation on the oil and gas agenda the Yukon Party government is promot= ing?
Hon. Mr. Kent: When it comes to oil and gas development in the territory, I think we’ve b= een very clear. It’s part of the economic diversification plan that we ha= ve. We certainly see the development of oil and gas being able to provide opportunities for Yukoners, whether it’s those working directly in the industry or those benefiting indirectly from the industry.
Just t= o remind members, the government introduced a motion at the time to establish the all-party select committee that spent time reviewing conventional gas opportunities, the risks and benefits. We have accepted all 21 recommendati= ons made by the committee in that report and we are making great progress on a number of the recommendations.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, very recently the Minister of Economic Development, the MLA for Vuntut Gwit= chin and I were accompanied by First Nations leaders and industry leaders to Cal= gary to take part in energy innovation discussions. We received a number of presentations on solar and wind energy as well as oil and gas and the oppor= tunities in the energy sector. So what we would like to do is emulate that trip and = the successes of that trip here in the Yukon sometime in the coming months so t= hat other Yukoners get an opportunity to participate.
Again,= we see opportunities for a strong and diverse energy sector as paramount to diversifying the economy and providing much-needed jobs and opportunities to Yukoners.
Mr. Tredger: Outside the territory, the Premier and the Deputy Premier have been promoting frack= ing in Yukon, but they are ignoring the lack of social licence at home. There i= s no scientific evidence that fracking can be done safely or responsibly. Fossil fuel development also does not make economic sense. There is an over-supply= of LNG in North America and transportation is problematic. Developing renewable energy brings more local jobs and generates income for local communities. T= his government’s oil and gas agenda is at odds with the renewable energy future Yukon needs.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, the minister knows full well that socially, economically and environmentall= y, proposals to frack Yukon will not stand up to scrutiny. Is that why he does= not want to listen to Yukoners on oil and gas development?
Hon. Mr. Kent: As a government, it is our responsibility to effectively regulate, but also consider the potential benefits of a Yukon oil and gas industry. Ultimately= , we want to promote economic prosperity and job creation; therefore, we remain = open to responsible development opportunities in the Yukon. When it comes to sha= le gas, of course we have looked at the Liard Basin, which represents a very s= mall portion of the territory.
We wan= t Yukoners to have jobs, successful businesses and opportunities that occur from a rob= ust and diverse energy sector. Parts of the select committee recommendations al= so include public education and information. Mr. Speaker, we certainly wa= nt Yukoners to be equipped with knowledge, so that they can combat the misinformation and fear that is out there with respect to this type of oil = and gas development. We want to adopt a rule of zero tolerance for misinformati= on and that’s what we will do in the coming months. We are looking forwa= rd to ensuring that Yukoners have all the facts and all the information they n= eed to make an informed decision on oil and gas development in this territory.<= /span>
Mr. Tredger: We can adopt that policy by now admitting that this government has not met the recommendations of the Select Committee Regarding the Risks and Benefits of Hydraulic Fracturing. Owing to Yukon’s geology and location, oil and = gas development in Yukon will necessarily involve fracking. More than 8,000 signatures in opposition to fracking show there is no social licence for th= is controversial practice. Many Yukon First Nations have also clearly stated t= heir opposition.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, Yukoners do not want consultation to be a cynical game of smoke and mirrors. There is no social licence or economic rationale for the Yukon government’s oil and gas agenda. The Yukon Party is not listening to Yukoners. Who is the Yukon Party listening to?
Hon. Mr. Kent: As members will recall from the Spring Sitting of this Legislature, this government was completely transparent about our intentions for developing Yukon’s oil and gas industry in our response to the select committee’s report. We have accepted all 21 recommendations made by t= he committee in the report and we’re making great progress on a number of those recommendations, whether it’s baseline water data or seismic opportunities. Public education and the economic analysis, as well as the r= esource assessment, also continue.
Member= s also need to recall that no projects will go forward without the engagement and support of affected First Nations. When it comes to the Liard Basin, of cou= rse, it’s the Liard First Nation, as well as the Acho= Dene Koe, who have asserted traditional territo= ry in that area of the Yukon.
As I m= entioned in my earlier response, it’s our responsibility to effectively regula= te, but also to consider, the potential benefits of a Yukon oil and gas industr= y. Again, Mr. Speaker, we want to equip Yukoners with the knowledge and information they need to overcome some of the fear that has been out there = with respect to oil and gas development.
Again, I’ll repeat: we have zero tolerance for misinformation.
Speaker: The= time for Question Period has now elapsed. We will now proceed to Orders of the D= ay.
Orders of
the Day
Mr. Elias: I move that the House do now adjourn.
Speaker: It = has been moved by the Government House Leader that the House do now adjourn.<= /p>
Motion agreed to
Speaker: Thi= s House now stands adjourned until 1:00 p.m. on Monday.
The House adjourned at 2:06 p.m.
The following sess=
ional
papers were tabled October 22, 2015:
33-1-170
Yukon Conflict of Interest Commission Annual Repor=
t to
the Legislative Assembly for the Period from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 201=
5 (June 23, 2015) (Speaker&nbs=
p;Laxton)
33-1-171
Yukon Child and Youth Advocate Office — Young
People Have a Voice — 2010-2015 (Speaker Laxton)
33-1-172
Report from the Clerk of the Yukon Legislative
Assembly on the Absence of Members from Sittings of the Legislative Assembly
and its Committees
(October 22, 2015) (Speaker Laxton)
33-1-173
Public Accounts 2014-2015 of the Government of Yuk=
on
for the year ended March 31, 2015 (Pasloski)
33-1-174
Standing Committee on Appointments to Major Govern=
ment
Boards and Committees Seventeenth Report (June 8, 2015) (Hassard)
33-1-175
Standing Committee on Appointments to Major Govern= ment Boards and Committees Eighteenth Report (October 15, 2015) (Hassard)
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