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Yukon Legislative Assembly
Whitehorse, Yukon
Thursday, November 14, 2019 — 1:00 p.m.
Speaker: I will now call the House to order.
At this time, we will pro= ceed at this time with prayers.
Prayers
Daily Routin=
e
Speaker: We will proceed with the Order Paper.
Introduction of visitors.=
Introduction=
of
Visitors
Ms. Van Bibber: I would like all colleagues in the H=
ouse
to help me welcome a few special guests here today for a tribute: Mr. =
Rolf
Hougen, his lovely wife Marg Hougen, Craig Hougen, Kelly Hougen, Kevin Bens=
on,
Eva Bidrman, Ron McFadyen — a well-known
Yukoner, Amanda Leslie, Mark Beese, and Tim
Applause
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I would like my colleagues to = join me in welcoming the Yukon Employees’ Union President Steve Geick, vice-president Paul Johnston, and Public Servi= ce Alliance of Canada President Chris Aylward, and other civil servants to the House this afternoon.
Applause
Ms. Hanson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is not o= ften that you get to do this. I am sort of surprised and proud to ask the member= s to join me in welcoming a friend of mine — for 50 years — which is appalling to actually think, but true. My friend is the founder of POVNET — which is a digital community — an anti-poverty activist, and = the owner of Lezara Publications. Her name is Penny Goldsmith.
Applause
Hon. Ms. Frost: I will ask my colleagues to ple= ase help me in welcoming a team from Environment, the Climate Change Secretariat staff: Rebecca World, Director of climate change strategies; Aletta Leach, = Ryan Davies, Maxine White, Katie Woodstock, and Diana Dryburgh-Moraal.
Applause
Hon. Mr. Pillai: I would also like the Assembly= to welcome Mr. Shane Andre, who is our director of the Energy branch of Energy, Mines and Resources, and Mr. Kevin Hannam= , who is our acting director of policy, planning and communications from the Department of Economic Development. Thank you for being here today.
Applause
Mr. Cathers: I would like to ask the House to join m= e in welcoming a constituent who I’m sure is also here for the CKRW tribut= e, Craig Hougen.
Applause
Speaker: Tributes.
TRIBUTES
In recognition of CKRW 50th anniv= ersary
Hon. Ms. Dendys: I rise today on behalf of the Yukon Liberal government to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary = of CKRW. Since 1969, CKRW has been a mainstay on Yukon airwaves and is embedde= d in our culture. We have Klondike Broadcasting Company and the Hougen family to thank for that.
When I grew up, CKRW or C= BC were always on in the house or in the car. Birthday greetings were a big deal in those days — and still are now — as it felt like you knew every= body in the Yukon. We always looked forward to finding out whose birthday it was= and who was giving their greetings. On weekends, we always tuned into Trader Time, which still runs toda= y. I will always remember playing Shriners radio bingo with my family. It was su= ch an important event to us, but I don’t think we ever won.
My most distinct memory, = though, with CKRW was from August 16, 1977. It was an announcement that Elvis Presl= ey had died. As a little girl at the time, that was a monumental moment. I cou= ld barely wrap my head around what death meant and to hear that the most famous person of all time had died was really kind of mind-boggling to me. It̵= 7;s funny how certain memories stand out. But what stands out the most to me ab= out CKRW is its familiarity. I grew up with it, and in some ways, it helped me = to grow up too.
The station and its many = great personalities over the years have contributed greatly to the social fabric = of Yukon. CKRW was licensed in 1969 and first signed on the air on November 17, 1969. It broadcast from the frequency 610.
Over the years, the company expanded, and in 2004, CKRW officially launched The Rush, 96.1 FM.
In 2007, CKRW was authorized to operate transmitters in A= tlin and Inuvik, expanding its reach across territorial boundaries. Its history = goes on, but what most people think of when it comes to CKRW really is the familiarity.
I grew up with CKRW just like so many other Yukoners. What at first seems like just background music and talk as you go about your day — it has a ve= ry strange ability to become part of your life. CKRW is part of who we are as Yukoners. I really encourage everyone to join me in congratulating CKRW on = 50 great years on the air, and I hope for 50 more.
Applause
Ms. Van Bibber: I rise= today on behalf of the Yukon Party Official Opposition to pay tribute to CKRW on their 50th anniversary.
Another milestone: 50 years of on-air magic. The month was November, the day was th= e 17th in the year 1969 when Yukon was introduced to a new sound. CKRW signed on at 6:00 a.m. with a crew of 12 staff members managing all the knobs and d= ials to ensure that locals could hear it all. Remember: In 1969, we were still in the era of typewriters, reel-to-reel recorders, and splicing tape. It called for a crew who had skills, who could handle doing many tasks that required on-the-spot thinking to fix a problem. Once digital and modern electronics = came along, it did make it a lot easier and streamlined to bring programming to radioland.
Mr. Rolf Hougen and some partners under Klondike Broadcasting already operated a cab= le TV company, WHTV, and he decided to expand into radio and had the first pri= vate radio north of 60. He did his homework — as Rolf was known to do. He = took an Alaska Highway road trip with stops along the way, checking in with radio stations to see how they operated.
Rolf saw a format that he wanted and applied for the necessary CRTC licences. He= had a winner. Imagine – some of this programming is still on today. How m= any of us have called into Birthday Gre= etings, both to share a birthday wish but also to let everyone in town know who you were celebrating and, at times, the age of the birthday celebrant?= p>
The wonderful Trader Time — c= alls, phone numbers, and what was available about town to swap, trade, inform, bu= y or sell, or just give away. It was so Yukon, and I can’t imagine how much treasure has been moved about the territory through this unique venue.
The Hougen Group has kept timelines, highlights, and snippets of Yukon history through the decades — a name, a date, and what transpired. For exampl= e, on November 13, 1969, breathalyzers were used for the first time in the Yuk= on. Under other news on that same day — the Yukon and Northwest Territori= es, with a joint entry, will enter the Canadian men’s curling championshi= p, the Macdonald Brier, for the first time. Let’s not forget November weather. On November 27, 1948, it was 40.6 below, but on November 2, 1970, = it was 11.7 above.
There is a segment of short stories of iconic events called Yukon Nuggets. Rolf commissioned former CBC reporter Les McLaug= hlin to record a series of Yukon Nuggets= historic stories specifically for CKRW radio. One reads: “Whitehorse Named Capital City — It was a day for celebration in Whitehorse back = in March of 1951. But for the people of Dawson City, it was a black day not so= on to be forgotten.”
Many of us grew up with only radio, where it was our connection to learn about t= he outside world, our introduction to music and stories. To have more local content was amazing, and kudos to the founders, the staff, and the crew at = CKRW through the decades for all that you have contributed to Yukon. Congratulat= ions RW, and here’s to many more years.
Applause
Ms. White: I rise on b= ehalf of the Yukon NDP to add our voices to the chorus of celebration for the 50<= sup>th anniversary of CKRW. Half a century of connectivity, news, music, contests,= and catchy ads. I know, especially listening to today’s tributes, that I = am not the only one who has grown up listening to the larger-than-life radio personalities moving through the airwaves.
From the morning show through to the midday mashups, there is something for every listener. CKRW has news reporters at every event sharing highlights with the listening Yukon public. Trader Time= has been a pillar in Yukon communities since before I can remember. I never realized how unique Trader Time= was until, more than a decade ago, a friend who was working down south turned up the volume one morning. He couldn’t get over that this curated call-in show happened and not only that it happened, but that it was still happening — and it’s still happening today. You can see the long-term imp= act of things like Trader Time, Ivan Coyote and Sarah MacDougall’s musical review by the same name —= and they are taking that across Canada right now.
Who else finds themselves singing along to the catchy tunes created for local companies? I am sure I am not the only one who knows the phone number for C= lean Choices solely because of CKRW. Then, of course, there has been mention abo= ut the gems like the Yukon Nuggets= and what neat stories we have learned over the years from all the familiar voic= es. It is fun right now to have Ron McFadyen in the audience, because it was his interview techniques after such things as marathons and running races where= I learned that, as an emcee, the best thing I could do is shove a microphone = in someone’s face and ask them how they felt. I use that today. It’= ;s the Ron McFadyen move, and anyone who knows Ron is familiar with it. I woul= d be remiss if I left out the number of community members who tune in on Friday nights for radio bingo. We all know that familiar sound. Everyone is listen= ing for the last number that they need and they’re all waiting to see who calls in to win.
Mr. Speaker, after the success of last weekend’s retro dance party, I am also cert= ain that I’m not the only one who has got stuck in my car just wanting to listen to one more song. There have been times when I’ve been overseas and feeling a little bit homesick, and as soon as I was able to access it online, it was a quick connection to home. No matter what has been going on= in the world, the folks behind CKRW have worked hard to make sure that this lo= cal radio station has remained relevant for half a century. That alone deserves recognition, so on behalf of the Yukon NDP, we want to thank CKRW for keepi= ng Yukon connected for the last 50 years, and we wish them well into the futur= e.
Applause
In recognition of Diabetes Awareness Mont=
h and
World Diabetes Day
Hon. Ms. Frost: I= rise in the House today to acknowledge this month as Diabetes Awareness Month and November 14 as World Diabetes Day. This year for Diabetes Awareness Month, = we are asking everyone to help spread awareness to end diabetes together.
Diabetes Canada estimates that one in three Canadians is living with diabetes or pre-diabetes, yet knowledge of the risks of complications of the disease re= mains low.
What we know now is that people in their 20s face a = 50‑percent chance of developing the disease. We also know that the same percentag= e of Canadians cannot identify half of the early warning signs of diabetes. Therefore, I cannot stress enough how awareness is key to lower the risk and prevent complications.
According to new research presented in 2018 at the European Association for the Study= of Diabetes in Berlin, Germany, type 2 diabetes may begin more than a decade before diagnosis. To help support those with diabetes, the chronic conditio= ns support program has collaborated with the Yukon Diabetes Education Centre — which is run out of Whitehorse General Hospital — to develop = and run the diabetes wellness series. The diabetes wellness series consists of = four education sessions that provide a wide range of information, including: practical strategies for submanagement; advice = about medication; and tips on healthy eating and physical activity. The very popu= lar sessions are offered in Whitehorse and in some rural Yukon communities each year. This collaborative effort is a great example of how our communities a= re working together to assist Yukoners living with diabetes.
We also have the type 1 diabetes support network — a group advocating strongly for the coverage of continuous glucose monitoring for individuals = with type 1 diabetes. This group has been our partner in a pilot project around coverage of continuous glucose monitoring for type 1 diabetes for those up = to the age of 25. That pilot project ends in March 2020, and we look forward to working with the network on the evaluation of the pilot project.
I also want to pay tribute to the support network around each individual livi= ng with diabetes — friends, family members, and health care providers, to name a few. Whether you are learning to cook new healthy foods, driving your loved ones to exercise sessions, or learning to check blood sugar levels or= to inject insulin, your help makes a difference.
Applause
Ms. McLeod: I rise tod= ay on behalf of the Yukon Party Official Opposition to recognize today, November = 14, as World Diabetes Day and November as Diabetes Awareness Month. November 14= was chosen as World Diabetes Day as it is the birthday of Dr. Frederick Banting, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923 after discovering insulin in 1921.
Diabetes Canada shared that, from 2010 to 2017, the number of Canadians living with diabetes increased by 28.7 percent. It is also noted that this is significantly higher than Canada’s population growth over the same period, and that’s an astounding increase, Mr. Speaker. <= /p>
Currently in Canada, there are more than three million people diagnosed with diabetes, and it’s estimated that a further two million live with diabetes and don’t know it. Six million more are living with pre-diabetes, placing them at serious risk for type 2 diabetes.
I wanted to highlight the efforts of the Yukon type 1 diabetes support networ= k, a group of individuals who provide incredible support for families and individuals facing type 1 diabetes. They have been an amazing resource for Yukoners, providing not only support and education, but advocacy for service provisions. Their efforts have led to two pilot programs in providing child= ren and then young adults aged 19 to 25 with continuous glucose monitoring syst= ems. The Yukon T1D support network fundraises throughout the year to provide services to families such as summer camps, awareness videos, and more.
This year, funding from the Whitehorse Lions Club and the Copperbelt Charity Golf Classic tournament enabled the Yukon T1D support network to put on Camp Bec= ca in honour of a young Yukoner, friend, and mentor who lived with type 1 diabetes. This camp was offered from October 4 to 6 and enabled youths betw= een the ages of 15 and 25 to share stories and support one another while having= a great time in a retreat-style setting.
Tonight, the Three Chicks and a Dude Comedy Night is taking place at the Westmark Whitehorse to support this wonderful group in their continued fundraising efforts.
I also wanted to mention that the Diabetes Education Centre located in the Thomson Centre provides services to individuals across Yukon and northern B= C. Services include support and education on type 1 and type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and pre-diabetes. A referral from a physician or heal= th care provider is required to access these services and staff will work with your health care providers to ensure that you are provided with the best ca= re going forward.
Thank you to all of those involved in supporting, treating, and advocating for families and individuals living with diabetes in the Yukon. I’m amaze= d by the incredible support network we have here in the Yukon and their continued efforts are truly appreciated.
Applause
Ms. White: I rise on b= ehalf of the Yukon NDP caucus in recognition of Diabetes Awareness Month and to m= ark today as World Diabetes Day.
November is a month-long global diabetes awareness campaign when communities around = the planet team up to bring awareness to diabetes and encourage action to tackle the diabetes epidemic. Canada can no longer afford to ignore the impact that this chronic health condition has on individuals, families, our health care system, and the economy.
Although type 2 diabetes can be managed with diet and exercise, type 1 diabetes has nothing to do with lifestyle or diet. It is not preventable. It is lifelong= and there is no cure.
Diabetes, Mr. Speaker, is all about the numbers. It is about counting carbohydra= tes to determine how much insulin is required to cover food intake, and for children with type 1, it is a never-ending task for parents to manage to ke= ep their children safe. For adults with type 1, it is no less work. No matter = how hard they try, the blood glucose levels of a person with type 1 diabetes wi= ll not truly stabilize. Life with type 1 means good days, bad days, highs, low= s, constant monitoring, insulin dosing, carb counting, and adjusting.= p>
Living with type 1 diabetes is like an intricate puzzle. It is more than checking blood sugar and giving yourself injections. It is a complex balance of insu= lin dosage, exercise, and carbs. Growth, illness, stress, changes in activity levels, injection locations, and many other factors can affect this balance. Continuous adjustment helps maintain healthy glucose levels. Managing diabe= tes is a full-time job. There are no paycheques, time off, or vacation days, and overtime is always required.
The Yukon TD1 support network works hard to support those living with type 1 diabetes in Yukon. They fundraise to be able to support the community throu= gh many different avenues, including supplying individuals with constant gluco= se monitors. These lifesaving, life-altering devices aren’t cheap, so I = hope that people will join me tonight at the Westmark Hotel to laugh our way to a cure as they present Three Chicks and a Dude Co= medy Night.
Mr. Speaker, we believe that Canada should have a national diabetes strategy and that organizations should not need to fundraise and that individuals should not = pay out of pocket for a lifesaving tool, but that is a fight for another day.= span>
So, as we mark World Diabetes Day, let’s add our voices and our dollars to those who raise awareness on the impact that diabetes has on the family and= the support networks of those affected — from parents whose phones are ne= ver turned off so that they can receive up-to-the-minute glucose readings from their TD1 children — CMGS — to those with type 2 diabetes as th= ey learn to live and work with their known reality.
Applause
Speaker: Are there any retu= rns or documents for tabling?
Tabling Returns and Documents
Hon. Mr. Pillai: = I have for tabling Price Waterhouse Cooper’s report, entitled: PWC —= ; Review of the determination of security for reclamation and closure of t= he Wolverine Mine.
Ms. Hanson: I have for tabling a letter from a citizen regarding privatization of Yukon government services. Mr. Speaker, this is one of approximately 600 letters that t= he Yukon NDP and the Official Opposition have received to date on the subject = of the privatization of the Queen’s Printer and Central Stores.= p>
Speaker: Are there any furt= her returns or documents for tabling?
Are there any reports of committees?
Reports of
Committees
Mr. Hassard: I have for tabling the fourth report of= the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
Speaker: Are there any further committee reports to be presented?
Are there any petitions?<= /p>
Are there any bills to be introduced?
Are there any notices of = motions?
Notices of M=
otions
Mr. Kent: I rise to give notice of the following mot= ion:
THAT it is the opinion of= this House that the Liberal government has failed to demonstrate that there will= be cost-savings as a result of their decision to shut down Central Stores and = gut the Queen’s Printer Agency.
Mr. Cathers: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT this House urges the= Liberal government to explain why, after running with a slogan of “Be Heard” during the last election campaign, they did not have the decen= cy to talk to employees of Central Stores and the Queen’s Printer Agency= and to hear their views on the Liberal government’s plan before they made= the decision to shut down Central Stores and gut the Queen’s Printer Agen= cy.
Mr. Gallina: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon to consult with Yukoners on the draft Our Clean Future — A Yukon strategy for climate change, energy and a green economy.
Ms. Hanson: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT this House urges the= Yukon government to mirror the Veterans H= iring Act amendments made to the Publ= ic Service Employment Act that aim to help Canadian Armed Forces members a= nd veterans access public service job opportunities by:
(1) providing priority entitlement for medically released veterans found qualified for a position;=
(2) ensuring that modern-= day veterans who apply for and are found qualified receive preference for appointment to a job open to the public; and
(3) ensuring that Canadia= n Armed Forces members and veterans are treated as employees in advertised internal appointments.
Speaker: Are there any further notices of motions?
Is there a statement by a minister?
Ministerial
Statement
Climate change strategy
Hon. Mr. Pillai: It gives me great pleasure to = rise to speak to Our Clean Future = 8212; the draft climate change, energy, and green economy strategy for Yukon.
As Yukoners know, the Gov= ernment of Yukon has joined Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, the City of Whitehorse, a= nd Canada in declaring a climate change emergency. Yukoners are calling for ac= tion to address climate change, and we are listening.
The draft strategy that we released today was developed in partnership with Yukon First Nations, transboundary indigenous groups, and Yukon municipalities. Because of this collaborative process, the draft strategy outlines priorities that are reflected across Yukon. The draft strategy also incorporates feedback from several industry stakeholders. The draft strategy outlines our collective vision, goals, values, and objectives for the next 10 years.
In response to the 2017 a= udit of Yukon’s efforts on climate change, the Government of Yukon committed = to make sure that the new strategy contains clear targets, timelines, and cost= s. This draft strategy includes clear targets and outlines how we plan to meet them.
Following this public eng= agement, the final strategy will include a timeline for each action and cost estimat= es for the implementation of the strategy. The draft outlines 26 objectives and 142 actions focused on reducing Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring that Yukoners have access to reliable, affordable, and renewable energy, adapting to the impacts of climate change, and supporting Yukon businesses and individuals to participate in a green economy.
We are proposing clear ta= rgets to make it easier to track and report progress. Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions per person are currently the sixth highest in Canada at about 18 tonnes per person, and 75 percent of Yukon’s total greenhouse gas emissions come from road transportation and heating. The draft strategy sets out a target to reduce Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30 pe= rcent by 2030, compared to 2010 emissions.
Only 26 percent of o= ur current heat energy comes from renewable sources. The draft strategy sets o= ut targets to meet 40 percent of our heating needs with renewable energy sources by 2030. We are also proposing to continue to have 93 percent = of Yukon’s electricity come from renewable sources, even as our populati= on and energy demands grow along with our economy.
This is an ambitious Yuko= n-wide strategy that proposes action across the territory to respond to climate change. We look forward to hearing from Yukoners on the ideas identified so far. The draft strategy will be out for public review until January 17, 202= 0. The public and stakeholders have the opportunity to review and comment on m= ore than 140 actions that the Government of Yukon proposes to take toward a greener, more resilient future.
We will continue to work = with indigenous and municipal partners to identify partner-led actions for the f= inal version of the strategy, which will be released in 2020.
Developing a coordinated = climate change, energy, and green economy strategy is just one of many steps that t= he Government of Yukon is taking to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and gr= ow a green economy. The Government of Yukon will invest $120 million in joi= nt federal and territorial funding for energy-efficiency improvements to residential, commercial, First Nation, and municipal buildings in the terri= tory for four years. We’re also committed to supporting zero-emission vehi= cles on our roads.
As well, we are working w= ith Canada to support 13 climate change adaptation projects that are helping to address impacts of climate change on health, food security, infrastructure,= and more. I encourage all Yukoners to share their thoughts on our clean future = and help shape Yukon’s next 10 years.
Mr. Kent: Thank you for the opportunity to respond to this ministerial statement today.
Mr. Speaker, as you = know, the former Yukon Party government took a number of significant actions to h= elp fight climate change during its time in office. These programs included investments in energy retrofits, investments in renewable energy, beginning= to electrify Yukon government vehicles, and incentive-based programs to encour= age Yukoners to switch to clean energy and reduce their reliance on fossil fuel= s.
I’m pleased to see = that the Liberals have continued with many of these programs. However, with respect = to the successful microgeneration program that incentivized the development of renewable energy, the Liberals have capped this program. So, we’re wondering if the minister can tell us why they brought in limits on the amo= unt of renewable energy that can be produced through this program.
I also have some question= s about the targets that the minister has provided us with this afternoon. Targets = are, of course, a good thing as they allow Yukoners to hold the government to account and track their effectiveness. However, without a plan or details, targets are just a set of numbers on a piece of paper. For example, the tar= gets that the minister just announced to increase renewable energy so that 40&nb= sp;percent of our heating needs are from renewable sources obviously sounds great to u= s, but how is the government going to do this with a growing population? Where= are all these new renewable energy projects to meet increased demand?
I also have questions abo= ut the government’s economy-wide target to reduce Yukon’s greenhouse g= as emissions by 30 percent by 2030 compared to 2010 emission levels. Especially, Mr. Speaker, how does mining fit into this scenario?
For example, a recent CBC= article noted that the Faro mine cleanup process is going to increase Yukon’s emissions by 31 percent. Further, there are a number of major mines currently proposed to open in the Yukon over the next several years. They w= ould obviously be great for the economy. They would provide good, well-paying jo= bs for many Yukoners and their families, so we are 100 percent on board w= ith them and we hope to see them open in the next few years. However, we are le= ft wondering how the Liberals’ new emissions target can be reconciled wi= th these projects as each of them is expected to increase emissions.
For example, according to= a Yukon News editorial from November= 18, 2015, the proposed Casino mine would double the Yukon’s greenhouse gas emissions. As well, in the YESAB submission for the proposed Kudz Ze Kayah project, du= ring its operation phase, it would add an equivalent of 22 percent of YukonR= 17;s total greenhouse gas emissions at the 2014 levels. These are just two of the many projects, Mr. Speaker, that are currently going through various stages of approval. As I said, they are all good projects, and we support t= hem and want them to go forward, but we are curious how the Liberals will meet = the emissions targets while supporting these projects.
I do think that there is = a lot of good in today’s announcement. We support the expansion of renewables.= In fact, we made significant investments in them in the past. We support incentivizing greening our homes and reducing our transportation emissions. Again, this is another area where we spent a lot of effort in the past. We support giving Yukoners the opportunities to switch to electric vehicles, helping families reduce their reliance on oil, and supporting communities in getting off of diesel. Our concern is that, with the economy-wide target th= at the minister just announced, if implemented, it looks like the Liberals will potentially be putting the brakes on a lot of really good mining projects. = As I have said, if these projects do not go forward, Yukon and its economy will suffer.
I am glad that it is the = Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources who is delivering this statement here today, because I am eager to hear how he will be able to reconcile this target and still support these many mining projects that are either on-grid or off-gri= d. If those projects go forward, can the government meet the target that they announced here today of a 30‑percent reduction in overall greenhouse = gas emissions?
Ms. White: This government has talked about and prom= oted the release of their strategy for climate change, energy, and a green econo= my since the very beginning of their time in this House. It has been debated at least twice, and in replies to questions, we have been told that the answers are coming with the release of this strategy.
Mr. Speaker, I was a= ble to access this document at 10:07 a.m. this morning when the news release = went live. I want to highlight this because it means that we were given less tha= n an hour to read the 61-page document with 142 individual recommendations before receiving the ministerial statement to which I now reply. I mention this because I believe that the work done by the public service and all of those= who participated in the public meetings, online consultation, and through whate= ver avenue was made possible deserves more than a quick read. This document is = a gold mine. Maybe I can start changing my expressions about a greener future and = say that it is the solar farm of good ideas.
In 2015, when Canada sign= ed onto the Paris Agreement, it was the= first time that all nations agreed to focus their attention toward the common cau= se of undertaking ambitious efforts to combat global climate change. We commit= ted nationally to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions from the 2005 numbers by = 30 percent by 2030.
In Yukon, lots of things = have happened between 2005 and 2010 as far as emissions go, so I wonder why the later date was chosen as the benchmark.
I appreciate that, once government has consulted with Yukoners on the draft as directed in the draft plan, the final strategy will include information about timelines, evaluati= ons, and costs, but I believe that there are many good ideas contained in this document that don’t need public affirmation for the government to pro= ceed with and for the work to move along quickly.
For example, this House h= as been discussing — and I believe that it has reached consensus — on t= he need to enable the Yukon Energy Corporation to conduct demand-side manageme= nt programs, and action 53 says that YG will direct the Yukon Utilities Board = to allow Yukon’s public utilities to pursue cost-effective capacity demand-side management measures. This doesn’t need to go out to consultation, so we hope that this can happen sooner rather than later.
Action item 75 says that government will conduct a review of best practices for developing walkable, bike-friendly, transit-oriented communities and develop guidelines that can= be used by the government. Mr. Speaker, active transportation considerati= ons aren’t being adequately incorporated into future planning right now. = Take the new highway crossing at Sumanik Drive. A little planning could have mad= e it accessible via Hillcrest, but instead, kids and their parents have to play Frogger for the next two years exiting their neighbourhood. There is no rea= son that these principles could not have been implemented now while also being developed for future plans.
Mining will indeed play a= central role in the green economy of the future. Precious metals play key roles in solar panels and battery storage, and I’m hopeful that the work with industry to set intensity-based targets for mining will look not only at the Yukon context, but the global need to reduce our emissions.
We look forward to seeing= the Yukon government lead renewable energy generation projects. Partnerships wi= th others are important, but so is the ability to lead. We’re hopeful th= at, with the acknowledgement that the full cost of diesel fuels and other fossil fuels like air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and fuel spills are not reflected in the fees that Yukon currently pays for these energy sources and that the monetary rate, when calculating an IPP for renewable energy, is reflected against the true cost of the fossil fuels that it is compared to, because, Mr. Speaker, this will make wind and solar not only feasible,= but attractive.
There are so many Yukoner= s, businesses, and private citizens who want to participate, so I appreciate t= hat this plan is ambitious, but it needs clear timelines in the short term and = the middle term, with an implementation plan for each action item that is coste= d.
The true test of the mett= le — or when the sunray hits the panel moment — will be when the f= inal plan is released and Yukon government rolls up its sleeves and we get to wo= rk.
Hon. Mr. Pillai: Mr. Speaker, I am going t= o do my best. There were a lot of questions there. I do want to first just thank= the public servants who are here today. They have been an exceptional team who = has put together an exceptional plan.
There is a tremendous amo= unt of work left to be done. I would like to just start by adding that the sleeves have been rolled up for a while — the work on the IPP legislation, al= l of the work on renewable energy projects in communities throughout the Yukon, = the Energy Solutions Centre, and the climate change team. All of these individu= als have been working, and so a lot of this work moves into the strategy.
I am going to do my best = to answer a number of questions. First of all, I do think that the previous government did some excellent work on putting programs together. Things like microgeneration are really being used to the point where we have to figure = out now, at that high rate that we are paying for the energy, how we are actual= ly going to balance that within our budgets. They are great programs, but we do have to remember that there was an audit that was underway. This work is in response to that audit, and the audit was quite damning, which has been the catalyst for us to actually take on this project — the audit of 2017. That really reflected back on 2016. There was good work to be done, but it = also stated that there was a lot of work that needed to happen in the future.
Microgeneration — I= think we see it as a great program. It is something that needs to be reflected up= on, but also our IPP, which both opposition critics have talked about in one fo= rm — in the sense of capping energy purchase — and also with IPP a= nd the rate that we pay. It is important to understand that we set it up and we needed to get this in place. People waited for it for years. It is in place. After 24 months, the team who is with us today — they know how to han= dle these things. They made sure that there is a chance to review and reflect on how it works in the first couple of years, and then we can look at our pric= ing mechanisms or even how much we purchase from individual groups.
Yukon Energy Corporation = — and I will be speaking about this next week — is about to announce a renewable energy plan for the next 10 years. We knew that we had to have th= is plan out, and we knew that we had to have a plan in place for the Energy Co= rporation which identifies all of these renewable energy projects. We are really exci= ted about the fact that it, of course, will parallel this work, and it can dove= tail into the strategy in Q1 of 2020 as we roll this= out and as Yukoners reflect on what we are doing.
On the mining side, I thi= nk that both critics talked — one was just saying, “How are you going to right-side this? Are you really supporting mining?” — and, of course, the look toward how we deal with emissions. Those are great questio= ns.
Yukoners extract renewable commodities, and in a way, as we look globally, not only are we doing this = in a clean fashion — when we know that this world needs, for a clean tech economy, things like zinc and copper — and in some cases, gold —= ; we do it better than others across the globe. So, if we are going to contribut= e to the world and our globe on how we deal with emissions, we think that mining certain things in the Yukon is better than in many other parts of the world= .
We will be working with i= ndustry. We have already been working with Canada on some of the intensity targets t= hey are looking at and also with British Columbia.
As for demand-side manage= ment, I appreciate the question. We do have some strategies, as we have committed t= o, and those will be done in place.
I just hope, Mr. Spe= aker, that everybody has a chance to look at this strategy. We will have lots of = time inside the Legislative Assembly to discuss this. I am sure that there will = be lots of questions and we are excited to answer them.
I just want to thank ever= ybody who worked on this plan because we think that it is a fantastic plan.
Speaker: This then brings us to Question Period.
QUESTION PERIOD
Question re: Queen’s Printer Age= ncy and Central Stores services
Mr. Hassard: So, on October 23, this House debated a= nd passed a motion for the production of papers calling on the government to provide the evidence supporting their decision to cut Queen’s Printer Agency and Central Stores. Seven days after that motion passed, the minister tabled a document in this House in response. If the document existed prior = to the decision to make these cuts, then what was the holdup in providing the evidence to the House? Why, if the decision was made in September, was the government not able to provide the document right away?
One might think that it d= id not exist before the government made the decision. We have heard that the delay= was because the document that the minister tabled in the House was hastily cobb= led together at the last minute.
Can the minister confirm = if the document tabled in the House was the same document that the Liberal Cabinet used to make the decision to cut these branches?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I want to say to the members opposite that we did indeed use that document to make our decision.
Mr. Speaker, I want = to start this afternoon by saying that I value the employees impacted by this transition. I was just speaking to them a few minutes ago out in the foyer = of the Legislative Assembly, and I have to say that their skills, knowledge, a= nd professionalism are important to our government and to the civil service.= p>
I know that change is dif= ficult — there is no getting around that — but this decision was based= on the understanding that the government must continue to adjust and update ho= w it provides service to its clients — be they within the civil service or outside the civil service.
I’m very happy this= process is being done with no job losses. We followed the collective agreement and = we involved the union during this transition. Seventeen people were impacted by this change and all 17 of those people still work in this government at the same pay level. Ten employees have new reporting arrangements and will cont= inue in similar jobs. The other seven are being offered alternative positions at their same classification and level within Highways and Public Works.
Again, I want to stress t= hat I know that change is rarely easy, but we have worked — and we’ll continue to work — through the union honouring the collective agreeme= nt as this change is implemented.
Mr. Hassard: It’s unfortunate that the minister has such a strange way of showing his appreciation to these employees.
I’m going to ask an= other question about the so-called “evidence” that the minister table= d in the House because I think it’s important for Yukoners that we underst= and how the Liberals arrived at this decision.
On October 17, the minist= er announced the Liberals’ decision to make these cuts and claimed it wo= uld save government $1.6 million. Then on October 21, the minister told us that the decision to make these cuts was made in September. On October 23, = the opposition passed a motion calling on the government to table the evidence supporting the claim of savings. On October 30, the minister tabled this alleged “evidence”.
Can the minister tell us = when this “evidence” was actually written, Mr. Speaker?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I must take exception to the remarks by the member, the Leader of the Official Opposition. There are no cuts, Mr. Speaker, as I said. We have followed the collective agreement and involved the union during this transition. Seventeen people are going t= o be impacted by that change and all 17 of those people still work in this government at the same pay level — so, Mr. Speaker, there are no cuts.
I also want to note that = we unanimously passed a motion in this House. We all agreed to that motion. We agreed with the motion and provided the paper within one week.
Mr. Speaker, this ch= ange will save roughly $1.6 million and is creating opportunities for the private sector to benefit from government spending.
Mr. Hassard: The Minister of Highways and Public Wor= ks originally stated that he worked with the union as soon as the decision to = cut Queen’s Printer and Central Stores was made. The minister told the Ho= use on October 21 that the Liberals made the decision to make these cuts in late September, and his quote was: “As soon as the decision was made in la= te September, we reached out to the union and started working with them to plan how this will be executed.”
We’ve heard the uni= on dispute this claim, so I would like the minister to confirm a few things fo= r us here today. What day in late September was the decision made? What day did = the Liberal government reach out to the union to start working with them on an implementation plan? What were the results of those meetings?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: Once again, Mr. Speaker, I’m going to take issue with the wording of the Leader of the Official Opposition. There are no cuts. He keeps repeating that, but I want to corre= ct him. We followed the collective agreement and involved the union during the transition on — I believe it was October 7. Seventeen people are being impacted by this change. I understand that change is difficult, but all 17 = of those people still work for this government at the same pay level. Their skills, knowledge, and professionalism are important to this government and= the civil service that they serve.
We also appreciate the ha= rd work that these public servants across government provide Yukoners through the programs and services that they need. We continue to look for ways to impro= ve service while getting the best value for money, and we want to retain our valuable employees as we modernize the public service.
Question re=
: Queen’s
Printer Agency and Central Stores services
Ms. Van Bibber: The Liberals have claimed that their cuts to Queen’s Printer and Central Stores will save government $1.6&= nbsp;million and will be done with zero job losses. However, if you look at the document that they had that is supposed to explain how the savings will be met, it s= ays that $618,000 of the savings will come directly from personnel costs. So, t= here will apparently be no jobs affected, but 39 percent of the savings are associated directly with job cuts.
Can the minister explain = these contradictions?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I certainly can, and I thank t= he member opposite for her question this afternoon. In total, there are 17 peo= ple impacted by this change, and all 17 of those people still work for this government at the same pay level. Nobody is losing a government job through this modernization initiative. Ten employees will have new reporting arrangements and will continue in similar jobs. The other seven people are being offered alternative positions at the same classification and level wi= thin Highways and Public Works.
We’re doing this be= cause their skills, knowledge, and professionalism are important to this governme= nt and to the civil service that they have served in — some people for m= any, many, many years. That’s important to recognize.
When we move these people= from these two agencies to their new positions, the government will then be able= to take off the books 17 FTEs, which we talk about quite often in the Legislat= ive Assembly. We are doing this because we want to make sure that we manage our growth of this government.
Ms. Van Bibber: With respect to the decision to make these cuts, we have discussed how many times the Liberals have mistreated t= he employees through this implementation. We have heard that the 17 affected s= taff were given approximately 10 minutes’ notice before a global notice was sent out to all public servants. We also heard that the Human Resources bra= nch was completely caught off guard and, as a result, was scrambling to figure = out the next steps when affected employees started calling them to ask questions about their futures.
Does the minister believe= that this is a fair and respectful way to treat employees?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: As I have said on the floor of this House just this afternoon — and on the several times when I have= had to address this issue — I value the employees impacted by this transition. I understand that change is difficult. That said, Mr. Spea= ker, the people who are affected by this change in the way that we serve our cli= ents have a lot of knowledge. They are professionals, and their skills are very valuable to this civil service and to this government.
Again, I am very happy th= at this process is being done with no job losses. I want to also say that we follow= ed the collective agreement and we involved the union during this transition. = We reached out to the union immediately after making the decision within Cabin= et at the end of September. We scheduled a meeting with the union on their timeline, and we continued to work with the union through this transition f= or weeks until the actual meeting with the employees was made in later October= .
Ms. Van Bibber: Looking at the options paper that the minister provided, it lists pros and cons of the decisions to outsource cen= tral services. The cons contain only one item: “Cons — May negatively impact local retailers if not selected in the bid process.” After the decision to cut Central Stores was made, the government issued a public RFI= on the tender system seeking proposals from companies to provide office suppli= es to the government.
There are 30 people on th= e plan holders list for this tender, and of those, half are from outside the Yukon= , but that is just the plan holders list. We don’t know who bid. As I said,= the options specifically identify the only negative being that local businesses would be hurt.
Can the minister tell us = how many companies submitted proposals for this tender, and how many were southern companies?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I thank the member opposite for her question. I think that we are moving into the realm of procurement, Mr.= Speaker, and as the members opposite know, I have spoken at length about procurement= and the changes that we have made to our procurement policies in the territory.= We have redefined what a “Yukon business” is. We have done so in conversation with the business community. We are changing the way in which = we procure goods and services through our tendering process to make sure that = we give credit to local knowledge and experience and to make sure that we do k= eep the dollars that we spend in this government within the territory — t= he best we can. We are going to continue that effort through this change in the way we procure janitorial supplies, office supplies, safety supplies, the printing of documents, and the securing of print jobs.
I have spoken to members = of the Queen’s Printer about the way that they procured print jobs. I have a= lso spoken to the print shops myself, and I have every confidence that we will = be able to continue to maximize opportunity for local companies.
Question re=
: Queen’s
Printer Agency and Central Stores services
Ms. Hanson: When the government announced the sudden move to eliminate the Queen’s Printer and Central Stores, the minister was unable to provide a rationale other than describing hard-working public servants as archaic and virtually obsolete. When pressed for a more substan= tive analysis — one that might prove that gutting these government services was cost-effective — the minister released a one-pager that purported= to show savings. However, nowhere in that simplistic chart were additional cos= ts shown for departments that will now be responsible for their own purchasing, printing, shipping, et cetera.
Governments planning to p= rivatize government services normally conduct a value-for-money assessment, called a “public sector comparator”. It assesses not only the savings of removing public services, but the new costs of purchasing from the private sector. It is essential for an evidence-based decision.
Did the government conduc= t a public sector comparative analysis to compare the net additional cost of government privatizing the Queen’s Printer and Central Stores?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I appreciate the question from= the Member for Whitehorse Centre. As she has noted, this change will save rough= ly $1.6 million and is creating opportunities for the private sector to benefit from government spending. We have worked very hard in this governme= nt to make sure that we do maximize the spending of our government budget in l= ocal communities, and we’re going to continue that effort through this modernization of Queen’s Printer Agency and Central Stores.
Ms. Hanson: This government’s constant refrain= of “getting out of the business of doing business” reflects an ideological assumption that privatization is inherently good and more efficient. Ideology should never replace analysis, and this government clea= rly has not done its homework.
The argument that elimina= ting Central Stores and Queen’s Printer will save $1.6 million only stands up to scrutiny if you assume that shuffling an employee to another branch eliminates the personnel cost, that it won’t cost government departments to do their own purchasing, and that the private sector will provide these services for free.
Before the government pur= sues a much broader privatization campaign against the public service, it is their responsibility to conduct a sound analysis of whether there is a tangible b= enefit to privatization beyond dogmatic belief that government service delivery is bad.
Before this government ac= ts as another branch of the public service, will it implement a comprehensive pub= lic service comparator to determine whether the savings it claims will material= ize?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: As we move down this road, we’re going to be assessing how it’s doing, and we will make co= urse corrections as we have to. That has been my approach to many different initiatives we have taken in this government, from procurement to modernization.
The Yukon Financial Advis= ory Panel’s final report emphasized the importance of increasing the efficiency of government services to reduce cost and allow government to fo= cus on providing services to citizens. In the past, Mr. Speaker, spending = was way more than it was bringing in — we have spoken about that — = and you can understand that this was not sustainable. So, the government values modernization and changing the way we do things so that we actually make su= re that we manage our growth.
We’re going to cont= inue to do this in a responsible way that respects our employees and makes sure that they have a place in this Yukon government because, as I’ve said seve= ral times this afternoon, their skills, knowledge, and experience are valuable = to both this government and to the civil service they’ve served — sometimes for decades.
Ms. Hanson: Mr. Speaker, the fact that this government hasn’t done a basic value-for-money exercise speaks to a serious lack of attention to detail. It begs the question: What other impor= tant analyses and assessments have been missed?
For a long time, the Queen’s Printer has capably provided confidential printing services a= nd secure document management. The government says that they will retain components of the Queen’s Printer to do confidential printing, yet it= is unclear what that work will cover or who will be left to do it.
When government creates a= new project or significantly modifies one, it has the duty to conduct a privacy impact assessment and share it with the Information and Privacy Commissioner for review. The assessment is essential for identifying risks associated wi= th the collection, use, and disclosure of public and government information. <= /p>
Did the Government of Yuk= on conduct a privacy impact assessment on the effects of the cuts prior to eliminating the Queen’s Printer?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite, the Member for Whitehorse Centre, for her question this afternoon. I have heard her a couple of times referencing this afternoon a one-page document. I hope that she has the opportunity to review the 18 pag= es of documents that we put up on the — that we tabled in the House rece= ntly — within a week, having that motion we debated fulfilled.
Mr. Speaker, we unde= rstand that there is a statutory requirement for the Queen’s Printer Agency = and that will be retained through this process.
Question re=
: Queen’s
Printer Agency and Central Stores services
Ms. White: When this government announced plans to c= lose down the Central Stores, many may have shrugged and suggested that it was no big deal. But if we look at who relies on Central Stores, it’s an entirely different story. Who would have guessed that the RCMP, Yukon Colle= ge — soon to be the Yukon University — the Hospital Corporation wi= th three hospitals, Yukon Energy, the City of Whitehorse, WCB, all Yukon schoo= ls, Parks Canada, and more will all be impacted? This is not just Yukon governm= ent departments and not just government departments in Whitehorse; it’s community schools, offices, community health centres, hospitals, and more. = The civil servants living and working in rural communities are not able to simp= ly run down to Staples to grab some paper or ink for the photocopier when supp= lies run out.
Mr. Speaker, how exa= ctly will supplies for all of those government and other offices across Yukon be tendered, purchased, delivered, and paid for without Central Stores?
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Speaker: Order. Order, please.
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: As I’ve said before this afternoon, I know that change is rarely easy. I know it is unsettling to people. I know that it’s disruptive and I understand that. We are wor= king very hard to make sure that disruptions are as few as possible and that we address some of the concerns that are coming forward.
Prior to this change, alm= ost 70 percent of government purchasing was done by individuals using corporate credit car= ds. This meant that people were paying retail prices for goods that our governm= ent could have been purchasing in large quantities at a lower rate. By moving t= o an online purchasing system, employees — be they in Whitehorse or in rur= al Yukon — will still be able to get the needed supplies but will not ha= ve to physically travel to do so.
Ms. White: The Auditor General issued a report in 20= 17 entitled Government Transfers to Societies — Yukon. In the audit, the AG made recommendations that should be a guide today when looking at this government’s plan to clo= se Central Stores. The Auditor General recommended that departments collaborat= e in order to standardize systems across the public service.
Mr. Speaker, the Aud= itor General found that, when systems are standardized across the public service, inefficiencies and duplications can result in higher costs. This is exactly= why there is Central Stores. Its objective is to obtain, at best value for money and in a timely manner, the goods and services required by all departments. Central Stores stocks and ships commonly used supplies on behalf of governm= ent departments. That would be things like paper, office supplies, and so many = more things.
Where are the efficiencie= s to be found by removing this central service that collaborates across the public service to provide standardized services and products?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I thank the Leader of the Third Party for the question. As I’ve said, Mr. Speaker, I know that change is rarely easy. I know that it is disruptive and hard. We have and w= ill continue to work through the union, honouring the collective agreement as t= his change is implemented. The change will save roughly $1.6 million and is creating opportunities for the private sector to benefit from government spending.
Prior to this change, Mr.= Speaker, almost 70 percent of government’s purchasing was done by individ= uals using corporate credit cards. This meant that people were paying retail pri= ces for goods that our government could have been purchasing in large quantitie= s at a lower rate. By moving to an online purchasing system, we will still be ab= le to get the needed supplies, but employees will not have to physically trave= l to do so.
We are tendering this con= tract and we will have a central online repository where government employees wil= l be able to get the goods and services they need.
Ms. White: Mr. Speaker, the government has announced huge savings by shrinking the Queen’s Printer and closing d= own Central Stores. We are now aware of other meetings and plans afoot to look = at downsizing or the privatization of other units, including fleet vehicles. My colleague asked this question earlier, and what we heard was a lot of words= and repetition, but no substance or real information. This is hardly reassuring coming from an old newspaper guy and even less reassuring coming from the minister responsible for the decision.
Mr. Speaker, before = this government axes another branch of the public service, will it implement a comprehensive public sector comparator to determine whether the savings wil= l in fact materialize? Have they conducted a privacy impact assessment on the effects of the cuts prior to eliminating the Queen’s Printer?
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I thank the Leader of the Third Party for her question this afternoon. She has raised a lot of points in her preamble that really are a lot of words, but not a lot of substance, Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker.
I want to say that we hav= e moved to modernize our civil service. We are using the resources that we have at = our disposal — our people, who we value — to put them into positions where they can change the way that government delivers services. In the Queen’s Printer, we are going to be moving to online PDFs and more di= gital documents. We want to be printing fewer documents, not more, so we are movi= ng some of those employees into ICT. We are moving some employees into procure= ment so that we can better understand printing and how we actually procure goods= and services. We are also moving to an online portal that will produce a savings for government and simplify the way that we obtain the goods and services t= hat we need within the government, such as janitorial and safety materials, Mr.= Speaker.
We are doing this because= the world is changing too. I understand that this is difficult, and we are work= ing very hard with our employees and our union partners to respect the civil service and the people whom we employ.
Question re=
: Mining
sector development
Mr. Kent: I think we will try a different minister o= n a different topic to see if we can get some answers here today.
In a recent online issue = of North of 60 Mining News, an article entitled “Mineral exploration slows in the Yukon” outlines what= it refers to as Yukon “… witnessing a significant slowdown in 2019.” The article goes on to say — and I quote: “Several factors … have converged to put the brakes on the territory̵= 7;s typically brisk pace of mining activity this season.”
As of July of this year, the article reports that the number of mining claims staked in 2019 has dropped significantly and was only 12 percent of the total in 2018. Additionally, the article states that there were 151 exploration proj= ects last year, but in 2019, this total had dropped to only 61 active projects.<= /p>
Can the minister confirm = these decreases in exploration spending? Are these the same numbers that he will announce this week during Geoscience?
Hon. Mr. Pillai: The season that we’re looking at continues to be a season that is quite strong. If we take a look= at the last three years and then we go back to the previous government’s last four years, we would still be probably around $19 million more in exploration spending.
I have been a challenge i=
n the
House around accuracy on the numbers, because we get a projected number from
the federal government, and then we get numbers later on in the season. I
don’t think that I have to announce any numbers other than the fact t=
hat
we are happy about seeing these two mines — one is back into producti=
on,
and another is open. We’re happy with the lowest unemployment rate in=
the
country, and we’re happy with the fact that our projected GDP is actu=
ally
our real GDP from last year’s — 18 percent higher than what
was projected.
We’re happy that, p= er capita — only one other province in the entire country — provin= ces and territories — has a per capita GDP as strong as ours.
We’re going to cont= inue to support our industry. We’re going to continue to thank our private se= ctor for the strong economy that we see, and we’re going to continue to support, through a series of programs and marketing, a very important miner= al industry, not just in the Yukon —
Speaker: Order, please.
Question re=
: Mineral
staking
Mr. Kent: This new question — this second ques= tion is also for the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, but it’s regarding land available for staking. With those exploration numbers, obvio= usly we’ll wait to hear from the Yukon Geological Survey during their presentation at Geoscience next week to see exactly what the season held.= p>
As mentioned in my previo= us question, the number of claims registered as of July 2019 is only 12 p= ercent of the total staked in 2018, and not many of those are in new prospective areas. Obviously, this is a concerning trend, as today’s staking and exploration leads to tomorrow’s operating and producing mines.
What is the government do= ing to ensure that land is available for exploration? Will this minister commit to supporting the free-entry system?
Hon. Mr. Pillai: It is a very valid question. I think that the real focus for the critic’s question is really about grassroots exploration and how you continue to have an ecosystem and a pipe= line that produces new programs — and land availability is key — but also ensure that you have capital available to do that work. What we are se= eing at a global level is capital that is starting to dry up because it has gone into other particular investment strategies — whether it be cannabis = or bitcoin — significant — billions and billions of dollars — moving out of the junior market and into those areas.
But we are also at a plac= e that is doing ethical mining. We see diversity embraced within our sector. Twenty-five percent of the staff at Victoria Gold are women who are ta= king part in that economy. These are all extremely important things for investor= s, for big pension funds, and for global investors.
We are doing the right wo= rk when it comes to working with the Women’s Directorate, the Department of Environment — assessment. These are key items — and also investigating with the Province of British Columbia on how we can look at early-stage pools of capital that we can inject, not unlike other areas suc= h as Québec with Plan Nord.
That is some of the work = that we are doing.
Mr. Kent: I am sure that if the minister runs into s= ome prospectors this weekend or early next week, they will be certain to tell h= im that, without access to land, you are not going to be able to find any new mines or new occurrences, and that is exactly what that first question was = about, so hopefully he will be able to address that.
In the discussion paper e= ntitled — and I quote: “Mineral Staking and Development in Planned and Zoned Communities” recently released by EMR, it reports that there are approximately 170 withdrawal orders in the territory, covering approximately 250,000 square kilometres or about 52 percent of the Yukon — so = more than half of the Yukon is prohibited from staking. A significant portion of that area is part of the traditional territory of the Yukon’s Kaska First Nation.
Can the minister provide = us with an update on the temporary withdrawal orders for the K= aska traditional territories and tell Yukoners when they will deliver on providi= ng certainty for Kaska and southeast Yukon citizen= s with the full or partial removal of these temporary bans?
Hon. Mr. Pillai: I would like to thank the crit= ic for these very valid questions once again. I think that we have worked very well with the Yukon Prospectors Association. I have taken advice from them.=
I would like to specifica= lly thank Gary Lee in his work around helping us to look at prospecting approac= hes and the low‑impact work that they do.
I think that part of what I’m glad we have done is — back in — I think it was 2011 — the member opposite walked into a room with industry and First Nati= ons and made a big promise that, by June of the next year — I might be of= f on the year, but I’m willing to take that in — made a commitment t= hat he would have class 1 in place and the world would be well.
That didn’t get don= e, but we followed through, working with Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in a= nd other nations.
That also was part of the discussion around the Kaska — and of cour= se that’s another series of legal challenges and court cases that we are again unwinding and continuing to work — the Premier continues with h= is work around aboriginal relations.
Here’s the bottom l= ine, Mr. Speaker. I hear it all the time — “Answer the question: When is this goi= ng to be fixed?”
We will sit at the table = and we will ensure we have respectful negotiations as per the agreements that are signed which are contracts with other governments. We will not walk from the table, and at the 11th hour, we won’t take off and change = the rules on our own without talking to them. That’s the work we’ll= do. You have to be committed to it. You have to respect the other people across= the table. That’s the only route.
If the opposition has a s= ilver bullet that they know about, please let me know. Please let me know. But ot= her than that, it’s respectful work. That’s what we’re doing — and we’ll unwind the court cases from the past. I want to congratulate the industry on this strong work that they’re doing. I w= ant to congratulate Victoria Gold, Pembridge Resources —
Speaker: Order, please. Order.
Mr. Kent: I’m interested that the minister spo= ke about class 1 notifications as being complete. That will no doubt come as a surprise to many of the prospectors whom we deal with on a regular basis. I’ll send a few of the prospectors who will be coming to our offices complaining about what’s happening under his watch his way so that he= can perhaps talk to them as well.
The minister spoke —= ; we were talking about the temporary withdrawals in the Ross River area as well= as the Liard First Nation traditional territory.
The minister spoke to res= pectful dialogue at the table, so I’ll ask him a couple of simple questions: = When was the last time he sat at a table to discuss these temporary withdrawals? When is the next time that he’ll sit at a table with those First Nati= ons to discuss those specific issues?
Hon. Mr. Pillai: Lots of questions there. First= of all, the Yukon Prospectors Association — I believe I’m meeting = with them on the weekend.
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Hon. Mr. Pillai: If they can hold off on talking off-mic, I can answer the question.
On the weekend, we’= re meeting with them. Just to clarify, the miscommunication may be from across= the way.
The Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in — we have worked on class 1. The previous class 1s were with White River First Nation and both Kaska Nations, and we continue to work with the 10 other self-governing First Nations. When it comes to municipalities — it was brought up in the l= ast question — there are withdrawals. The members opposite can’t ha= ve their cake and eat it too. We have committed to working with municipalities= . Of course, some of that work has to do with withdrawals. I assume that the mem= bers opposite who represent rural areas and communities go back and talk to the individuals who represent them. That is what they want. That is the work we’re doing, which is to go out and make sure — again, another = one from the didn’t-get-’er-done pile on municipalities — we work on that. I will work with the Minister of Community Services on that particular work.
My office door is always = open for the Yukon Prospectors Association. I am looking forward to the discussions = with them this weekend. As for conversations with the Kaska= Nation — I think my last meeting with Chief Caesar on all things that= are his priority was last Wednesday morning.
Speaker: The time for Question Period has now elapsed.
We will now proceed to Or= ders of the Day.
Orders of th=
e Day
Motion to engross Address in Reply to the Sp= eech from the Throne
Hon. Mr. Silver: Mr. Speaker, I move:
THAT the Address in Reply= to the Speech from the Throne be engrossed and presented to the Commissioner in her capacity as Lieutenant Governor.
Speaker: It has been moved by the Hon. Premier:
THAT the Address in Reply= to the Speech from the Throne be engrossed and presented to the Commissioner in her capacity as Lieutenant Governor.
Motion agreed to
Government B=
ills
Bill No. 7: Technical Amendments Act, 2019 — Third Reading
Clerk: Third reading, Bill No. 7, standing in the na= me of the Hon. Mr. Streicker.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I move that Bill No. 7, entitled Technical Amendments Act,&= nbsp;2019, be now read a third time and do pass.
Speaker: It has been moved by the Minister of Justice tha= t Bill No. 7, entitled Technical Amen= dments Act, 2019, be now read a third time and do pass.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I will start my quite brief remarks with respect to third reading of the Technical Amendments Act, 2019 by thanking my colleague, t= he Acting Minister of Justice, for his participation on the floor of this Hous= e in regard to the Technical Amendments = Act, 2019 with respect to second reading and Committee of the Whole. I have very brief remarks here on third reading.
The House covered a signi= ficant amount of material during the debate on this bill. I would like to take jus= t a couple of minutes to outline the bill and its contents before the vote.
From time to time, techni= cal amendments bills are required to ensure that discrete amendments to various statutes are made to keep those pieces of legislation current and accurate.= My colleagues have heard me mention this before and the importance of making s= ure our legislation is up to date.
While miscellaneous statu= te amendments bills seek to correct legislative items, such as numbering issue= s or cross-references, typos, and other issues of that nature, these technical b= ills typically fix discrete items that carry some degree of policy implication, = and that is the case with respect to the one before us.
For example, such technic= al bills may be used to address changes to federal legislation or changes in the com= mon law. To be clear, this bill is presented by this government and contains amendments that are before us again today as necessary technical amendments that will address three specific issues. They will ensure that Yukon’s legislation aligns with Canada’s Criminal Code to provide Yukon’s safer communities and neighbourhoods R= 12; also known as the SCAN — unit with the authority to investigate illeg= al property-related activities specific to cannabis. It will also amend the Crime Prevention and Victim Services T= rust Act to allow judges to exercise their discretion in ordering victim fine surcharges to the benefit of Yukoners, and it will make changes to the Jury Act to expand jury pools to i= nclude those individuals who have been incarcerated for periods of less than two years, ensuring that a larger pool of individuals can be considered for this important civic duty and activity.
Mr. Speaker, I know = that this has been debated through first and second reading and in Committee of = the Whole, and I am seeking and recommending that the members of this Legislati= ve Assembly support the passing of the Technical Amendments Act, 2019 that is before this House as a means to ensure that Yukon’s book of statutes remains current and aligns with current federal legislation.
Mr. Cathers: The Minister of Justice just largely repeated remarks that have been made twice by the Acting Minister of Justic= e, which really isn’t a very efficient use of House time. I have already spoken to this and don’t need to repeat myself, so I will conclude my remarks.
Ms. Hanson: I just wanted to reiterate in speaking t= o Bill No. 7 that we did have — as the minister mentioned — some discussion with the Acting Minister of Justice.
The NDP will be supportin= g this bill — Bill No. 7, Techn= ical Amendments Act, 2019 — but I want to put on the record again= for the minister the concern that was expressed with respect to the amendments = on the Safer Communities and Neighbour= hoods Act — that at some point there needs to be a review of this piece= of legislation.
I raise this in particular because, when I look — and the Acting Minister of Justice and I had s= ome conversations about this — but as we further extend the reach of SCAN, then it comes closer and closer to provisions that are more commonly found = in civil forfeiture legislation. There are concerns, and there have been conce= rns in this territory in the past by a previous government that attempted to pa= ss civil forfeiture legislation which effectively did through the civil process what it couldn’t do through the criminal process, and in many jurisdictions across this country, it has inadvertently penalized and paupe= rized innocent people for activities that have occurred in properties that they o= wn or in properties in which they live.
We will support the bill,= but we do believe that there is a larger conversation that needs to be had with respect to the creeping scope of the legislation that we put forward.
Speaker: Is there any further debate on third reading of = Bill No. 7?
Are you prepared for the question?
Some Hon. Members: Division.
Division
Speaker: Division has been called.
Bells
Speaker: Mr. Clerk, please poll the House.
Hon. Mr. Silver: Agree.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Pillai: Agree.
Hon. Ms. Dendys: Agree.
Hon. Ms. Frost: Agree.
Mr. Gallina: Agree.
Mr. Adel: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: Agree.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: Agree.
Mr. Hutton: Agree.
Ms. Van Bibber: Agree.
Mr. Cathers: Agree.
Ms. McLeod: Agree.
Mr. Istchenko: Agree.
Ms. White: Agree.
Ms. Hanson: Agree.
Clerk: Mr. Speaker, the results are 16 yea, nil nay.=
Speaker: The yeas have it. I declare the motion carried. =
Motion for third reading of Bill No. 7 agreed to
Speaker: I declare that Bill No. 7 has passed this House.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I move that the Speaker do now leave the Chair and that the House resolve into Committee of the Whole.
Speaker: It has been moved by the Government House Leader that the Speaker do now leave the Chair and that the House resolve into Committee of the Whole.
Motion agreed to
Speaker leaves the Chair
Committee of=
the
Whole
Chair (Mr. Hutton): Committee of the Whole will now = come to order.
The matter now before the Committee is general debate on Bill No. 2, entitled Yukon University Act.
Do members wish to take a= brief recess?
All Hon. Members: Agreed.
Chair: Committee of the Whole will recess for 15 minutes.=
Recess
Chair: Order, please. Committee of the Whole will now com= e to order.
Bill No.&nb=
sp;2: Yukon University Act
Chair: The matter before the Committee is general debate = on Bill No. 2, entitled Yukon Universi= ty Act.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Thank you, Mr. Chair. Fir= st of all, I would like to thank Michael McBride, who is here — the dire= ctor of policy and planning with the Department of Education — but he is a= lso here today as the acting deputy minister. With him, and joining me on the f= loor of the Legislative Assembly, is Bhreagh Dabbs, = who is with the Legislative Counsel Office and who is primarily responsible for the drafting of this Bill No. 2.
I would also like to take=
the
opportunity to introduce to you, all the Members of the Legislative Assembl=
y,
some guests we have here today for this debate: Dr. Karen Barnes, the
president of Yukon College; Clint Sawicki, the associate vice-president; Lacia Kinnear, director of governance and strategic
initiatives; and with them is Tom Ullyett, the =
chair
of the Yukon College board at the moment.
Thank you very much for j= oining us, and thank you, Mr. Chair, for allowing me to introduce everyone.= p>
Applause
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I don’t have any opening remarks. We took opportunities at second reading and first reading of this = bill to give quite a bit of detail with respect to the highlights. As a result, I’m happy to proceed to answer questions in Committee of the Whole wi= th respect to Bill No. 2.
Ms. Van Bibber: I also don’t have very many qu= estions of the minister, but I will just clarify a few items that I gathered togeth= er, and I welcome the officials as well.
The Official Opposition is pleased to see the progress on the advancement from Yukon College to Yukon University. We all know that it’s the first such facility north of 60= . We hope that students from across the north will realize the potential and acc= ess the many programs that will be offered at our new facility.
Does the minister know if= a concerted effort to include Northwest Territories and Nunavut was in some of the planning stages in the making of this document?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: There was no specific consulta= tion with the Northwest Territories or Nunavut other than to look at their simil= ar pieces of legislation from across the country with respect to the drafting = of Bill No. 2, for instance, but what I can say — and I know that our visitors in the gallery would want me to confirm this — is that there= has been much work done with respect to other circumpolar universities and coll= eges across the circumpolar area of our world, and that work will continue and d= oes continue in relation to not only Yukon College, but the transition to Yukon University.
I know that Universities = Canada has been a large piece of the work that has been done; work with them has b= een a large piece of the work that has been done in developing Bill No. 2. More importantly than the specifics of Bill No. 2 — the concept = of how working with other universities has influenced the hybrid style of university that is being proposed here — the bicameral structure and those kinds of things. Much research and collaboration = was certainly done in relation to determining what would be the best fit for Yu= kon College and Yukon University. That work will continue.
Ms. Van Bibber: We know the history: the vocational school opening in 1963; Yukon College, which we know today, opened in 1988;= and now we will have the Yukon University open in May of this coming year. Is t= here going to be a major budget increase to ensure that it is properly done? If = so, can the minister tell us what and where the dollars will be spent?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Thank you for the question. I think that it’s an important one with respect to the phased-in approa= ch of Yukon College becoming Yukon University. Of course, a major piece of tha= t is the passing of Bill No. 2, which will grant the authority for Yukon University to exist.
The f= irst degree program has already begun. It is anticipated to have its first graduates in the spring of 2020, and that is good planning on the part of Y= ukon College and Yukon University. Then the second program has begun with respec= t to its own degree-granting authority. I can indicate that Yukon University wil= l be a phased-in transition — a phased-in approach.
In the 2018-19 budget, the Department of Education provided $1.5 million to Yukon College for transition work. Again in 2019‑20, $1.5 million was provided to Yukon College specifically for transition work, which included the developm= ent of degree programs as well as future-looking programming and future-looking staff needs — those kinds of things. The budget for 2020‑21 continues to be in the process of development. The Department of Education = is working quite closely with Yukon College for its concept of what the budget= ary requirements will be.
I can indicate that our discussions have involved a phased-in approach so that there is not a grand lump sum required. Obviously, the budgeting process for the Department of Education — and, in conjunction with that, the Government of Yukon — has to understand the long approach for the phased-in situation to properly fund Yukon University. It is a situation that we will continue to = work closely on with the board of the new Yukon University and the current board= of Yukon College. Many discussions have taken place with respect to what those requests will be and what funding is required, and those are certainly ongo= ing at this stage. The budgetary process for the 2021 budget is in process and = will be ramping up as the session finishes. We will continue our discussions with them with respect to their requests and what can be met.
We do anticipate that the= re will be increased funding necessary. As you can see, since 2018, there has been = $3 million. There is no consideration that it will stop, but certainly the increases th= at will be needed going forward to properly fund Yukon University will be something that we will work on together.
Members of this House wil= l know that there is federal funding that has been promised with respect to some c= apital improvements at Yukon College and Yukon University, including a new science building.
I don’t think that = is a surprise to anyone and that work will continue between the territorial government, the federal government, and Yukon College — or Yukon Univ= ersity — with respect to how that funding will be applied and the contributi= ons that Yukon government will make in that vein as well.
Ms. Van Bibber: One of the components of the college= is the admission of foreign students, and that seems to be a win-win situation, with new people learning from our country and vice versa. We know that many questions in the Legislative Assembly surround the cost and availability of affordable housing. It is a serious issue, especially in Whitehorse. Is the= re adequate housing for the requests made by foreign and local students and th= eir families? Does the college help students find reasonable and adequate housing while they attend school?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I am just checking to see if t= here is an additional note.
I am able to say that, wi= th respect to Yukon College and Yukon University, housing is a top priority. Obviously, in order to provide full services for students, students need a place to live when they are here attending Yukon University, either moving = to Whitehorse for that purpose or temporarily moving to Whitehorse for that purpose. I know that Yukon College is working on a housing strategy that is expected soon in anticipation of not only their current needs, but also loo= king to the future with respect to Yukon University.
There is housing on-site currently for students, families, and others. I don’t have any information today about whether or not there’s a waiting list or how those students are accommodated if there are more housing needs than are available, but I am able to get back to the member opposite with respect to that.
I would also ask for indu= lgence, because part of the question related to the foreign student capacity. I know it’s around housing, but it would be interesting to provide you with = the numbers of foreign students registered. A couple of years ago, I know there= was quite an influx of students with respect to recruiting being very successfu= l in certain parts of the world and a number of students — more than anticipated — coming and registering to come to Yukon College. That h= as made the student body quite diverse and really an interesting place for students to learn about the north and to spend time together.
I will also endeavour to = provide you with some numbers of foreign student registrations in 2018‑19 and then 2019‑20, this particular school year, going forward — but I’m sorry, I don’t have those numbers at my fingertips today.= p>
Ms. Van Bibber: Distance learning has become more common. I am sure many people do online courses and will continue learning through this venue if we keep our systems up and working. Does the minister have the number of people who go online for courses? What is the most subscribed type of study taken online? Will this impact the university upta= ke of online studies?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Again, I don’t have spec= ific numbers, but I’m happy to get them for the member opposite with respe= ct to distance learning and online courses. I think it’s a great question — as to what the most popular one is and what the uptake is with resp= ect to that. There are no plans — with respect to anything related to Bill No. 2 — to change that.
I would like to take the opportunity to emphasize the fact that what Yukoners said to us, to Yukon College, and to the Department of Education about the transition and development of Yukon College into Yukon University was in fact that the education that is currently available — what Yukon College does very = well — needs to be maintained — that the concept of the hybrid university was an important one — distance learning, adult education,= and trades — in addition to the changes that will come with Yukon Univers= ity — needed to be maintained. That was a top priority for Yukoners, and = that is what Bill No. 2 does, and that is what the plans at Yukon College a= nd Yukon University are and will be continuing into the future.
Ms. Van Bibber: In Bill No. 2, the formation of= the senate for the university is going to be added and this group is to determi= ne all matters relating to academic governance. It states that 30 percent= of the seats must be indigenous, from Yukon or across Canada. Now, if it states — from across Canada — and I am fully aware that we need qualif= ied people to speak to the issue of academics — can the minister tell us = if this means that, at any given time, there could be no Yukon indigenous sena= te members?
Let me, first of all, speak about that briefly. That provision was initially proposed to be Yukon First Nations only, but in recognition of the fact, as= the member opposite has mentioned, of appropriately qualified candidates with respect to the senate — but also in recognition of the fact that Yukon University will be the first Canadian university north of 60 and that, as a Canadian university, there would be benefits to having other First Nation individuals perhaps be members of the senate — and of course faculty, going forward — it technically means that we could have a senate with only First Nation members from other places in Canada. But there clearly ar= e other provisions in Bill No. 2 — and there has a been a dedication at Yukon College — I know that the member opposite is well aware and probably led the charge on many a day — and at Yukon University coming forward — where one of the primary concerns and issues will be appropriate representation by Yukon First Nations and the concept of reconciliation and requirements for reconciliation and acts that are appropriate to reconciliation with Yukon First Nations, which are in fact embedded in this legislation, Bill No. 2.
The college has developed a human resources plan which is focused on attracting= and retaining a workforce that is focused on Yukon First Nations and Yukon First Nation abilities. I can note that the very purposes of the university in pa= rt 2, which is outlined in section 3 — I will make reference to section 3(2), which is that, in carrying out the purposes of the university, it mus= t do as follows — and then in section 3(2)(d), and it says that it must ho= nour and support reconciliation with Yukon First Nations, and it goes on in a nu= mber of paragraphs in that section to indicate it includes respecting and honour= ing First Nation knowledge, world views, cultural and traditional practices, and educational priorities — and it goes on.
In order to answer the question which is technically, “Could we have a senate with only membership from First Nation individuals from outside the territory?” — we could, but that is certainly not the proposal here, and it’s certainly not evident in anything that Yukon College h= as done to date or will do in the transition to Yukon University. It’s important to note that, while the professionalism and educational credentia= ls of individuals in the Yukon grows — partly as a result of Yukon University and other educational opportunities across Canada — we hope that not only will the faculty members and the senate members become positi= ons held by Yukon First Nation individuals, but everything in this Bill No.&nbs= p;2 points at that being a priority.
I can also note that there is a requirement in the makeup of the board of directors, which I am looking for — section 13 under part 5, which indicates board of directors and an indication that at least three members = of the board of directors must be appointed from among persons nominated by at least one Yukon First Nation, and at least three of the members of the boar= d of directors must reside outside of Whitehorse, each in a different community.=
Then there are also indications of requirements for a member of the senate, and = it goes on — a faculty member, one employee of the university who is ele= cted from other employees who is not a faculty member, student, et cetera. So, t= here are not only requirements, but ample opportunities for members of the board= of directors to also be members of Yukon First Nations. Three is the minimum, = but individuals nominated by communities, nominated or residing in communities other than Whitehorse and different from one another — there is the potential there that several members of the board of directors can and will= be members of Yukon First Nations.
Ms. Van Bibber: That= 8217;s a good point. The board of governors, I do know, has several First Nation members. The only worry about the senate level is that we want to ensure th= at local input is kept, to some level. As indigenous people, we’re not a= ll the same across Canada. Even though we’re all coloured with the same stripe, we have very different ideas and beliefs. As I know with most universities, there are going to be many moving parts happening, and I wish= all goes well in this transition.
I’m going to wrap up my questions and turn it over to the Third Party, but I th= ank the president and all the hard work she has done because I know she has put= in her resignation and is going to be leaving us in this capacity. I don’= ;t know if she’s leaving the Yukon — but wonderful work that she h= as done.
I also thank the builders of this bill. I know a lot of work and words needed= to be put together, so thank you.
Ms. White: I thank my colleague for the questions that she asked so far and of course the officia= ls for being here. Unfortunately for the minister, they were very good at their briefing and my questions are not as numerous as they could be.
One thing that my colleague, the Member for Porter Creek North, just pointed out was the deserving retirement of the president of the Yukon College — soon-to-be Yukon University.
The only reason I bring that up — there are a lot of reasons to talk abou= t Dr. Karen Barnes, but in particular, in part 7, section 33 it says, “President”. It talks about how there must be a president of the university who is appointed by the board. I wanted to know what kind of planning we are in right now as we get ready to allow Dr. Barnes ̵= 2; I guess we’re not “allowing” her. As she gets ready to reti= re, what are we doing to make sure that she is replaced?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I don’t doubt for a second that my real critics today are in the gallery and that many of the questions could be better answered by the individuals = who are sitting up there, but I’m going to give it my best shot. I do kno= w a little bit about a lot of these things — but nonetheless, I will note that I am well aware that the board of directors of Yukon College, who are = good planners — as they should be — have struck a search committee f= or the replacement of Dr. Karen Barnes, much to our chagrin.
But nonetheless, time marches on, and I think a “deserving retirementR= 21; is probably the term that is appropriate in this circumstance. A search committee has been struck by the board. They are actively recruiting. I understand that they have engaged some assistance from a company that norma= lly does such things in the academic world. I think that there has already been= a posting with respect to that position, and that process is underway with the well-thought-out plan for not only the transition from Yukon College to Yuk= on University, but I understand that a date has been chosen — I am going= to say early June 2020, if I remember correctly, or maybe it’s May ̵= 2; and that a new president will be properly installed as the transition takes place in spring 2020.
Ms. White: I am just g= oing to go systematically now. I wanted to make sure I targeted this one because= Dr. Barnes is on her way out, and I wanted to say nice things before she left. I know = that we will have another opportunity, but not one where she can’t defend = herself, so here we are.
In section 5 where it says, “Relationship to Government of Yukon” — in section 5(2), it says, “The Minister must not interfere in= the exercise of powers conferred on the university, or its board, senate and ot= her constituent bodies…” The reason why I bring that one up is 13(2= ), which talks about the Commissioner in Executive Council, which is really ki= nd of associated with government, of course, and then section 15, which is tal= king about remuneration, and it talks about, again, the Commissioner in Executive Council. Then, really specifically, in section 56 where it says, “Deg= ree programs” — in 56(2), it says, “If the university wishes = to offer a new degree program, the university must provide to the Minister any information relating to the degree program that the Minister requests.̶= 1;
I guess I was just looking for the assurance that the government — beca= use we are talking about how it is an independent entity and it’s not attached to government, it is not run by government, and it is not influenc= ed by government — how these different clauses — and I am sure the= re are others, but those are just the ones that I have highlighted — how that all plays together to make sure that Yukon University can be independe= nt of government.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: = The question is the relationship to government — I’m going to make reference at first, as my colleague across the way did, to section 5 in par= t 2, which indicates that it is not an institution of government. That section is similar to section 13 in the current Yukon College Act and indicates that autonomy from government is — it indicates the relationship to government, and it is in line with the concep= t of autonomy from government, which is typical for Canadian universities.
The relationship is, I’m pleased to see, outlined in section 5 of Bill No. 2. I should also note that, even though that structure — it talks about the structure of the relationship to government. Of course there is a relationship. It clearly is not the case that R= 12; section 5 confirms the autonomy of the university from government, but ther= e is a relationship, even though the minister and the department will clearly not interfere with the exercise of powers that are conferred on the university = for its board, its senate, et cetera. That is all set out in section 5.<= /p>
I’m going to turn to 13(2). Before I get there, I’ll say that there’= ;s an obvious situation in which — it’s not that there is no relationship between government and the university, but that it should be s= et out properly in the legislation — which it is here in Bill No. 2 — for the purpose of clearly explaining what that is.
With respect to section 13(2) and others — with respect to the structure of the board and the appointment of 10 persons appointed by the Commissioner in Executive Council — of the 17 members of the board of governors, 10 a= re appointed by the government, six are employees, officers, or students of the university, and one additional member who is not an employee, an officer, o= r a student of the university. It’s striking a balance with respect to th= at. Again, it is not unusual in the structure of universities across Canada. = span>
The other reference that was made was to the remuneration section for board mem= bers under 15. The Commissioner in Executive Council may prescribe remuneration — the authority, which will come to Cabinet or the Commissioner in Executive Council on the basis of determining regulations that will deal wi= th remuneration, regulations being something that will come as a result of the Cabinet process.
Also, they make the function — in section 56 — of the appointments to= the board — and then, of course, senate appointments through the universi= ty — a balance. The concept of section 56(2) is to ensure that the government has access to information in relation to new degrees and aids in decision-making of that process going forward. Again, it is partially structured and related to the budgetary process going forward. While there = is no relationship or opportunity — nor should there be — for the department of the minister to be involved with those kinds of decisions = 212; the recommendations — as they currently do come from Yukon College, t= he university can only offer degree programs that are approved by government — which is, of course, similar to the Yukon College Act, which is the current state — partly related to long-= term planning and the concept of budgets going forward.
I think what I will end by saying here is that the structure of the relations= hip between the government and Yukon College is a positive one. I expect it to = be one going forward, but in the event that someday, in 125 years when none of= us are here anymore, it raises a question, section 5(1) sets out precisely what that relationship should look like. It’s not that there is no relatio= nship; it’s that it must be structured, and it’s embedded in the legislation.
Ms. Hanson: I just wan= t to follow up on the question that my colleague asked with respect to the relationship set out in section 56 on the issue of the development of new degree programs at the Yukon University. I understand what the minister has said with respect to a link between operating funds that may come from the Yukon government, but how does that work? When we look at universities acro= ss Canada, there are funded programs or philanthropic — or certainly a significant effort is made on behalf of boards and academic institutions to seek funding other than from government as governments are wont to do in te= rms of cutting educational institutions.
I guess my question is, really: Why would a government have a say? I guess wh= at I’m trying to clarify is: Is this a veto power by the Government of Y= ukon over the ability of an independent academic institution to establish a new degree program?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Thank you very much for the question. I’m going to see if I can address it in a number of ways. <= /p>
I want to note first that= , in section 3, which sets out the purposes for this act — and more importantly, the purposes of Yukon University — I’m looking at section 3(2)(b), which indicates that, “In carrying out its purposes,= the university must do the following…” and subsection (b) says, “(b) enhance the environmental, cultural, social and economic well-be= ing of Yukon by offering a balance of services, activities, training and educat= ional programs that meet the needs of Yukoners…” I can also indicate = that further down in that subsection — in 3(2)(g) it indicates that: “(g) so far as and to the full extent that its resources permit…” the university “… is required to prov= ide educational programs that serve the needs of Yukon communities, and…” then it goes on to say, “… strive to ser= ve educational and training needs of Yukon that may be specified by the Commissioner in Executive Council.” So, there’s a connection th= ere.
But in relation to the co= ncept of developing degree-granting programs and the degree-granting programs having other funding, I’m going to back up for a second to say that, of the = two degree programs that have been developed and offered so far, there is a requirement under Yukon College that those programs be approved by the Yukon government. They were approved in their entirety without issue. There is no appetite whatsoever for the concept of interference in that, and I clearly think that Bill No. 2 does not even permit that. It’s a process = of understanding the needs that are being met by the university in relation to= the community needs.
I should note that this is involved in other Canadian universities across the country — again, b= ased on the former answer I gave with relation to the concepts of universities — partly the funding issue, but more importantly, meeting the needs of the community.
It is common in Canada fo=
r a
government to provide oversight, and review and approval of degree programs=
in
Canadian universities. It is not uncommon for governments to approve new de=
gree
programs or to have a review process in place to ensure that they meet the
needs of the citizens and the communities — which is why I made refer=
ence
to section 3 again. It’s about finding a balance between the autonomy=
and
the accountability with respect to Yukon College and Yukon University. I sh=
ould
note that this development of Bill No. 2 was done with extensive work
between not only the two representatives of the team who are here from the
Department of Education, but with extensive work done with Yukon College and
the input that they had.
It is also section 56, an= d the requirement for the relationship with government is related to a quality assurance situation. It is a tool that ensures programming meets the needs = of Yukon citizens, as I have said. I should also indicate that there is the authority in — I’ll ask maybe to get a section — the authority in Bill No. 2 that the minister could delegate the degree approval to enable further autonomy in the future, but it’s not somet= hing that has caused problems in other universities in Canada. It is sort of a common state of making sure that the purposes of the university are meeting= the needs of the community through government without the concept of interferen= ce.
Ms. Hanson: I appreciate the minister’s respon= se, but it’s precisely because we’re talking about the establishmen= t of a new university in Yukon, and it’s precisely because of what we have seen across this country. When we say “a government may”, ̶= 0;a minister may”, or “the Commissioner in Executive Council may= 221; prescribe, that’s exactly what I’m concerned about. What we have seen — so, when we say that the objectives, in terms of the section t= he minister quoted earlier — so, the current government has acknowledged= and agreed that Yukon is dealing with a whole range of climate change issues. W= hat we have seen across this country is where governments fundamentally do not believe that and fundamentally wish that they had the ability to go and dir= ect institutions to stop talking about these issues.
So, if you have the abili= ty to say, “No, we’re not going to fund a program somebody has in the north” — we were talking earlier about the circumpolar north, t= he links between the Yukon University, the Arctic University, and the circumpo= lar north. What I am looking for is assurance that ministers cannot, in the fut= ure, say, “No, we’re not going to fund that degree program” th= at will benefit, and build on the knowledge that we have inherently — because of where we live and the research that we have been developing over time that would lead us to develop an independent degree program in that ar= ea.
It’s not about ques= tioning this particular minister, but it is really about the ideologies of what we = have seen. This is not getting to be a more harmonious discussion as time goes o= n. We are seeing really very distinct and pitted examples across this country — the globe. We talked about this yesterday — the flooding in Venice and the fire ravaging across Australia.
It is a real issue about = what is the scope and the reach of a minister into the autonomous operation of the board of governors for Yukon University to deny using this provision — their ability. It talks in 3(2) — the section that talks about — “(g) so far as and to the full extent that its resources permit…”
That is the reason why I = asked the first question — because, over time hopefully, we would see simil= ar to what we have seen in other jurisdictions where some of our resource extraction companies reinvest into their local economy and reinvest into the local educational institutions. That kind of model hasn’t existed very much in the north, but it does exist elsewhere.
I just want to make sure = that we are not going to be seeing 10 to 15 years from now — god forbid ̵= 2; a UCP government in the Yukon that could cause serious challenges to the integrity of what we anticipate Yukon University evolving into.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I wish that I could reassure t= he member opposite about all future governments, but unfor= tunately I can’t. What I can say is that Bill No. 2 is structured on the basis of Canadian universities across the country. The degree-granting appr= oval only is what lives with the minister in this bill and in most other univers= ity structures. The bill was arrived at through in-depth research with respect = to universities across the country and extensive consultation with Yukon Colle= ge in their current structure, and their current expert in post-secondary education was the work of — I think I spoke with Mr. McBride abo= ut this in the fall of 2016 very shortly after I was provided the privilege of having this job. I know that those conversations have been ongoing extensiv= ely.
I can indicate that secti= on 5 is an important one. It indicates that the university is not an institution of government — “The Minister must not interfere in the exercise of powers conferred on the university, or its board, senate and other constitu= ent bodies…” — in — “… this Act respec= ting any of the following… the formulation and adoption of academic policies and standards… the establishment of standards for admis= sion and graduation… the…” — selection — R= 20;… and appointment of officers and employees…” — and despite the fact that, in subsection (2) — “… the university must not establish a new…” — degree-granting — “= 8230; program except in accordance with Part 13.”
So, we have had a convers= ation about that. I can make reference to section 3(2)(g) again and indicate that= the (ii) under that section indicates — I’ll just read (g), which is “… so far as and to the full extent that its resources permit…” — the university is required to — “&= #8230; strive to serve educational and training needs of Yukon that may be specified by t= he Commissioner in Executive Council.” That section allows the governmen= t to communicate its educational and training priorities to be addressed by Yukon University, but extensive discussion took place with respect to that section and the concept of inserting the word “strive” to serve, because it’s not a hard requirement with respect, but that the board of gover= nors and Yukon University will strive to do that, and there is a communication process whereby there will be consultation.
I would like to go back to something that was mentioned a few moments ago in relation to funding progr= ams and those sorts of things. There’s no requirement whatsoever that the government be involved in applications or the concept of getting funding for programming or research or have anything to do or could have anything to do with how those funds are applied.
In fact, it’s about= the degree-granting program only and for the purposes of striking a balance tha= t is set out in section 5 about the concept between achieving the priorities of Yukon University and appropriate levels of government oversight based on the structure of other Canadian universities.
I would also like to make reference to section 31, which deals with the concepts of the senate and the powers of the senate. That section establishes the senate powers and autono= my to govern university academics, and that rests with the senate.
I know that they are all protections in relation to governing the relationship between the autonomy = of the university, which is an absolute priority, and the balance and requirem= ent for the government to be responsible for the expenditure of taxpayers’ money without interference in the academics.
Ms. White: I was just going through it quickly. Is t= here a review clause in this legislation?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: There is not a review clause embedded in Bill No. 2, which by the nature of Bill No. 2, will be the Yukon University Act, so it is a replacement for the Yukon College Act — obviousl= y not an amendment. It does not exist there.
There was some conversati= on between the parties. By that, I mean the Department of Education, represent= ing the government, and Yukon College, but it was determined that it wouldnR= 17;t be necessary to put it in — or appropriate in these circumstances = 212; but, of course, that doesn’t prohibit a review going forward.
We’re excited about= the concepts in this legislation. Yukon College is excited about the concepts — the shift to a bicameral structure with a board and a balance at the board of directors level, as well as the senate responsible for academics.
While it is a new structu= re going forward for the Yukon, it is not a new structure for Canadian universities.= As a result, that decision was made at the table of consultation.
Ms. White: I think this might be the first legislati= on that I’ve gone over here that hasn’t had a review clause, wheth= er it be five or seven years. That might not be true, either.
The reason why we bring i= t up and why my colleague was bringing it up is that, when we make decisions here, we are making them in our current situation. We know where we stand, and we kn= ow what our viewpoints are. I think what she was highlighting was that there h= ave been some pretty aggressive changes, even nationally, between governments a= nd then the battles that have happened between them and universities about ideology.
The only reason why we hi= ghlight those clauses — I will put this on the record now, and we have both p= ut it on the record — is because the minister has said that it is not the intention of the legislation, and that’s important. The reason that I= am clarifying or saying it again is that, heaven forbid, we should get to a po= int where the Yukon University needs to go through what we’ve said in Han= sard now as we have been enacting their legislation to understand the intent beh= ind what we were doing.
I say this only in terms = of how it’s easy for us to plan in our immediate future and with what we exp= ect to happen, but when the minister said that we wouldn’t be around for = 125 years — thank goodness, because it sounds like it would be miserable = to be 180 years old, so I hope that I’m not here at that point and that science hasn’t allowed it. It is just to make sure that we safeguard = the integrity of the institution into the future. That was the reason why we as= ked that question and the concern I have about the clause.
I am going to move on, be= cause the minister has told us the reasoning and I understand, but now we’ve both said it and it’s on the record. Hopefully, no one ever has to co= me back and say, “This is not what they meant when they debated the legislation.” It is there for the future.
I am going to move to sec= tion 23, which is the sexual violence policy. When I was in high school, I was in the MAD program when I was in grade 11, so probably in about 1994. It was at th= at time that Yukon College started putting up — I can’t remember t= he sign. I would have remembered it probably 20 years ago, but 25 is too far b= ack. They first started putting up the signs saying that they did not support se= xual harassment of any kind or violent intentions. I believe that, if I was to a= sk my colleague, it is very close to the same time frame that there was a murd= er that happened. There was an artist who had art in the college that was done= by that man — who has still not been found, to be honest. He is still at large. The one reason why I want to highlight the sexual violence policy is that, unfortunately, if we had looked at the technology and things that were happening in 1994 when I was in high school, there wasn’t social medi= a, there weren’t electronics, and there wasn’t the capacity to continue the harassment that can happen right now.
I think section 23 is rea= lly important because it lays that out, but one of the reasons that I want to highlight section 23 — the sexual violence policy — is that I w= ant to know if there is an ability for things to grow as technology changes or whether it will have to be brought back here as an amendment on the floor of the Legislative Assembly.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: The short answer to the questi= on is yes, but I want to make reference to section 23, which as my colleagues = in this Legislative Assembly will know, is becoming more common but certainly = has not been common in the past — to have the concept of a sexual violence policy embedded in legislation — so, a positive move there. I can indicate that Yukon College already has a sexual violence policy. I am goin= g to say that all of section 23 — but section 23(2)(f) notes that further requirements may be prescribed through regulation — and the regulation-making power is 63(1)(c) with respect to that — but this section, in fact, is designed to increase awareness using accessible method= s.
It defines sexual violenc= e, which is critical. It ensures — it’s designed to ensure prevention, education, and reporting provisions within the policy, and it is also noted= to ensure cultural sensitivity and that vulnerable groups will be included wit= hin the policy and to ensure the process for complaints within the policy ̵= 2; all important aspects of this section, but really designed to be the founda= tion of entrenching this type of section in the legislation with the idea that t= he board has the authority to make the policy and to enforce the policy, but t= hen also to change it, as — if there was some sort of concept that some s= ort of technological option were to be banned from the college or the use of it= in a particular way — it is designed to strike a balance between building the foundation on how this is important, it must live in the Yukon Universi= ty piece of legislation, and it must be adapted and dealt with by the board an= d by those who attend and work at the university, but that there is some ability= to move it going forward so that it’s not a requirement to come back and change the legislation — so trying to build the foundation in that section, but not too many details, so that there is some flexibility in mak= ing sure that it is relevant, going forward.
Ms. White: I thank the minister for that answer. The= re are just a couple of highlights for me — part 9, when we talk about community campuses and the committees that they have and the expectations t= hat they have. I think that’s great, laying out what our expectations are= to make sure that we still include communities, which in conversations that I = had initially with Yukon College, they said it was a really big focus, to make = sure that the things that were relevant in communities remained relevant and were acknowledged. I just think that’s great work from the organization as they move forward to make sure that is happening.
The second highlight that= I would like to make right now is part 10, under student affairs. I really apprecia= te that it lays out the rights and responsibilities of both the university and= the student unions. It goes down and it breaks that in. I just wanted to highli= ght those as things that I appreciate. Maybe I’ll give the minister ̵= 2; if she wants to tell us more, if she wants to elaborate on those, but those= are — both section 9 and section 10 are great, because it clearly lays out the roles and responsibilities for both the university and then either the community campuses and then the student unions.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I will take the opportunity to agree with the member opposite and to focus and herald parts 9 and 10 in th= is legislation among others, but certainly those are the ones we’re poin= ting out at the moment.
With respect to part 9, f= ocusing on community campus committees — these are similar to the provisions = of community campus committees that are within the Yukon College Act. We know that they are not only important to = the communities in which they operate but were a priority for Yukoners who were consulted with respect to this piece of legislation going forward. I think I mentioned it earlier — that it’s an important opportunity. Yuko= ners were keen to support Yukon University going forward but were very keen to m= ake sure that they didn’t lose any of the current benefits that they have from Yukon College. They exist differently in different communities —= and certainly in the rural communities versus Whitehorse campus and the programs available there. So, it’s very important to make sure that was maintained. I know that was a priority with respect to the discussions that took place to get to Bill No. 2.
Also, with respect to par= t 9, it sets out that rules and procedures governing the appointment or election of= members will be further prescribed by way of regulation under the university act. It enables Yukon University to prescribe a governance model and seek advice on community needs where the community campuses exist, including the Whitehorse region and defined community campuses under the definition section — = so again, all positive aspects. So, thank you for the opportunity to point tho= se out.
With respect to part 10 a= nd student affairs — again, I’m pleased to see all really important aspects of Yukon University in the transition from Yukon College embedded in this legislation because it is again the foundation for us going forward — and by “us”, I mean the community of Yukon with respect= to post-secondary education and the opportunities it presents.
Part 10 establishes the undergraduate student union — again, “undergraduate” is defined and the student union must meet requirements similar to those that = are under the Yukon College Act, wh= ich is positive. The undergraduate student union is an elected body.
Part 10 goes on to indica= te the parameters and how it should be properly elected and the responsibilities s= et out. It also does things like answer questions that could be uncertain. It states that the undergraduate student union must be registered under the Societies Act and requires the boa= rd of governors to ensure that the undergraduate student union is properly ensured — things that are details, but will resolve questions of financial transparency and other processes in part 10 that resolve those questions so= that there is no uncertainty going forward. It goes on in section 43 to note tha= t a graduate student union will be structured much the same way.
Also in 44, there is a pr= ovision for an undergraduate or graduate student union, if it does not meet the req= uirements of the act or if multiple bodies don’t meet the requirements, there i= s an opportunity to resolve that as well with respect to a section that is entit= led “Rules respecting recognition of student organizations”. Again,= it is something that attempts to resolve issues that could arise and gives authority and recognition to student unions going forward and the importance they will play in Yukon University.
Chair: Do members wish to take a brief recess?
All Hon. Members: Agreed.
Chair: Committee of the Whole will recess for 15 minutes.=
Recess
Chair: Committee of the Whole will now come to order.
The matter before the Com= mittee is continuing general debate on Bill No. 2, entitled Yukon University Act.
Ms. White: I would like to go to part 12, which is “Financing and Accountability of University” and then the “Grants to university” — section 52. I am just looking for some clarification here. So, 52(1) says, “The Minister may, in accord= ance with any regulations, make grants or loans to the university out of money appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.”
The reason I highlight th=
is is
that I believe in kind of recent years, the “Legislature” and
“Legislative Assembly” have kind of become interchangeable. They
have become interchangeable in words, but in legal definition, they are
different. Under the Yukon Act,
section 10, “Legislative Assembly of Yukon”, it says, “The Council established by the for=
mer
Act is hereby continued as the Legislative Assembly of Yukon. Each member of
the Legislative Assembly is elected to represent an electoral district in
Yukon.”
Then, under the Yukon Act, section 17, it says, “Legislature of Yukon” — “The institution referred to in the former Act as the Commissioner in Council and which consisted of the Commissioner and the Cou= ncil of the Yukon Territory is hereby continued as the Legislature of Yukon, consisting of the Commissioner and the Legislative Assembly.”<= /p>
What I am just looking fo= r is clarification on section 52(1), where it talks about how “The Minister may, in accordance with any regulations, make grants of loans to the univer= sity out of money appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.” Then = in section (2) it says, “Subject to any terms specified by the Legislatu= re, the Minister may…” So, my question is: Is “Legislature= 221; the word we want? Or is it “Legislative Assembly” that we’= ;re looking for?
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I want to note that, in additi= on to the reference made by the member opposite to the Yukon Act, “Legislature” and “Legislative Assembly” are both defined in the Yukon Interpretation Act as well. I think that they are congruent, b= ut just to be sure, I will read the definition of “Legislature” in= the Interpretation Act in which “‘Legislature’ means the Commissioner acting by and with = the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly…” So that’s congruent with the Yukon Act. <= /p>
What I can also indicate = is that the word “Legislature” was specifically chosen to be placed into section 52. I was aware that this was a question previously, but I can indi= cate that the way in which that has been chosen to be written was intentional. I= t is to indicate in section 52(1) that the minister — first of all, it establishes the financial relationship between the university and the Yukon government, which Yukon College expressed a preference for because of their preference, but also, it’s similar to the Yukon College Act which is — the reference to the Yukon College Act is in section 11= . But it is supposed to indicate that the minister may, in accordance with regulations, make grants or loans with respect to money that is appropriated — meaning that, in an appropriation act of any kind indicating spendi= ng authority, the minister could not — that would come from this Legisla= ture or the Legislative Assembly — not necessarily interchangeable, but ba= sed on the Interpretation Act, the definition is referenced — that the minister certainly could not do anything that would challenge or go against the authority that would come a= s an appropriation act in the event that this Legislature placed any limitations= or parameters or specific spending with respect to matters that come from here= .
The ultimate authority of= course for any legislation comes from this Legislative Assembly, and that includes= the appropriation acts or the budgetary acts and any of the parameters that mig= ht occur or details or limitations that occur on the floor of this House. The minister could not, pursuant to section 52, do anything other than whatR= 17;s directed by this House.
Ms. White: I thank the minister for that clarificati= on. I’m sure she knows why I was asking about it.
Just before I wrap up, I = just want to again thank the officials who were very dedicated through the proce= ss again. I heard at Home Hardware just how good the process for developing th= is legislation had been and how the work between the Yukon College and the drafters — as well as the ability to travel out of territory to see o= ther facilities, ask questions, learn, and adapt as we move forward toward this legislation. I just especially want to highlight that work and that commitm= ent from all the people who were involved whether it was through the Yukon Coll= ege — any number of people there — as well as the department.
I think this is something= that we should be very excited about, and I know that, once I hit 65, I look forwar= d to registering at Yukon University free of charge to learn lessons — and anything that I want — without them having to be my career. It is exciting to know that we are giving Yukon students, as well as international students and students across the country, the ability to come here to go to university.
With that, I thank the mi= nister and her colleagues, and I look forward to this becoming law.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I will also take the opportuni= ty — in particular, I know that there is a team of people who work with them, but I know personally how much work went into not only the conversati= ons, but the drafting and the details and the back and forth with respect to the work that Ms. Dabbs and Mr. McBride have done personally to enhan= ce post-secondary education here in the Yukon Territory to provide opportuniti= es for Yukon students, young and old alike. To have us be part of this process — and by “us”, I mean this Legislative Assembly — of progressing education and post-secondary education of all kinds here in the Yukon Territory — it is an exciting opportunity. I know that they have worked night and day — in some cases, burning the midnight oil —= ; to meet deadlines to have this brought here and to have it address all of the = many hundreds of issues — if not thousands of issues — that arise in= a conversation like this about how we get from the original school and trade = school into Yukon College and now a transition and evolution into Yukon University= . I just want to thank them and their teams of people here on the floor of this Legislative Assembly, because I know how much work has gone into it. We appreciate it; Yukoners appreciate it; Yukon College/Yukon University appreciates it — but, really, it is all to the benefit of Yukon citiz= ens and it is a great opportunity to thank them here.
I will do that and take m= y seat. I don’t know if there are any other questions.
Chair: Is there any further general debate?
Seeing none, we will move= to clause-by-clause debate.
Ms. White: Pursuant to Standing Order 14.3, I request the unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to deem all clauses, the preamble, and the title of Bill No. 2, entitled Yukon University Act, read and agreed to.
Unanimous c=
onsent
re deeming all clauses, preamble, and title of Bill No. 2 read and agr=
eed
to
Chair: =
Ms. White has, pursuant to Standi=
ng
order 14.3, requested the unanimous consent of Committee of the Whole to de=
em
all clauses, the preamble, and the title of Bill No. 2, entitled Yukon University Act, read and agr=
eed
to.
Is there unanimous consent?
All Hon. Members:=
span> Agreed.
Chair: =
Unanimous consent has been granted.
Clauses 1 to 95 deemed r=
ead
and agreed to
On Preamble
Preamble agreed to
On Title
Title agreed to=
i>
Hon. Ms. McPhe=
e: I move that Bill No. 2, entitled =
Yukon University Act, be reported
without amendment.
Chair: =
It has been moved by Ms. McPhee t=
hat
the Chair report Bill No. 2, entitled Yukon
University Act, without amendment.
Motion agreed to
Chair: =
The matter now before the Committee is=
continuing
general debate on Bill No. 200, entitled Second Appropriation Act 2019‑20.
Do members wish to take brief recess?
All Hon. Members:=
span> Agreed.
Chair: =
Committee of the Whole will recess for=
10
minutes.
Recess
Chair: Committee of the Whole will now come to order.
Bill No.&nb=
sp;200: Second Appropriation Act 2019‑20
— continued
Chair: Order please.
The matter before the Com= mittee is continuing general debate on Bill No. 200, entitled Second Appropriation Act 2019‑20= .
Is there any further gene= ral debate?
Mr. Hassard: I just had a couple of questions for the
Premier just in follow-up to questions I had for the Minister of Highways a=
nd
Public Works yesterday. I have had a few constituents raise concerns with
regard to the questions that I had in Question Period regarding the new
Hon. Mr. Silver: I thank the member opposite for the question. Again, welcome to Chris Mahar for being here today, the deputy minister of Finance.
A little bit of backgroun= d on the YuDriv issue: The current vehicle registration mainframe system was developed a long time ago; it was in the 1980s. The driver’s licensing system in 2011 and these applications utilized differing technologies. You can imagine — with decades going by, there were increased complexities, time, and expense= in being able to obtain system supports to improve each separate system.
In April 2018, Management= Board approved a $3.6‑million contract with experience to develop certain systems. It was Winding River, which subcontracted a lot of money to local contractors for phase 1 to begin the first phase of this process.
That was launched on Nove= mber 4 of this year. The final project completion as an integrated system is sched= uled for April 2021. It is great to be having these conversations now on the flo= or of the Legislative Assembly.
The new system will combi= ne information that is currently stored at several different applications and = will store it at a single system. We are committed to improving that service del= ivery through that modernization and that innovation. We are also in the process = of replacing Yukon’s various transportation applications into a single, integrated client-centred system.
When it comes specificall= y to commercial vehicle weight requirements, there is, as the member opposite kn= ows, the National Safety Code standards that establish minimum safety standards = for commercial vehicles and drivers, and that is right across Canada. The Natio= nal Safety Code does not apply to personal use vehicles, so under the Motor Vehicles Act, vehicles must = be registered using their gross vehicle weight. Motor vehicles use manufacturers’ specific weights to determine this value.
Vehicles that weigh under specifically 11,794 kilometres do not have to report to Yukon weigh station= s. Only commercial vehicles are required to keep those logbooks, and those saf= ety inspections are only required for commercial vehicles over 11,794 kilometre= s in the Yukon. It is not clear where the 4,500-kilometre figure is coming from = — if the member opposite can give us a little bit more about that. But the National Safety Code only applies to commercial vehicles weighing more than 4,500 kilometres, not personal use vehicles.
Mr. Hassard: There were a couple of things there that the Premier talked about. I know he meant “kilograms”, not “kilometres”. That’s irrelevant.
I was only talking about commercial vehicles. I understand the National Safety Code. My question was: Under the new guidelines — under YuDriv &= #8212; will any commercial vehicle over 4,500 kilograms be required to go to the scales and run a logbook? The Premier talked about 11,970 kilograms —= I believe it was — so maybe if he can just clarify that for us, please — if only vehicles licensed for over 11,970 kilograms require logbook= s, safety inspections, and stopping at the scales every time they are within a 20-kilometre radius.
Hon. Mr. Silver: Yes, kilograms, not kilometres. The Department of Highways and Public Works is really kind of wondering whe= re that number 4,500 kilograms is coming from, because the National Safety Code only applies to commercial vehicles weighing more — I’ll say it again for this.
The National Safety Code = does not apply, as we know, to those personal use vehicles. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, vehicles must = be registered using their gross vehicle weight. Motor Vehicles uses manufacturers’ specification weights to determine this value, and vehicles that weigh under 11,794 kilograms do not have to report to Yukon w= eigh stations.
Mr. Hassard: I appreciate part of that answer, but I’m not sure if I don’t understand or if the Premier is not understanding when he says that all vehicles must be licensed according to = the manufacturer’s recommended gross vehicle weight. I will try to explai= n it if I can.
If you have a tandem axle= dump truck that’s not going to pull a trailer, currently you can register = that vehicle for 24,999 kilograms. Now, that same tandem axle truck — the exact same manufacturer’s specifications — that doesn’t h= ave a gravel box on it and has a fifth wheel hitch on it and is going to hook o= nto a super B load of fuel — that vehicle then must be registered for 46,= 999 kilograms.
My question is: If all co= mmercial vehicles have to be registered according to the manufacturer’s specif= ied gross vehicle weight, does that mean that all commercial vehicles will have= to be registered to that gross vehicle weight? Obviously, there is quite a difference.
If the Premier registers = his dump truck for 24,999 kilograms, he’s probably going to pay somewhere in t= he $800-a-year range for his registration. If he registers it for 46,999 kilograms he is going to pay probably $1,700 a year. I’m just trying to get some clarification there. Hopefully, maybe the Premier can clarify that for us a little bit.
Hon. Mr. Silver: Again, these are some very specific questions, and so I will try my best just with the information tha= t I have here.
Again, we are talking abo= ut the National Safety Code right across Canada. With the YuD= riv system — to clarify again, as the member opposite was speaking about,= in my case, my personal dump truck. We’re talking commercial as opposed —
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Hon. Mr. Silver: Yes, exactly. Just to clarify = for the record of the Legislative Assembly, all of these questions that the mem= ber opposite has talked about have commercial applications.
Again, the information th= at I have right now is that, under that = Motor Vehicles Act, vehicles must be registered using their gross weight, as = we have said, and vehicles that weigh under that threshold of 11,794 kilograms= do not have to report to those weigh stations. The safety inspections are only required for commercial vehicles over a certain amount.
The member opposite is as= king about different thresholds because it comes with a financial consideration = as far as those weights go — and, of course, what constitutes a vehicle = with what you are towing behind you. We will get the answers to those questions = as to what triggers more money for a yearly permit when it comes to that commercial industry.
Chair: Is there any further general debate on Bill No.&nb= sp;200?
Ms. Van Bibber: I have a few questions on Tourism and Culture.
We spoke about — in= the last few days or this week — the department is going to create a new advisory body of tourism representatives to advise the minister on implemen= ting the strategy and achieving its goals. It states that it will be established= to make a formal channel for the various values and viewpoints related to tour= ism that need to be heard by government.
Can you tell me, knowing = that values and viewpoints constitute quite a broad field, what exactly are the minister and the department searching for that the current tourism boards a= re not providing?
Hon. Mr. Silver: I think that really what we’re looking at is an initiative from the Department of Tourism and Culture that reached out to all of those stakeholders, whether it be TIAY or the business community. Together, they decided that we need to focus in on a new system. As the Minister of Tourism and Culture mentioned, there really = has not been a focused approach to a strategy in tourism and culture in the Yuk= on government in decades. These pressures are something that the Minister of Tourism and Culture embraced right away and decided that this is an importa= nt way of moving forward.
It was quite interesting = because, at first, we were pressuring the minister a bit as far as the Financial Advisory Panel and some of the recommendations. It was really under her leadership that we realized that this is not necessarily getting out of the business of doing business or anything in that capacity; it’s more ab= out: How does the government provide those assets, banners, roadside assistance, campground upgrades, and those types of things — you name it — = so that the private sector can flourish? You ask the question in a way that ma= kes it sound like everything is fine, so why would you change it? Well, I think= the industry itself is who said that everything wasn’t fine. What we saw = was a minister who decided to get out into that community, working with the department under their leadership but also with the agencies and associatio= ns to get a seven-member task force and to form that, as they did in March, to carefully review — extensive research — best practices on touri= sm guidance models and to advance the tourism destination market management organization and to use partners not only here, but across Canada to see if= any improvements could help achieve those goals that were set by this particular strategy and by the industry.
I think that it is one th= ing to give the credit to the Department of Tourism and Culture, but I think that = the private sector, the stakeholders, and the non-governmental organizations altogether need to be commended for a comprehensive strategy that goes very= far in recommending that made-in-Yukon governance model that will incorporate t= he best of a lot of different worlds — the best of both governance model= s. So, it’s not losing what was working properly or what was working wel= l, but also continuing a line that a department of government can establish by working with the industry through the board and working on recommendations = that can be agreed upon by all stakeholders.
Hon. Mr. Silver: = I do know that Yukon government provided $50,000 to establish the task force and= to support the research and the meeting costs. There is no money in this supplementary budget. There will be more money coming into the main estimat= es — and of course we’re working on those numbers now. Again, look= ing at that task force with industry representation that was — and we mentioned this the other day in the Legislative Assembly — Rich Thomp= son from Northern Vision Development, Ben Ryan from Chieftain Energy and also A= ir North, two members from First Nations — Marilyn Jensen and Miche= lle Kolla — and two from Yukon government, and that’s Valerie Royle and Justin Fe= rbey — two deputy ministers — plus an independent chair, Vicki Hanco= ck. Money has been established there through that task force. The work of the t= ask force was completed upon submission of that final report. In the next budge= tary considerations, we will be able to talk more about the next budgetary considerations.
Ms. Van Bibber: Thank = you for that answer. Is this going to be a permanent board, or do we know how l= ong this new body will be in existence? Is this going be an ongoing, year-after-year board that is set up for the minister?
Hon. Mr. Silver: = We intend on making it permanent.
Ms. Van Bibber: It say= s that by April 2020, this new advisory board will be selected by a group called “boards and committees committee”. Is there a formal process to= go through to put a new board in place for the department? Will a call go out = for nominees to sit on this board, and will there be an honorarium provided to = the new board members?
Hon. Mr. Silver: = This will be the Standing Committee on Boards and Committees to Major Government Boards and Committees, which is an all-party board here. It is the regular process. Again, the establishment of the honoraria and all that is based up= on the classifications through that standing committee.
Ms. Van Bibber: I unde= rstood that there was kind of a process with this all-party board to agree to put = an advisory board on the appointments because it is major boards and committee= s, so I will have to check on that.
During the TIAY fall conference that was just held in Dawson — and kudos to = TIAY for again putting on a wonderful event. There were many interesting and challenging discussions brought up, and I know that, when Question Period c= ame up today, the one session was about the invisible burden of tourism, and the topic presented was on how tourists and visitors impact an area negatively.= We market and market to bring them here, but then we don’t offset the practices that go along with increased use of our infrastructure and the im= pact on locals.
I think it was agreed that the highway infrastructure was mostly impacted her= e. As we know, in Banff, Alberta, the growth in their town was halted, as it w= as maxed out and they had to mitigate impacts with various measures.
Do we see the same sorts of problems happening here in the Yukon due to the si= ze of some of our communities and infrastructure needs?
Hon. Mr. Silver: = I’m sorry — I caught most of that, but I didn’t catch the final, ac= tual question — the last sentence, so if the member opposite could —= the last sentence. I’m sorry; I apologize — I didn’t catch th= at.
Ms. Van Bibber: Not a problem. I was talking about the invisible burden of tourism. When we encou= rage more and more people to come and the problems that could happen, do we see = the same problems happening in Yukon due to the size of our communities and our infrastructure?
Hon. Mr. Silver: = My apologies again. Again, Mr. Chair, I think it is an important concept.= We look at a small community like Dawson, for example, where the TIAY conferen= ce was held, and I remember, 10 years ago, conversations about UNESCO, for example. It had been a conversation that had gone on in the community for a long time before the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and the Placer Miners’ Association and the community got together to have a real, thorough conversation about it. I remember members of the hotel community in Dawson talking about, “Look, if we’re going to start promoting winter tourism, we are not ready for that right now.” They rely on a = lot of transient population or summer students, so that was a really important = consideration. You have to be very careful about how you design a tourism industry inside = of all the different specific communities.
If we don’t have more avenues for these conversations, it stops at these concerns — where the hotels will say, “Look, we don’t have workers. You are going to put us in a situation where it’s not going = to be financially advisable or whatever if you just start randomly putting thi= ngs in the winter without a comprehensive strategy.” That is why it’= ;s so important to have these strategies. That was an important conversation because, from that, we really wanted to take a look at how we can extend the seasons and how we make sure that we are maximizing our seasons in a way wh= ere we start opening up earlier or ending later — those types of initiati= ves. That is really important.
As a government, for example, we try our best when attracting conferences. Different departments will have PTs or different opportunities where we showcase the Yukon through government funding through NGOs or through government initiatives. We try to make sure as much as we possibly can R= 12; if we have any ability — to not put everything in the summer because = what, then, are you attracting? A lot of times, the hotels are busy and they are already full. So, you really have to think strategically about these considerations.
Now, if a government alone was the only one thinking strategically, that would be one thing. But to have the private sector, First Nation governments, municipalities, and other stakeholders all putting their heads together in a comprehensive strategy — that is where we are going to see the best b= ang for our buck.
That is where we can make sure that we address the frameworks that are inside of= the sustainability of tourism, and if we look directly in the Yukon Tourism Development Strategy, on page 8, this is consider= ed where we are talking about the establishment of a framework within two years that measures that sustainability piece of tourism and development — = not a new concept, as I am explaining, Mr. Chair.
These conversations have been going on in the communities — as we see very intelligent entrepreneurs who are trying to eke out and work really hard to make a go of it in these rural communities. We are looking at Teslin really expanding in that capability and capacity. We are seeing it in all of our communities. So, to be able to have a tourism strategy that focuses in and within the first two years — “Through research and engagement, Yukon will become a leader in destination management by developing criteria= to measure and monitor sustainable tourism development.” Not my words, M= r. Chair — that is a direct quote from page 8 of the Yukon Tourism Development Strategy. Continuing that quote: “This ensures that tourism growth supports healthy communities, prese= rves our natural environment for future enjoyment, and ensures tourism benefits Yukoners for generations to come.”
So, it’s a really important question. Of course, TIAY is going to be havi= ng this conversation — very topical — and it is good to see that t= he development strategy has a grasp on the extremely important part of our development of this industry.
Ms. Van Bibber: Due to= all this talk about the impact of visitors — there was a discussion on whether visitors are paying their fair share while visiting tourist areas. Studies done show that visitors to an area use eight times more water and a= lso put an added carbon load on the region. That of course will definitely affe= ct us. So, even collecting carbon tax and redistributing the money doesn’= ;t stop the impact.
How is it going to be addressed by the government, and are there new plans to h= elp residents and businesses mitigate these issues?
Hon. Mr. Silver: = Mr. Chair, as the member opposite knows, the carbon pricing is not a tax it is a prici= ng mechanism, and businesses do have that rebate coming back. That would be one example of us as a government making sure that, when it comes to that extra pressure of usage or carbon, that money is being collected, but also being transferred back to the industries. Again, that’s part of it.<= /p>
We do recognize that, when you put a price on carbon, that does add some pressures, but again, we think that we have done a thorough job of identify= ing all those issues and determining how we can best work with the private sect= or and make sure that we are rebating that money back. Again, with the way that things are rebated, the more energy efficiently that businesses plan, the m= ore — if their assets are based on certain criteria — they will be getting back.
On this side of the Assembly, we do support a nation-wide price on carbon emissions. We are seeing a huge shift in global thought when it comes to th= is. I was reading just the other day that Ford F-150s — there will be an electric version of that. They are working on that as we speak. We see Petro Canada and energy companies of today transitioning and promoting vehicles t= hat have zero emissions. Again, being on the right side of a technological advancement and being in an area where tourism will flourish — people will want to come here because of the initiatives when it comes to our environment.
We heard stories today in the news of a gentleman travelling through up to the north with a Tesla, borrowing our charging stations and our vehicles. Again, this promotes that tourism piece as well — so much so. Again, when it comes to carbon pricing and carbon emissions, this is just one most cost-effective ways of reducing emissions and driving innovation toward that low-carbon future.
I am open to suggestions from the members opposite if they can come up with a more energy-efficient way of dealing with carbon emissions and dealing with carbon. Again, we are going to be reviewing that system a few years from no= w, so I am all ears for those suggestions.
There are a multitude of fees — and the member opposite spoke a bit about t= hat — surcharges and taxes within the tourism industry that have been in place across the country for decades. In spite of these fees, tourism conti= nues to grow almost everywhere in Canada. Tourism is extremely strong. It’s robust and it can withstand change.
In 2008, for example, British Columbia implemented the first broad-based carbon tax — carbon pricing — in North America and demonstrated that i= t is possible to both reduce emissions while growing the economy. I can’t recall how many times I have heard Premier Horgan at these national tables dispel a lot of myths and say, “Look, this is not new to us. We have = been doing it for years.” In his province, there is no direct correlation between those pressures and the economy suffering. Between 2007 and 2016, British Columbia’s real GDP grew by more than 19 percent, while = net emissions declined by 3.7 percent. Again, BC’s experience has sh= own no negative impact on tourism.
We are always paying attention to make sure that we can provide and help the tourism industry as much as we possibly can but, at the same time, having a critical eye when it comes to technologies and technological advances ̵= 2; by being on the right side of history when it comes to a transition off of fossil fuels. I guess the Member for Lake Laberge doesn’t agree with = that and wants to stay back in the past, I guess. But it’s exciting to see that transition, and we recognize the value of tourism and sustainable grow= th of the industry.
Ms. Van Bibber: Again,= going back to this conference, we had some wonderful topics, and this is just a thought that I felt I had to bring up today.
One example was from a tour operator from Iceland. They have approximately 55,0= 00 residents in Iceland, and it’s similar to Yukon in their quest for visitors and having a short season. They said that their department of tour= ism invests in infrastructure and not so much on the marketing. For example, he approached his government with an idea to improve his business, and they assisted him and partly paid for a reliable tour bus so that visitors had a better experience and safety and comfort.
Does the Premier think that the Department of Tourism and Culture shifting its f= ocus from strictly marketing to assisting local entrepreneurs with more tangible options could improve visitor experience?
Hon. Mr. Silver: I appreciate the question from the member opposite. One thing that I’ll= say right off the bat is that the Department of Tourism and Culture doesn’= ;t work in a silo; it works with the Department of Highways and Public Works; = it works with our procurement team. It works with many departments — Economic Development — and is always looking at ways to expand and ma= ke sure that we provide — I don’t want to be repetitive — the best bang for the buck when it comes to our approach to tourism.
The new Yukon Tourism Development Strat= egy identified, as I said, a whole-of-government approach to tourism development as one of those seven priorities that are planned by strategic steering committees. T= hese priority plans have been included in the new mandate letters that I gave to= the Minister of Tourism and Culture. As a result, the department is reviewing b= est practices that make sense for Yukon. They are doing that, again, by approac= hing tourism practices that are from other jurisdictions around the world. I absolutely look forward to these discussions continuing through that stakeholder engagement process.
When it comes to the core values of the tourism strategy, Yukoners are very prou= d of this territory that we call home and the specifics about what it is about t= his community. What is it about the Yukon that makes us different? We are proud= of what makes us unique. We are eager to share that with the world.
At Premier Fentie’s celebration of life, it = was great to see past slogans and initiatives that came through his government — Larger than Life — and to see where we’ve come from tou= rism opportunities in the past and where we are today. We have to make sure that= we don’t forget about best practices, but also that we take a look at the international community and move forward with the business community and NG= Os to make sure that we are getting this right.
The big thing is that we spend a lot of time outdoors. We really value the wilderness. We value our vibrant communities and, most importantly, our northern way of life. We want to ensure that these are preserved for generations to come. One of the most important core values from the Yukon Tourism Development Strategy= is recognizing that tourism plays an important role in growing and strengthening our econo= my, businesses, and organizations of all sizes in our communities and provide t= hem with benefits that will extend the well-being of employment in general. The member opposite gave us one example from one remote area on the planet, but= we do have other options and other areas to look at as well.
As the strategy moves on and we collect more information from our stakeholders, that is extremely important — to add to those conversations with these other jurisdictions.
When it comes to the actual assets and the infrastructure, it is really importan= t to take a look at the work that we are doing here while we look at best practi= ces in other jurisdictions. Roads in communities, for example — safe, reliable roads and community infrastructure — are extremely important= not only for us as residents, but also for the tourism industry. Maintaining th= ose current assets while exploring opportunities for new and improved infrastru= cture such as pullouts, viewpoints, waste management, wireless technology and connectivity — all of these are infrastructure supports that we are currently endeavouring to make. Tourism and Culture does not work in a silo= .
The amazing work that Highways and Public Works has done to secure $157 mi= llion to expand our highways in the northern region is so important. That is a lo= t of money that is going toward not only the communities and the mining industry, but the tourism industry as well. I have been on the north Klondike Highway= a few times where those RVs were coming at me, and the roads get pretty small. Actually, I was talking to the Chair just the other day about both of us returning from our communities in the north and watching the new barricades coming up on the highway. These are extremely important endeavours to make = sure that safety is maintained, but it goes past those roads. It goes into the wireless technologies and increasing that, working in partnership with the telecommunication companies. Signage is another example of how the Departme= nt of Tourism and Culture has really focused this government in on prioritizing our infrastructure to suit the needs of our tourism industry — improv= ed signage to better support businesses, communities, and also just visitor experiences in general right across the territory. We are working in partnership to incorporate traditional territories, the traditional languag= es, and also local artistry into signage. That’s definitely a signature t= hat comes directly from the minister herself and how important it is that we fo= cus in on tourism and culture.
This is one of these really important areas where you really have to do this with integrity. You don’t want to be “using” culture in our tourism; you want to be showcasing our amazing artists and you want to be showcasing what we are as a people. I believe that the Minister of Tourism = and Culture has an excellent ability and background from her experiences workin= g in First Nation governments and working with industry to be able to showcase n= ot just a specific part of the Yukon, but many different areas of our communit= ies.
Airport facilities, Mr. Chair — another great example of how Tourism and Culture is working whole of government with other departments — an extremely important role when it comes to visitors — having modern airport facilities. That can leverage the competitive advantages of Air Nor= th, Yukon’s airline. We are also fostering partnerships with other carrie= rs to ensure convenient and affordable air access to and around the Yukon.
Every time I talk about airports, I think about when I head down to Skagway. I lo= ve to go down there in the summer and play tourist a bit. A lot of times, I wi= ll bug the tourists as they come off the cruise ships and I will ask them, “So, are you going to have an opportunity to get to the Klondike on y= our trip of a lifetime?” A lot of them look at me, pretty confused, and t= hey think, “We’re here.” To me, that is a huge opportunity to say, “Well, you’re close. You’re at the foot of the Chilk= oot, but you know, there is so much more past those mountains. There is so much = more culture and opportunity there.”
To see what we are doing here with Mayo and the upgrades there — to see = what we’re doing with Dawson City as well and the minister’s commitm= ent to improving aerodromes right across the Yukon — these are huge opportunities for the government to use assets that can be enjoyed — = not only just necessarily by specific companies, but also all Yukoners — = that help support not only our mining industry, not only the people who live in = the communities, but also our tourism industry as well.
It is about ensuring convenience and affordable access, and that is the good w= ork that the Department of Tourism and Culture has been doing.
One last thing to add as far as assets — wilderness and heritage. When it comes to assets, this is extremely important — to better manage acces= s to our trails, to our lakes and our rivers, our historic sites, and our herita= ge resources — that is extremely important. We need to do that, again, i= n an extremely respectful, sustainable, and safe way.
You don’t need to look any further than Montana Mountain and to take a lo= ok at the good work that is being done there where it is not just about —= ; it is great to see people from the Silicon Valley who come up and they want to= go biking. They say all the time, “We want to keep on coming back to the Yukon. We want to go to Montana Mountain this week, but we want to go to Da= wson City the next week. We want to go to another community next week.” Because it is not just about their experience of getting on a bike and feel= ing that adrenaline rush, it is about, “How can we connect to this commun= ity and the people of this community?”
When you start telling the story about how these trails were made and who made t= hem — I don’t know of any Yukoner who can’t be proud of the g= ood work of the youth of these communities, whether it’s Carcross, Dawson City, or other areas. I am so amazed to see that work continue. Just in my community of Dawson, watching the young crews from Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in working on the brand new pat= hs that go from the Dome all the way down — they just extended those tra= ils right down to the ball fields in Dawson. I was jogging by one day, and I ju= st heard all this yelling. It was these youth in Dawson, saying, “No, you are not jogging by; you are coming down here.” They were so proud of = the work that they were doing and explaining the significance of those trails. = It filled me with a lot of pride for these young entrepreneurs. They are young stewards of our land. These young individuals really — when we take a look at how we can best supply the communities with the assets and the infrastructure that they need, to me, it’s all about those youth. It’s all about these young entrepreneurs, whether it’s young Mr= . Kyikavichik in Old Crow and his pride of explaining t= he community to tourists, or it’s the Marshall Jona= ses of the world in Dawson City explaining the trails and the significance of t= he trails that his grandfather and grandfather’s grandfather designed ye= ars before him. That is the money that is very well spent, and that is the tour= ism experience that an individual will take back to a community that they came from. That will be tenfold the advertising that we need for this industry. =
Mr. Chair, seeing the time, I move that you report progress.
Chair: It has been moved by= Mr. Silver that the Chair report progress.
Motion agreed to
Hon. Mr. Silver: = Mr. Chair, I move that the Speaker do now resume the Chair.
Chair: It has been moved by= Mr. Silver that the Speaker do now resume the Chair.
Motion agreed to
Speaker resumes the Chair
Speaker: I will now call the House to order.
May the House have a report from the Chair of Committee of the Whole? = p>
Chair’s report
Mr. Hutton: Mr. S= peaker, Committee of the Whole has considered Bill No. 2, entitled Yukon University Act, and directed= me to report the bill without amendment.
Committee of the Whole has also considered Bill No. 200, entitled Second Appropriation Act 2019‑20= , and directed me to report progress.
Speaker: You have heard the report from the Chair of Committee of the Whole.
Are you agreed?
Some Hon. Members: Agr= eed.
Speaker: I declare the repo= rt carried.
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= /b>I move that the House do now adjourn.
Speaker: I= t has been moved by the Acting Government House Leader that the House do now adjo= urn.
Motion agreed to
Speaker: This House now sta= nds adjourned until 1:00 p.m. on Monday.
The House adjourned at 5:28 p.m.
The
following sessional paper was tabled November 14, 2019:
34-3-20
Standing Committee on Public Accounts Fourth Report (Hassard)
The
following documents were filed November 14, 2019:
34-3-22
PWC — Review of the determination of security for reclamation and closure= of the Wolverine Mine (Pillai)
34-3-23
Privatization of Yukon government services including Queen's Printer and Central Stores, letter re (dated November 12, 2019) from Penny Goldsmith to Liz Hanson, Member for Whitehorse Centre (Hanson)
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