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Yukon Legislative Assembly
Whitehorse, Yukon
Thursday, October 7, 2021 — 1:00 =
;p.m.
Speaker: I w= ill now call the House to order.
I woul= d like to begin the 2021 Fall Sitting of the Legislative Assembly by respectfully acknowledging all Yukon First Nations and also that we are meeting on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta= ’an Kwäch’än Council.
We wil= l proceed at this time with prayers.
Prayers
Withdrawal
of motions
Speaker:=
195;The Chair wishes to infor=
m the
House of changes made to the Order Paper. The following motions have been
removed from the Order Paper because they are now outdated: Motion No. =
;27,
standing in the name of the Leader of the Official Opposition; and Motion N=
o. 45,
standing in the name of the Leader of the Third Party.
The following motion has been removed =
from
the Order Paper as the actions requested in the motion have been taken in w=
hole
or in part: Motion No. 52, standing in the name of the Member for Wats=
on
Lake.
Motion No. 19, standing in the na=
me of
the Member for Vuntut Gwitchin, was removed from the Order Paper at the req=
uest
of the member.
Motion No. 81, notice of which was
given on May 31, 2021 by the Member for Lake Laberge, was not pla=
ced
on today’s Notice Paper as the motion is outdated.
Motion No. 83, notice of which was
given on May 31, 2021 by the Member for Vuntut Gwitchin, was not
placed on today’s Notice Paper as the action requested in the motion =
has
been taken in whole or in part.
Introduction
of PAGES
Speaker: It gives me great = pleasure to introduce the legislative pages who will be serving the House during the 2021 Fall Sitting. They are: Cassi Jensen and Sandy Nagarajan from F.H. Col= lins Secondary School; Andrew Woolridge and Ave Maria = Skoke-Burns from Vanier Catholic Secondary School; Brenna Kelly and Agata Poltorasky from Porter Creek Secondary School; and Ga= briel Mamer-Roode and Aurora April from CSSC Mercier.<= o:p>
I would ask members to welcome them to=
the
House at this time.
Applause
Daily
Routine
Speaker: We = will proceed at this time with the Order Paper.
Introd= uction of visitors.
Introduction
of Visitors
Hon. M=
r. Silver: There are a whole bunch o=
f people
in the gallery, and I just want to say what a great feeling it is to see th=
em
back in the gallery. I will start. I know that there will be a couple of pe=
ople
that I will miss; they are still wearing masks. I am sure some other folks =
will
help me out with that.
I will start with the former Leader of=
the
Liberal Party, Arthur Mitchell, who is with us. We also have former MLA Ted=
Adel.
We have the current president of the Yukon Liberal Party, Karly Carruthers,
here. We have a member of the executive, Mike Pemberton, as well. We have
Tracey Jacobs as well in the audience, as well as my chief of staff, Jasmina Randhawa.
We also have Sacha Marceau, northern
advisor, and my new ministerial advisor, Aaron Casselman. These are just a =
few
of the people in the gallery. I will let my colleagues introduce the rest.
Welcome here today.
Applause
Hon. M=
s. McLean: First of all, I wo=
uld like
to welcome my husband Rick McLean to the gallery today. Thank you very much=
for
being here today and for being so supportive.
We have a number of guests here today =
for a
special tribute that we will be doing in recognition of Women’s Histo=
ry
Month and International Day of the Girl. We have Aja Mason, director of the
Yukon Status of Women Council.
From L= es EssentiElles, we have Maryne Dumaine, president, and Laurence Rivard, direct= or. We have from the Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Mandy Jack, Eileen&nbs= p;Melnychuk, Raquel Rosel, Elena Ross, and Cindy Allen.= I would also like to welcome Staci McIntosh to the gallery. Thank you so much= for coming. As the Premier has said, it is wonderful to have folks back in here= with us.
Applause
Ms. Tredger:&= #8195;I would like welcome my mom here today in the Legislature.
Applause
Hon. Mr. Pillai: I would like the members of the Assembly to welcome folks who = are here. We have a great group of individuals who have come from the Yukon Hou= sing Corporation today. We are going to be having a ministerial statement in a f= ew minutes. These folks have been doing incredible, incredible work, and this = past week, again, they all stepped up. I just want to welcome Mary Cameron, president of the Yukon Housing Corporation; Philippe M= olet, vice‑president of corporate services; Colin McDowell, vice‑pres= ident of operations; Kim Ho, our senior partnership advisor; Laura Lang, senior advisor; Hanna McDonald, senior policy advisor; Kristine Carruthers, acting director of tenancy supports; Paula Banks, our director of policy and communications; Sarah Murray, our acting policy analyst; Marcel Robinson <= /span>takes care of the dollars and is our director of finance and r= isk management; Aneesha Singh, senior communications advisor; as well as Darren Stahl, who makes sure that everything keeps runn= ing, our director of capital development. I would like to welcome them here toda= y.
As wel= l, a few individuals from the team that I get to work with — my ministerial advisor, Kim Stavert, as well as Kristin Y= oung — those folks just make everything work and they have an unbelievable work ethic.
Applause
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I do appreciate having = people in the House once again. As my colleagues have said, it is really wonderful= to see you all here this afternoon.
I woul= d like to welcome this afternoon Staci McIntosh, who is part of our Making Work Safe panel. It is great to see her here, as well as Sunny Patch, who is also on = the panel. We have Jacob Wilson here from our communications team. It is nice to see him in the House this afternoon.
Thank = you very much.
Speaker: Are= there any further visitors to be introduced?
Tribut= es.
TRIBUTES
In recognition of Women= 8217;s History Month and the International Day of the Girl Child
Hon. Ms. McLean: It is my honour to rise on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and = Ta’an Kwäch’än’ Council today, = the first day of the 2021 Fall Sitting of the 35th Legislative Assem= bly, to pay tribute to Women’s History Month and the International Day of = the Girl Child, which takes place on October 11.
The International Day of the Girl Child reminds us of the need to address the challenges that girls across the world face each and every day. This includ= es the right to safety, education, health services, and so much more. This is something that is deeply important to me, both as the Minister responsible = for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate and as the Minister of Education.= span>
Every = October, we acknowledge and celebrate the incredible accomplishments of women and gi= rls throughout our history and today. This month is a time to celebrate the wom= en and girls from our past and present who are contributing to a better and mo= re inclusive Yukon.
It mar= ks a day in 1929 when the historic decision to include “women” in the le= gal definition of “persons” was handed down by Canada’s highe= st court of appeal. This gave some women the right to increase participation in public and political life, including the right to vote, but it is important= to note, Mr. Speaker, that this decision did not include all women. In fa= ct, it wasn’t until 1960 that indigenous women received the right to vote, and it wasn’t until 2004 that all Canadians who were incarcerated, including women, received the right to vote.
The th= eme of Women’s History Month this year is “Women Making History Now”. It recognizes the many amazing women making a lasting impact on= our country today, especially during the pandemic and in efforts to advance reconciliation.
The Yu= kon is full of women making history now, from our many strong female political lea= ders to business pioneers to mothers leading their families through everyday challenges of a pandemic.
We kno= w that the pandemic has impacted women more than any other group. In so many cases, mothers have had to make huge sacrifices over the past year to keep their families safe and well.
Women = have been the driving force here in Canada behind the national movement for reconciliation. These women are making history, as we saw the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. These women call on us to= do better, to do more, to move faster toward equity and equality.
I thin= k of all the indigenous women and girls who were murdered or who have gone missing, whose opportunity to make their own history was stolen from them. It is bec= ause of the work of the strong female leaders that a National Inquiry into Missi= ng and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls came to be and that the Yukon was t= he first jurisdiction in Canada to provide a comprehensive response. = p>
It is = because of the front-line work that so many indigenous women are honoured and supporte= d. I want to express my deep thank you to these indigenous women’s organizations: the Yukon Aboriginal Women’s Council, Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Circle, and the Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society. Thank you also to the many equality-seeking organizations for the = work that you do to make a lasting impact on our territory, including the Victor= ia Faulkner Women’s Centre, Yukon Status of Women Council, Les EssentiElles, Yukon Women in Trades and Technology, Q= ueer Yukon Society, and All Genders Yukon.
As the= Minister responsible for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate, I remain committed= to building a territory where all women, girls, and two-spirit people can live their lives with equal opportunity and free of violence. So, during this Women’s History Month, I encourage all Yukoners not only to celebrate= the achievements of the ground-breaking women and girls who came before us, but also to consider the history being made now in the current moment and to support the women around us and their ongoing fight for recognition and equality.
Thank = you, Mr. Speaker.
Applause
Ms. Clarke: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to rise on behalf of the Yukon Party Official Opposition in recognition of Women’s History Month, which is held in Canada during October. This year’s theme is “Women Maki= ng History Now”, which recognizes and honours women whose contributions = can more rightly be referred to as “history in the making”. =
There = are so many women in the Yukon championing efforts to make our territory more inclusive, the rights of women and girls, including freedom from violence a= nd abuse, as well as equal opportunities in areas such as law, education, nutrition, and health care.
Let me= name a few of the movements that Yukon women are involved in that are making histo= ry now: Yukon’s female engineers committing themselves to increasing the representation of women in engineering; Yukon Women in Mining who continue = to encourage, empower, educate, and elevate through advocacy; Yukon Women in Trades and Technology, which believes that gender should not be a barrier to pursuing career opportunities in trades and technology jobs; Victoria Faulk= ner Women’s Centre, which offers refuge to women and their children experiencing violence; Les EssentiElles, w= hich aims to improve the quality of life of francophone Yukon women; Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society, which works to heal the legacy of physical and sexual abuse in residential schools; the Yukon Status of Women Council,= an advocacy and awareness group for local and national women’s issues; Y= ukon Aboriginal Women’s Council, which advances the interests of women of indigenous or Inuit ancestry in the Yukon, including status and non-status indigenous peoples and Métis; Whitehorse Aboriginal Women’s Ci= rcle provides a platform for all aboriginal women to voice their concerns and to seek support and guidance from each other; the women behind the Hidden Histories Society Yukon, which recognizes black and Asian women; and so many more.
For me= , the women who run these programs are making history now and are contributing to= a better Yukon. They are the unsung heroes of our community. I would like to recognize and thank those women.
Octobe= r 11 marks the International Day of the Girl Child. On this day, we celebrate girls and young women who continue to make an impact on our communities.
While = we continue to make great strides toward closing the gender gap, we recognize = that inequalities still exist. By raising strong girls, we are helping to shape = the future and tackle those inequalities. This month corresponds with the celebration of Persons Day. It was on October 18, 1929 that Canadian women = were first declared to be legally considered as persons, giving women the right = to be appointed to the Senate of Canada and paved the way for women’s increased participation in public and political life.
Thank = you to all the women, past and present, who have made and continue to make the Yukon an amazing place to call home.
[Member spoke in Tagalog. Text unavailable.]
Ms. Tredger:&= #8195;I rise on behalf of the Yukon NDP to pay tribute to Women’s History Mon= th and the International Day of the Girl Child.
A few = months ago, the Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society released a report about wom= en in mining. A staggering 73 percent of women whom they interviewed about their experiences in mining camps had experienced harassment, discriminatio= n, and violence at work. If we ever needed proof that Yukon women are not exem= pt from the discrimination faced by women around the world, this is it. From o= ur communities to our workplaces, to our homes and our most intimate relationships, women face the threat of violence, poverty, and more. It is = even more stark for women of colour, trans women, and women with disabilities. B= ut being a woman also means more than experiences of discrimination. = p>
Let me= tell you that women are going to remake the world; women already are remaking the wo= rld. The Yukon has a rich history of women working for change in every area of o= ur lives. Our society has so much to learn. If we want to dismantle our system= s of injustice, we need to listen to people whose voices have been marginalized,= and that includes listening to women. I can’t tell you exactly what it is that we will hear, because women are not just one thing; there are a million different experiences of what it means to be a woman. The experiences of indigenous women, women with disabilities, trans women, queer women, poor w= omen — they are all so incredibly different, and each of them is valuable.=
I drea= m of a world that does so much more than keep all these women safe. I dream of a w= orld that values and learns from their voices, from history and the present. I d= ream of a place that tosses out our destructive vision of gender as a way to control, a world that says we can do better. I believe that, slowly but sur= ely, we are inching closer.
Someti= mes we move forward; sometimes we move back, but our world is changing because of = the relentless work of so many women, including extraordinary work by women and women’s organizations here in the territory. Acknowledged or not, they have been working for a long time. Their voices are sometimes fierce, somet= imes soft, sometimes angry, sometimes calm, but always, always persistent. So, t= oday I want to celebrate Yukon’s women and girls. For every woman who in h= er own way has resisted and created, I am so proud. I am so proud to be one of you. I am so excited about all of the things we are going to do.
App=
lause
Tabling
Returns and Documents
Speaker: Und= er tabling returns and documents, the Chair has for tabling the Report from= the Clerk of the Yukon Legislative Assembly on the Absence of Members from Sitt= ings of the Legislative Assembly and its Committees, dated October 7,&n= bsp;2021; Report of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly — Membership of th= e Special Committee on Electoral Reform; Yukon Conflict of Interest Commission= Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly for the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 M= arch 2021; Report of the Auditor General of Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Yukon — Mental Health Services in Rural Yukon — Department of Health and Social Services; Report of the Chief Electo= ral Officer to the Legislative Assembly — 2020 Annual Revenue Returns Con= tributions Made to Political Parties — January 1, 2020 to December 31, = ;2020; Getting Ahead of the Curve: Meeting the challenges to privacy and fairne= ss arising from the use of artificial intelligence in the public sector —= ; Joint Special Report No. 2, June 2021 — Ombudsperson British Columbia, Offi= ce of the Information & Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia, Yukon Ombudsman, Yukon Information and Privacy Commissioner.
Are th= ere any further returns or documents for tabling?
Hon. Mr. Streicker: I have for tabling today a legislative return in response to written questions from the Member for Copperbelt South that were tabled on the last day of the Sitting of the spring Legislature.
Speaker: Are there any fu= rther reports or documents for tabling?
Are there any reports of committ= ees?
Reports
of Committees
Hon. Mr. Clarke: Mr. Speaker, I have for tabling the First Report of the Standing Committee on Appointments to Major Government Boards and Committee= s, dated July 27, 2021.
Hon. Mr. Mostyn: I have for tabling the First Report of the Standing Committ= ee on Rules, Elections and Privileges.
Speaker: Are= there any further reports of committees to be presented?
Are th= ere any petitions?
PETITIONS
Petition No. 1 — re= ceived
Clerk: Mr.&n= bsp;Speaker and honourable members of the Assembly: I have had the honour to review a petition, being Petition No. 1 of the First Session of the 35th Legislative Assembly, as presented by the Member for Whitehorse Centre on M= ay 31, 2021.
The pe= tition presented by the Member for Whitehorse Centre meets the requirements as to = form of the Standing Orders of the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
Speaker: Acc= ordingly, I declare Petition No. 1 is deemed to be read and received. Pursuant to Standing Order 67, the Executive Council shall provide a response to a peti= tion which has been read and received within eight sitting days of its presentat= ion.
Theref= ore, the Executive Council response to Petition No. 1 shall be provided on or before October 21, 2021.
Petition No. 2 — received
Clerk: Mr.&n= bsp;Speaker and honourable members of the Assembly: I have had the honour to review a petition, being Petition No. 2 of the First Session of the 35th Legislative Assembly, as presented by the Member for Vuntut Gwitchin on May= 31, 2021.
The pe= tition presented by the Member for Vuntut Gwitchin meets the requirements as to fo= rm of the Standing Orders of the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
Speaker: Acc= ordingly, I declare Petition No. 2 is deemed to be read and received. Pursuant to Standing Order 67, the Executive Council shall provide a response to a peti= tion which has been read and received within eight sitting days of its presentat= ion.
Theref= ore, the Executive Council response to Petition No. 2 shall be provided on or before October 21, 2021.
Are th= ere any petitions to be presented?
Are th= ere any bills to be introduced?
Introduction of Bills
Bill No. 202: Second Appropriation Act 2021-22 ̵=
2; Introduction
and First Reading
Hon. Mr. Silver: I move that Bill No. 202, entitled Second Appropriation Act 2021-22, be now introduced and read a first time.
Speaker: It = has been moved by the Hon. Premier that Bill No. 202, entitled Second Appropriation Act 2021-22, = be now introduced and read a first time.
Motion for introduction and first reading of Bill No. 202 agreed to
Bill No. 7: Act to Amend the Family Property and Support Act (2021) — Introduction and First Reading<= o:p>
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I move that Bill No. 7, entitled Act to Amend the Family Property and Support Act (2021), be now introduced and read a first time.
Speaker: It = has been moved by the Minister of Justice that Bill No. 7, entitled Act to Amend the Family Property and S= upport Act (2021), be now introduced and read a first time.
Motion for introduction and first reading of Bill No. 7 agreed to
Bill
No. 5: Act to Amend the Territ=
orial
Lands (Yukon) Act (2021) — Introduction and First Reading
Hon. Mr. Streicker: <= span lang=3DEN-CA>I move that Bill No. 5, entitled Act to Amend the Territorial Lands (Yukon) Act (2021), be now introduced and read a first time.
Speaker: It = has been moved by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources that Bill No. 5, entitled Act to Amend the Territori= al Lands (Yukon) Act (2021), be now introduced and read a first time.
Motion for introduction and first reading of Bill No. 5 agreed to
Speaker: Are= there any further bills for introduction?
Are th= ere any notices of motions?
Notices
of Motions
Hon. Ms. McPhee: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT, = for the duration of the 2021 Fall Sitting, any Member of the Legislative Assembly w= ho is unable to attend sittings of the House in person due to COVID-19 symptom= s, illness, or protocols may participate in the sittings of the House by teleconference, notwithstanding Standing Order 8 or any other Standing Orde= r, and by teleconference shall:
(1) be recognized to speak in debate, notwithstanding Standing Order 17;
(2) be= permitted to vote, notwithstanding Standing Order 25;
(3) co= ntribute to constituting quorum in the Legislative Assembly, under Standing Order 3 = and the Yukon Act; and
(4) be considered to have attended the Sitting of the Legislative Assembly with no deduction of indemnity required under subsection 39(5) of the Legislative Assembly Act.= p>
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, I also give notice of the following motion:
THAT, = for the duration of the 2021 Fall Sitting:
(1) th= e Clerk shall keep a daily list of paired members, in which any member of the Government and any member of the opposition party may have their names ente= red together by noon on that date to indicate that they will not take part in a= ny recorded division in the Legislative Assembly held on that date; and=
(2) fo=
llowing
each such division held, the names of any members entered on the list of pa=
ired
members for that date shall be printed in Hansard and in the Votes and
Proceedings.
In add= ition, Mr. Speaker, I give notice of the following motion:
THAT, = for the duration of the 2021 Fall Sitting, if the Legislative Assembly stands adjou= rned for an indefinite period of time, the Government House Leader and at least = one other House Leader together may request that the Legislative Assembly meet virtually by video conference with all the Members of the Legislative Assem= bly being able to participate remotely, notwithstanding any current Standing Or= ders regarding members’ physical presence in the Chamber.
Mr. Kent:Q= 95;Mr. Speaker, I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to address the impact of significant staff shortages at many Yukon schools as a result of absenteeism, due in part to = the impacts of COVID-19 protocols, by:
(1) wo= rking with stakeholders to increase the availability of teachers on call;
(2) ta= king steps to address staff burnout among classroom teachers; and
(3) en= suring that adequate numbers of specialist teachers, including but not limited to educational assistants, counsellors, and learning assistants are available throughout the year.
Ms. Clarke:= 8195;I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to work with industry stakeholders to investi= gate changes to insurance options for condominium corporations in Yukon that include:
(1) si= gnificant cost increases for condominium insurance in the Yukon;
(2) de= creasing availability of providers of condominium insurance; and
(3) de= creasing risks that are covered by condominium insurance.
Mr. Cathers: I rise today to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Yukon government to recognize the acute shortage of family physic= ians and the large number of Yukon citizens without a family doctor by: <= /p>
(1) re= instating the physician recruitment and retention officer position in the Department = of Health and Social Services;
(2) wo= rking with the Yukon Medical Association to review and improve recruitment and retenti= on programs and incentives;
(3) wo= rking with the Yukon Medical Association to improve supports for physicians seeking lo= cums from outside the territory; and
(4) as= sisting physicians who are planning to take extended leave, including maternity or parental leave, to find appropriate coverage.
Ms. McLeod: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to consult with the Association of Yukon Communities as well as directly with municipal governments before making legislative changes to facilitate the creation of a new home energy retrofit program.
Ms. Van Bibber: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to fully support and assist the ongoing syste= mic review of school safety and supports at Hidden Valley Elementary School that was launched by the Yukon Child and Youth Advocate on July 29, 20= 21.
Mr. Hassard: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to create an industry working group to review= the impacts of the Government of Canada’s proposed Clean Fuel Standard, w= hich is currently published in the Canada Gazette and subject to consultation between the federal government and provincial and territorial governments.
Ms. Blake: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 3 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by fully implementing Jordan’s Principle.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 5 and call to action= 12 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by developing:<= /p>
(1) cu= lturally appropriate parenting programs for aboriginal families; and
(2) cu= lturally appropriate early childhood education programs for aboriginal families.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 17 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by waiving administrative costs and the revisions of official identity documents for residential school survivors a= nd their families, such that they can reclaim their names changed by the residential school system.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 18 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by:
(1) acknowledging that the current state of aboriginal health in Canada is a di= rect result of previous Canadian government policies, including residential scho= ols; and
(2) re= cognizing and implementing the health care rights of Aboriginal people as identified = in international law, constitutional law, and under treaties.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 22 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by recognizing the value of aboriginal healing practices and using them in the treatment of aboriginal patients in collaboration with aboriginal healers and elders where requested by aborigi= nal patients.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 23 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by:
(1) in= creasing the number of aboriginal professionals working in the health care field;
(2) en= suring the retention of aboriginal health care providers in aboriginal communities; an= d
(3) pr= oviding cultural competency training for all health care professionals.
Ms. White: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 26 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by introducing amendments to the Limitation of Actions Act to ensur= e that it conforms to the principle that governments and other entities cannot rel= y on limitation defences to defend legal actions of historical abuse brought by = Aboriginal people.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 30 and call to actio= n 38 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by:
(1) co= mmitting to eliminating the overrepresentation of aboriginal adults in custody over = the next decade;
(2) co= mmitting to eliminating the overrepresentation of aboriginal youth in custody over t= he next decade; and
(3) is= suing detailed annual reports that monitor and evaluate progress in doing so.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 31 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by providing stable funding to implement and evaluate community sanctions which provide alternatives to imprisonment= of aboriginal offenders and respond to the underlying causes of offending.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 33 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by:
(1) re= cognizing as a high priority the need to address and prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, also known as FASD; and
(2) de= veloping, in collaboration with Aboriginal people, FASD preventive programs that can = be delivered in a culturally appropriate manner.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 36 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by working with aboriginal communities = to provide culturally relevant services to inmates on issues such as:= p>
(1) su= bstance abuse;
(2) fa= mily and domestic violence; and
(3) ov= ercoming the experiences of having been sexually abused.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 40 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by creating, in collaboration with Abor= iginal people, adequately funded and accessible aboriginal-specific victim programs and services with appropriate evaluation mechanisms.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 43 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by fully adopting and implementing the = United Nations Declaration on the Righ= ts of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.
Ms. Tredger: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 47 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by:
(1) re= pudiating concepts used to justify European sovereignty over indigenous peoples and lands, such as the doctrine of discovery and terra nullius; and
(2) in= troducing amendments to those laws, policies, and litigation strategies that continue= to rely on such concepts.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 55 of the Truth and = Reconciliation Commission of Canada by providing annual reports for any current data reque= sted by the National Council for Reconciliation.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 57 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by providing education to public servan= ts on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including:
(1) th= e history and legacy of residential schools;
(2) th= e United Nations Declaration on the Righ= ts of Indigenous Peoples;
(3) tr= eaties and aboriginal rights;
(4) in= digenous law; and
(5) Ab= original-Crown relations.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 63 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by maintaining an annual commitment to = aboriginal education issues, including:
(1) de= veloping and implementing kindergarten to grade 12 curriculum and learning resources= on Aboriginal peoples in Canadian history and the history and legacy of residential schoo= ls;
(2) sh= aring information and best practices on teaching curriculum related to residential schools and aboriginal history;
(3)&nb= sp;building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respe= ct; and
(4) id= entifying teacher training needs relating to the above.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 64 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by requiring publicly funded denominati= onal schools to provide an education on comparative religious studies, which must include a segment on aboriginal spiritual beliefs and practices developed in collaboration with aboriginal elders.
I also= give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to act on call to action 87 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in collaboration with Aboriginal people= s, sports halls of fame, and other relevant organizations by providing educati= on that tells the national story of aboriginal athletes in history.
Ms. Blake: I rise to give notice of the following motion:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to support Yukoners living with cystic fibros= is by providing full coverage for the drug Trikafta under the Yukon Drug Formulary.
Speaker: Are= there any further notices of motions?
Is the= re a statement by minister?
Ministerial
Statement
Yukon housing summit
Hon. Mr. Pillai: Like many jurisdictions across Canada, the Yukon is experienci= ng housing shortages across the spectrum. Our strong economy over the last sev= eral years, including during the pandemic, continues to attract people to the Yu= kon. Robust economic activity, which is keeping our private sector busy, coupled with an increasing population and unprecedented cost of building materials = due to the global pandemic, have contributed to rising housing prices and rental rates.
Togeth= er with our partners, our government has taken significant action to increase housi= ng options for Yukoners in recent years. There are many important initiatives underway throughout the territory, but it is clear that more needs to be do= ne.
To ide= ntify solutions and actions that address the Yukon’s key housing pressures,= our Liberal government brought together housing sector representatives and community stakeholders earlier this week for the Yukon housing summit 2021.=
The go= al of this summit was to inspire new collaborations and partnerships between the vario= us housing stakeholders across the territory. We all have a role to play worki= ng together in finding a new way forward.
Approx= imately 100 delegates from governments, development corporations, private developme= nt companies, non-profits, First Nation governments, municipal governments, and community organizations participated in the summit. It provided an important opportunity to raise awareness about housing complexities and challenges un= ique to the territory. It also provided a platform to create new partnerships focused on increasing the housing supply.
We hea= rd about key housing data and how housing contributes to individual wellness. We discussed barriers to the development of housing and innovative ideas for housing initiatives that can make a real impact in our communities.<= /p>
Some o= f the key opportunities identified include continued partnerships with First Nation development corporations to increase housing options in communities and in Whitehorse, potential development of a community land trust that would pres= ent a new model of affordable home ownership in the Yukon, and Yukon First Nati= ons that are exploring models for home ownership on settlement land.
I woul= d like to thank our presenters who shared their experience and knowledge. Thank you t= o: Chief Smith of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations; Evelyn Pollock, project manager and Community Economic Development officer at Klondike Development; James Moore, policy planning manager for the City of Kelowna; = Zain Abedin, director of community development for the Rural Development Network; and Kailer Mullet from the Department of Financ= e.
The su= mmit paved the way for collaborative approaches, improved communication, public awaren= ess, leadership, and specific actions to address Yukon’s housing challenge= s.
The ho= using summit would not have been a success had it not been for the participation = of all the delegates and the hard work and dedication of the staff of the Yukon Housing Corporation.
Thank = you to everyone who made the summit a success as we look forward to our next conversation in six to eight months.
Thank = you, Mr. Speaker.
Ms. Clarke: = ;Thank you for the opportunity to speak to this, Mr. Speak= er. I appreciate the updates from the government on this initiative. This sounds = like it was a very interesting and productive conference. I would also like to t= hank all the participants who gathered for the 2021 Yukon housing summit.=
The mi= nister noted that it is time to do more for housing in the territory and we couldn’t agree more. As many have seen, the housing crisis has grown = in recent years, with the average price of a home in Whitehorse now roughly $650,000. For many people, this means that the dream of home ownership is n= ow no longer realistic, so it is clear that the government needs to do more and act more quickly on this important issue. We have heard that the Liberal government’s decision to bring in the rent control policy this spring= has resulted in hundreds of rental units being taken off the market. Further, we have heard that it has led to many renters being evicted. The Liberals will need to explain why they are forcing this harmful policy on Yukoners.
The go= vernment has contributed to the shortage of lots. Yukoners are hopeful that the time= for talking and conferences is coming to an end and that the time for action is here. As you know, the current Liberal government has been talking about ac= tion for five years now. The report from this conference will be crucial to judge the eight-month review committed to by the government.
There = also remain key projects in the territory that have not been addressed by this government. We know that Vimy Heritage Housing = is a not-for-profit that is also looking to build an assisted living facility in Whitehorse. We know that all three caucuses met with V= imy representatives prior to the start of this current Sitting for an update on this project. Was Vimy discussed as a project a= t the Yukon housing summit? Was the shortage of staff housing in rural Yukon communities discussed?
In Jul= y of this year, the Canada-Yukon housing benefit was maxed out and turning applicants away who were requesting assistance. Were solutions discussed?
With t= hat, Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the topic of the Yukon housing su= mmit and our Yukon housing crisis.
Ms. Tredger:&= #8195;It’s good to be getting up to talk about housing for what I am sure will not be = the last time this Sitting. As summer ends and the weather gets colder, our hou= sing crisis is intensifying. Yukoners who are making do by living in campers and tents over the summer are running out of time. The businesses reducing their hours because they can’t find housing for their staff — they are out of time. The parents trying to find a stable home for their children be= fore they started school — they have been out of time for a while. We̵= 7;re out of time.
But wh= at we do have is the creativity and resourcefulness of Yukoners. It is amazing what = can happen when they come together. At the summit on Tuesday morning, at my tab= le alone, there were people from construction, people from advocacy groups, and people from government. This is an example of what the government should be doing — looking outside of themselves for ideas from Yukoners.
The ne= xt step, of course, is action. First Nation governments have already been doing that= work. Community groups have been doing the hard work of advocating for projects l= ike the community land trust. It is good to hear the government committing to supporting those projects. It will be even better to see real action and resources toward these goals.
Best o= f all, of course, will be seeing Yukoners with safe, warm places that they can call h= ome.
Hon. Mr. Pillai: Mr. Speaker, I just want to once again thank everyone who participated in the Yukon housing summit who made it a success. There were = many organizations involved, including the Skookum Jim Friendship Centre, the Village of Carmacks, the Village of Teslin, the City of Whitehorse, the Yuk= on Anti-Poverty Coalition, the Association of Yukon Communities, Safe at Home Society, Habitat for Humanity, the Northern Community Land Trust, Grey Moun= tain Housing Society, and so many others.
I woul= d also just like to thank Yukon Housing Corporation for their extensive work supporting and working alongside the Vimy Herit= age Housing Society, as we look for solutions there, and the work of Economic Development that has not stopped for the last four years to get them to a g= ood spot to realize their dream. Thank you to all of these folks for sharing th= eir insight and again coming to the table to discuss how we can work together to address housing challenges. My sense is that, when you bring folks like this together who have not had that opportunity, it is not just a conference; it= is really a key component in planning and building the right partnerships.
The ho= using shortage in the territory is not something that any one government or organization can solve, and I thank my colleagues from across the way for identifying that. We absolutely have to work together on this, and that was part of my message at the summit. I also made it clear that the Government = of Yukon is a willing partner. Our Liberal government has taken significant ac= tion in increasing housing options for Yukoners in recent years, so I think that there has been tremendous action. We have invested in the development of ov= er 600 homes during our previous mandate. We built the first Housing First residence to provide barrier-free housing to those most in need. We are completing a new community housing project in Whitehorse that will provide = 47 new safe and affordable homes for Yukon families and individuals. = p>
We have supported the Challenge Cornerstone project, a supported and affordable hou= sing development that will provide another 50 homes in Whitehorse. Thanks to rob= ust partnerships, we have supported the River Bend project and Boreal Commons projects. We’ve also joined forces with the private sector on a new supported housing development for seniors in Whitehorse. Folks can see that there’s a crane high above Takhini, and you’ll see that it is part of the infrastructure that’s in plac= e to build 84 new homes.
The Yu= kon housing benefit that was touched upon in comments was launched last year and directly supported over 200 Yukoners to afford their rent. Again, I thank t= he Yukon Housing Corporation for being innovative and moving dollars that we h= ad in place to top that up to make sure we maximized the number of folks who w= ould receive that. So, yes, again, innovation — we are moving and are agil= e.
We hav= e also made historic investments in lot development across the Yukon. This last ye= ar, we worked with the City of Whitehorse to release more than 250 lots —= the largest ever lottery and tender of lots in Whitehorse. We continue to work = with our partners across the territory to develop land for housing. We recognize that more needs to be done — we absolutely do.
Action= is happening as we speak. We are seeing the largest investment in affordable housing in Yukon’s history right now. 2020 was a record year for residential building permits, but what’s incredible is that, in the f= irst three quarters of 2021, that has already been surpassed.
The go= al of the summit was to foster the partnerships needed to keep this momentum going, a= nd I believe that working together will be key, not anything divisive around partisanship. We truly, in this Assembly, have to come together for the gre= ater good of Yukoners.
Again,= I look forward to my colleagues keeping tabs on our commitments, because we need t= o be accountable to the Assembly and to Yukoners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.= span>
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Speaker: Lea= der of the Official Opposition.
Motion of
urgent and pressing necessity no. 4
(Standing Order 28)
Sexual abuse within eleme= ntary school
Mr. Dixon: Mr. Speaker, I request the unanimous consent of the House to move a motion of urgent and pressing necessity, pursuant to Standing Order 28 of the Standing Orders of= the Yukon Legislative Assembly:
THAT t= his House urges the Government of Yukon to waive Cabinet confidence and immediately release all briefing notes and documentation related to when Cabinet first became aware of the allegations of sexual abuse at Hidden Valley Elementary= School and who made the decision not to notify the public of allegations of sexual abuse of a child within an elementary school.
I have= the requisite number of copies here, Mr. Speaker. I believe that the Stand= ing Orders permit me to make a few brief comments about this motion.
I thin= k it goes without saying, given the subject matter, that this is indeed urgent and pressing and that Yukoners deserve to see the full breadth of information that’s available from the Yukon government related to this issue.
Since = this issue came to light this summer, we have — as have Yukoners across the territory — been pushing for openness and transparency and for answers and accountability. That begins with the open sharing of all the relevant documents and information pertaining to this matter.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, this motion would set about to have the government release all the relevant information and share it publicly so that Yukoners can see the facts about = this and make an informed decision about what happened.
Speaker:=
195;The Leader of the Official
Opposition has requested the unanimous consent of the Assembly to move a mo=
tion
of urgent and pressing necessity.
Is there unanimous consent?
Some Hon.&n=
bsp;Members: Agreed.
Some Hon.&n=
bsp;Members: Disagreed.
Speaker:=
195;Unanimous consent has not=
been
granted.
Speaker:=
195;This then brings us to Qu=
estion
Period.
QUESTION PERIOD
Question re: Sexual= abuse within elementary school
Mr. Di=
xon: Over the past several mon=
ths,
Yukoners have been deeply upset and disturbed by the government’s obv=
ious
mishandling of the situation involving the sexual abuse of students by a fo=
rmer
educational assistant. What Yukoners have been seeking throughout this scan=
dal
have been answers and accountability.
Mr. Speaker, let’s begin wi=
th
answers. When did the current Minister of Education learn of the sexual abu=
se
of a student at the Hidden Valley school?
Hon. M=
s. McLean: I welcome the opportunity=
to rise
in the House today to speak about this very difficult matter that, at the
heart, involves our children. There is nothing more important than the
well-being, safety, and protection of students when they are in our care. T=
his
is a devastating situation for absolutely everyone involved. Again, we
acknowledge that there has been a breakdown in trust — we have
acknowledged that — between the families, the Hidden Valley Elementary
School, the Department of Education, and Yukoners as a whole, but I think t=
hat
at the heart of this are our children.
Since this is the first question today= in this Sitting, I want to remind the members opposite that we are in fact tal= king about children. Something very devastating has ha= ppened in this circumstance, and I want to remind them of this. These matters are = very sensitive, Mr. Speaker, and I want to ask people to try to tread light= ly with this.
We are absolutely committed to rebuilding the trust.
Mr. Dixon:= 195;I appreciate the minister’s sentiments here and her comments, but my question was very simple and very clear: When did the minister first learn = of the sexual abuse of a student at the Hidden Valley school?
Hon. Ms. McLean: Mr. Speaker, again, these matters are very, very sensitive and involve a lot of Yukoners= . We acknowledge that there were mistakes made and that other parents in this situation — when we became aware of these matters in 2019, the indivi= dual involved was immediately removed from the care of children and has not been= in the care of children since 2019.
The Hi= dden Valley school administration has changed some of their protocols, as well, = to increase the safety of students and reinforce accountability.
At the= time of the incident, Mr. Speaker, we informed the RCMP. We expected them to undertake a complete and thorough investigation at that time. The Yukon RCMP have initiated a complete review of its own investigation, so I am very ple= ased about that. There are also ongoing investigations into this matter, which brings me to my point that there are matters still before the court. I real= ly want to ensure that folks in this Legislative Assembly are well aware of th= at.
I have= launched an independent review of our government’s response to this incident.<= /span>
Thank = you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Dixon:= 195;Mr. Speaker, we are aware that the government has admitted that a grave mistake happened, and we are aware that there are matters before the court, but the question = I am asking today is not one of those.
The qu= estion I am asking today is: When did the current Minister of Education learn of the sexual abuse that occurred at Hidden Valley school? When did she learn of t= hat fact, Mr. Speaker?
Hon. Ms. McLean: I will finish the part that I was talking about in terms of wh= ere we are at with the independent review of our government’s response to th= is incident. This will look at internal policies and protocols to respond to incidents of this kind. I am very pleased that we have hired Amanda Rogers,= who is very skilled and knowledgeable, and she will be taking a very deep look = at what happened in 2019. This review will involve parents and guardians ̵= 2; and I made that commitment to parents at a closed meeting at the Hidden Val= ley Elementary School. There are a lot of questions around this matter, Mr. Speaker, = and I am committed to ensuring that we review everything thoroughly and bring t= he answers back. I know that the member opposite is looking for something very specific here, in terms of my knowledge of these matters. I did not become aware of them until the media reported on them. They were not part of the initial briefings within — our early briefings coming into the positi= on as new ministers.
I will= continue to answer questions as we go forward.
Question
re: Sexual abuse within elementary school
Mr. Dixon: Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow up. The minister has just told us that she didn̵= 7;t learn about this particular matter until it was reported in the media. It h= as been reported to us that the minister told that very fact to parents as wel= l at the Hidden Valley school at a meeting. I would like the minister to confirm= for us once again: Is it true that the minister did not learn about this until after the media reported on it?
Hon. Ms. McLean: I just answered that question, and I am going to continue to t= alk about the work that we are doing, going forward. Again, these are very deli= cate matters that involve a lot of people, and I want to be very careful and cautious about that, in that we still have matters before the courts, and t= here are still active investigations going on, Mr. Speaker.
I have= launched an independent review of our government’s response to this incident as well as looking at the internal policies and protocols to respond to incide= nts of this kind. The review will involve all of the parents and guardians at Hidden Valley. This, again, Mr. Speaker, is a commitment that I made to the Hidden Valley Elementary School.
We are= also supporting and working with the Child and Youth Advocate on a review that s= he is conducting. We share the Child and Youth Advocate’s interest in ensuring the safety and protection of our Yukon youth and ensuring that policies and supports are in place to do what they are intended to do, whic= h is to keep our children safe, Mr. Speaker. The advocate’s review wi= ll focus on Education’s policies, protocols, and actions taken after the allegations were brought forward and determining whether the actions —= ;
Speaker: Tim= e.
Mr. Dixon: Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the minister’s comments, but the facts of this matter are extremely important, so I want her to be absolutely clear with Yukoners.
Prior = to the CBC report on July 16, the minister is saying that she never received any brief= ing notes, any briefing materials, or had any correspondence with the departmen= t or her colleagues about this matter. Is that true, Mr. Speaker? Did she n= ot receive any information about this until after the CBC report in July?
Hon. Ms. McLean: I do take some issue with the preamble in that question. I thi= nk that the member opposite is accusing me of not telling the truth. I have already answered the question that has been posed to me.
Again,= Mr. Speaker, I really want to focus on the work that we are doing going forward. We have= two reviews of this matter that will go in depth into what occurred in 2019. We= are also aware that the RCMP is launching an investigation and review of what happened with their investigations in 2019 and have spoken clearly about so= me of the issues that happened and, more importantly, things that didn’t happen in the 2019 investigation.
So, th= ere are three investigations going on in this matter. I have assured the parents, t= he community, and Yukoners that we will have the answers available. I am very committed to having the questions answered as well.
Mr. Dixon: I appreciate that the minister has a number of things to say about this, but = I am interested in some very clear facts. What she has told us today is that the minister did not learn about a statement of claim that was filed in the cou= rt that alleged pretty serious allegations about the Yukon government on July = 14.
So, sh= e is telling us that she didn’t hear anything about this from her departme= nt or staff — that a claim had been filed in court alleging that the Yuk= on government was liable for the abuse and failed to properly vet or supervise= the assistant and protect the student.
Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)
Point of order
Speaker: The= Hon. Ms. McPhee, on a point of order.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Mr. Speaker, I have been surprised, frankly, by the quest= ion that the member opposite is bringing forward. There is clear indication in = our Standing Orders that questions and, frankly, answers about ongoing investigations and court matters before the court system here in the territ= ory — and perhaps even otherwise — are not appropriate questions. We are happy for him to ask other questions. We have no issue with that, but h= e is seeking information about evidence and, in particular, contrary to Standing Order 19(f) — I will just confirm that — and that is not an appropriate line of questioning here.
I am s= ure he knows that, Mr. Speaker, but I think it is important to direct that ma= tter to you now.
Speaker: The= Member for Lake Laberge, on the point of order.
Mr. Cathers: I believe that there is no point of order. My colleague, the Leader of the Of= ficial Opposition, is being very careful to ask about matters that are not directly before the court and, in fact, are not related to what the court is reviewi= ng at this point in time. What is more, the minister knows it.
Speaker’s
ruling
Speaker: Wit= h regard to Standing Order 19(f), there is no point of order.
Mr. Dixon: Mr. Speaker, to conclude my question, it is hard to imagine a more serious and pressing issue facing the department or this government. It seems unbelievable that = the minister would not learn of such an incredible thing before the courts.
So, ca= n the minister once again clarify that she had no knowledge prior to July 16 of t= he allegations or the charges at Hidden Valley school?
Hon. Ms. McLean: Again, I think I will go back and review some of what I have s= aid today in terms of actions that were taken in 2019. These are not matters th= at we take lightly; this is a very serious matter.
In 201= 9, as soon as Education officials learned of allegations, the individual in question w= as removed from the school and has not worked in our schools or with students since then. They are no longer an employee of the Government of Yukon, of course, and the Hidden Valley school administration has made significant changes to their protocols to increase the safety of students and reinforce accountability.
We hav= e two reviews underway, Mr. Speaker. I have launched an independent review of the Government of Yukon’s response to the situation at Hidden Valley = Elementary School. This was a commitment that I made to parents and the Hidden Valley = Elementary School community in a private, closed meeting. We are following through on that. We are also participating and cooperating with the Child and Youth Advocate’s review, which will shed light on other matters within the case.
Question
re: Sexual abuse within elementary school
Ms. White:= 195;Mr. Speaker, the handling of the situation at Hidden Valley school was all over the news. The minister offered an apology to parents and caregivers, but we all know = that this was too little and it was too late, because so many questions remain unanswered.
Inform= ation gathered under ATIPP paints a picture of individuals at the highest levels = of government choosing to withhold information from families.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, will the minister explain why the Department of Education chose to withhold this information and why families at Hidden Valley school were left in the = dark about sexual abuse in their school until after it was publicly reported in = the media nearly 18 months later?
Hon. Ms. McLean: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you again for the questions. I know that i= t is on the minds of Yukoners, and I appreciate the questions coming forward and= the opportunity to stand and talk about where we are at and where we are going = with this.
I know= that there is nothing more important than the well-being, safety, and protection= of our students. This is devastating, and we acknowledge that there has been a tremendous breakdown in trust with families, with Hidden Valley school, the Department of Education, and, at the heart of it again, our children.
We com= mitted to rebuilding and ensuring that this does not happen again. That really is at = the heart of two reviews that are underway and a third with the RCMP in terms of how the investigation unfolded — what some of the parameters were aro= und the publication ban and information related to that, Mr. Speaker, and I will continue down that path a bit on the second question.
Ms. White: The government had the opportunity to make the right choice when the abuse was first disclosed in the fall of 2019. They again had the opportunity to make= the right choice when the offender was first convicted. They again had the opportunity to make the right choice this July when the story made news headlines, but it took them another month or so of public pressure to just decide to do something. Both ministers failed over and over again to do the right thing. Just last night, the Minister of Education announced an independent review.
Mr.&nb= sp;Speaker, can the minister explain why parents and Yukoners should start trusting her government to do the right thing and stop withholding information when they have failed to do so multiple times already?
Hon. Ms. McLean: There is a lot in that question. I know that the trust has been broken with families and with Yukoners. At the heart of where we are moving= toward with these two reviews is to get to the bottom of it. I made that commitmen= t to families and to the school community to ensure that we get the answers. I acknowledge very sincerely that I know the trust has been broken and we hav= e a long path to restoring the faith within our department. We are very committ= ed to doing that. I have committed personally to walking that path with parent= s, and I will stand by that. I know that, when I stand and answer these questi= ons, I think about the families, I think about the anguish that was shared with = me in a private meeting that really, at the heart of it, had a tremendous amou= nt of grief, anger, fear, shame, guilt, and everything else that you can imagi= ne. I do not take any of this lightly, and that’s who I am answering to today.
Ms. White: It’s unfortunate. I wish that the Department of Education had that same thought = and care back in 2019. The government waited until the evening before the first= day of the Sitting to announce that an independent review of the response to the initial incident at Hidden Valley school will be undertaken. In the release= , it was stated that a report would be coming back to the Minister of Education = in 2022.
Can th= e minister tell Yukoners when in 2022 they can expect this report, and can she assure Yukoners that the report in its entirety will be made public?
Hon. Ms. McLean: Thank you for the question. We are still in the process of developing the full terms of reference, which we will release publicly. I am committed to releasing the findings of the report publicly. That is the poi= nt of it — to get to the heart of what happened and to be transparent and accountable to Yukoners, but first and foremost to those families and the Hidden Valley community and again, at the heart of it, the children.=
I am a= bsolutely committed to transparency around this matter, and as soon as those documents are available, I will release them.
Question
re: Sexual abuse within elementary school
Mr. Cathers: I would like to continue on where my colleague, the Leader of the Official Opposition, left off in our attempt to begin confirming important details t= hat the public has a right to know about the government’s handling of the= Hidden Valley school matter.
It is = hard to imagine a more serious and pressing issue facing the Department of Education and the government as a whole than the Hidden Valley sexual abuse matter, y= et the minister has indicated that she did not become aware of this until after the media reported it in July.
Can th= e minister confirm that she is actually telling us that between May 3, when she was appointed as Minister of Education, and July 16, she was not informed by an= yone what had occurred at Hidden Valley school?
Hon. Ms. McLean: I have answered that question already.
Again,= I am going to focus on what we are doing going forward. I cannot say it enough a= nd I know that I will have a lot of opportunity during this session to say this — that there is nothing more important than the well-being, safety, a= nd protection of students in our care. That is not something that anyone should ever take lightly. I know, first and foremost — and people have heard= me say this many, many, many times in all sorts of venues — that I am fi= rst and foremost a mother. That is the reason why I do anything and everything = in my life. I am also an auntie, and I take those roles very seriously. So, as= we go forward, I know that I am going to have a lot of opportunity to talk abo= ut this matter.
ItR= 17;s devastating to everyone involved. It’s devastating to the families of= Hidden Valley. Again, as I just said in the last answer, I keep the families at the forefront and I’ll continue to do that. Mr. Speaker, that’s who I am speaking to when I stand and speak about the Hidden Valley matter.=
Mr. Cathers: Mr. Speaker, we’re after facts and accountability. We’ve heard the minister indicate that, during the time period from May 3 to July 16, she was not informed by anyone of this serious matter at Hidden Valley school, even tho= ugh it’s hard to imagine a more serious and pressing issue facing her department and the government as a whole than the Hidden Valley sexual abuse matter.
Can th= e minister explain why her department, the deputy minister, or the former minister did= not brief the new Minister of Education about this issue according to what she = told this House earlier this afternoon?
Hon. Ms. McLean: As I’ve said here today a few times now, we have launche= d an independent review of the Government of Yukon’s response to the situa= tion at Hidden Valley Elementary School. This is a commitment that I made to par= ents at the Hidden Valley Elementary School.
The in= dependent review will look into the internal and interdepartmental processes of 2019 = when allegations of child abuse were brought forward to the Department of Educat= ion staff. It will also include a broad and comprehensive review of established government policies and procedures around operations, reporting, and communication to address serious incidents in Yukon schools. It will include reviewing how the Department of Education, Health and Social Services, and Justice work together to respond to serious incidents in schools and their interaction with the RCMP.
Parent= s, families, and guardians of students at Hidden Valley Elementary School will= be involved in this review, along with partner organizations and agencies, including the RCMP. This is a commitment that I’ve made. Further to t= hat, there is another review from the Child and Youth Advocate that we will be participating with and supporting.
Mr. Cathers: We’re after facts and accountability here. It is hard to imagine a more serious a= nd pressing issue facing the Department of Education and the government as a w= hole than the Hidden Valley sexual abuse matter. Yet, according to the minister,= she was not aware of it until after media reported it during July.
Can th= e minister explain to us why her department, the deputy minister, or the former minist= er did not brief the new minister about this issue? I asked the question alrea= dy; the minister did not answer it. We want the facts.
Hon. Ms. McLean: Thanks again for the question. I think that I have answered th= at we have launched an independent review to in fact look at all of what happened= in 2019 as a result of this matter.
I will= go over it again. The independent review will look into our internal and interdepartmental processes of 2019 when allegations of child abuse were brought forward to Department of Education staff. It will also include a br= oad and comprehensive review of established government policies and procedures around operations, reporting, and communications to address serious inciden= ts in Yukon schools. It will include reviewing how the Department of Education, Health and Social Services, and Justice work together to respond to serious incidents in schools and their interaction with RCMP.
Parent= s and families, of course, will be involved in this review, Mr. Speaker, and= our partner organizations, agencies, and, again, the RCMP. I have committed tod= ay in the Legislative Assembly, and I committed at the family meetings at Hidd= en Valley, to be transparent and ensure that these reports that are forthcoming will be released to the public. The answers will be in those reports.
Question
re: Sexual abuse within elementary school, Child and Youth
Advocate review of
Mr. Kent: Mr. Speaker, shortly after the story about what happened at Hidden Valley Elementary Sch= ool broke, the Child and Youth Advocate announced a review. At the time, howeve= r, the Minister of Education pronounced very publicly that the Child and Youth Advocate did not have the legislative authority to conduct a review of this. She said — and I quote: “… it is the view of the Governme= nt of Yukon that the Child and Youth Advocate office does not have the legal authority to conduct the kind of review that has been proposed.”
Can th= e minister tell us who gave her that advice at that time?
Hon. Ms. McLean: Again, this is a very serious matter that we’re speaking= about today. I have had a lot of opportunities so far to speak about the matters = and incidents that happened at Hidden Valley school in 2019.
There = is nothing more important than the well-being, safety, and protection of students when they are in our care. We share the Child and Youth Advocate’s interes= t in ensuring the safety and protection of Yukon youth and ensuring that policies and supports are in place to do what they are intended to do to keep our children safe. At the heart of it, that is what it is about. The advocate’s review will focus on Education’s policies, protocols= , and actions taken after allegations were brought forward and determining whether the actions taken followed established protocols.
We hav= e been working with the Child and Youth Advocate since July to clarify the terms of reference and scope and work that will focus on the policies, procedures, a= nd actions taken after allegations were brought forward.
Again,= there are also ongoing RCMP investigations related to this matter, and it is critical that we protect the integrity of those investigations.
Mr. Kent: Again, I will quote what the Minister of Education said at the time when the Child= and Youth Advocate first announced that she would like to conduct a review of t= he serious situation at the Hidden Valley Elementary School. She said, again: “… it is the view of the Government of Yukon that the Child and Youth Advocate office does not have the legal authority to conduct the kind= of review that has been proposed.”
So, ag= ain, my question to the minister previously — and I will ask her again becaus= e I didn’t get an answer: Who gave the minister that advice at that particular time?
Hon. Ms. McLean: Again, we have been working with the Child and Youth Advocate = since July to clarify the terms of reference and the scope and work to focus on t= he policies, protocols, and actions taken after the allegations were brought forward. There are ongoing RCMP investigations related to this matter, and = it is critical, of course, that we protect the integrity of those investigatio= ns.
We are= pleased to see that the advocate will ensure the review does not interfere with the ongoing criminal and civil proceedings that are related to the matter. We w= ill be cooperating, of course — I have said this a couple of times now and maybe more than a couple — with the Child and Youth Advocate office throughout the review to ensure that it is effective. This is an important = step to identifying any actions that can be taken to better protect students. The advocate’s review is specifically focused on the Department of Education’s response. We thought a broader independent review of government’s response was necessary, including how we work with the R= CMP in these cases. This will be a comprehensive review — the independent review — that lays out the facts around what happened in 2019.=
Mr. Kent: Again for the minister, when this story first broke and the Child and Youth Advoc= ate office first announced that they wanted to conduct a review of it, she said that t= hey did not have the legal authority to conduct the kind of review that has been proposed. I asked a very simple question about who gave the Minister of Education that advice at the time. She’s either unable or unwilling to provide us with that.
Obviou= sly, from that point in time to the announcements made yesterday at 4:30 and some of = her comments about the Child and Youth Advocate investigation going forward, something changed.
Can th= e minister tell us what exactly changed from her earlier statements where she said that they did not have the legal authority to conduct the kind of review to yest= erday when now they are, all of a sudden, partners in the review with the Child a= nd Youth Advocate?
Hon. Ms. McLean: As I’ve said a few times today, we’ve been working= with the Child and Youth Advocate since July to clarify the terms of reference a= nd scope of work to focus on — which is now focused on policies, protoco= ls, and actions taken after allegations were brought forward.
I have personally met with the Child and Youth Advocate. Our deputy minister has worked hard to ensure that we are moving forward in a good way together and that we are working in cooperation. This is an important step to identifying any actions that can be taken to better protect students. The advocate̵= 7;s review is specifically focused on the Department of Education’s respo= nse, which is why, again, we thought that a broader independent review of the government’s response was necessary and we have launched that as well= .
I̵= 7;ve committed today — in this Question Period today, you have heard me ta= lk about the release and transparency of these reports. When they are availabl= e, I will absolutely be releasing them. What we’re looking for, Mr. S= peaker, are really solid recommendations as well.
Speaker: The= time for Question Period has now elapsed.
We wil= l now proceed to Orders of the Day.
Orders of
the Day
Ms. White: I request the unanimous consent of the House to move, without notice, and not= withstanding Standing Order 12(2), a motion “THAT the terms of reference for the Special Committee on Electoral Reform, as established by Motion No. 61= of the First Session of the 35th Legislative Assembly, be amended by changing the special committee’s reporting deadline to the House from March 31, 2022 to the 2022 Fall Sitting of the Legislative Assembly.”=
Unanimous
consent to move without notice a motion to amend the Special Committee on
Electoral Reform’s reporting deadline
Speaker: The= Leader of the Third Party has requested the unanimous consent of the House to move, without notice, and notwithstanding Standing Order 12(2), a motion “T= HAT the terms of reference for the Special Committee on Electoral Reform, as established by Motion No. 61 of the First Session of the 35th Legislative Assembly, be amended by changing the special committee’s reporting deadline to the House from March 31, 2022 to the 2022 Fall Sittin= g of the Legislative Assembly.”
Is the= re unanimous consent?
Some Hon. Members: Agreed.
Some Hon. Members: Disagreed.
Speaker: Una= nimous consent has not been granted.
Hon. Ms. McPhee: Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.
Speaker: It = has been moved by the Government House Leader that the House do now adjourn.<= /p>
Motion agreed to
Speaker: The= House now stands adjourned until 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
The House adjourned at 2:35 p.m.
The following sessional papers w=
ere
tabled October 7, 2021:
35-1-9= span>
Report from the Clerk of the Yuk= on Legislative Assembly on the Absence of Members from Sittings of the Legisla= tive Assembly and its Committees (October 7, = 2021) (Speaker Harper)
35-1-10
Report of the Clerk of the Legis= lative Assembly — Membership of the Special Committee on Electoral Reform (October 7, 2021) (Speaker Harper)
35= -1-11
Yukon Conflict of Interest Commi= ssion Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly for the Period from 1 April = 2020 to 31 March 2021 (Speaker Harper)=
35-1-12
Report of the Auditor General of= Canada to the Legislative Assembly of Yukon — Mental Health Services in Rural Yukon – Department of Health and Social Services (June 7, 2021) (Speaker Harper)
35-1-13
Report of the Chief Electoral Of= ficer to the Legislative Assembly — 2020 Annual Revenue Returns Contributions = Made to Political Parties — January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020= (Speaker Harper)
35-1-14
Getting Ahead of the Curve: Meet= ing the challenges to privacy and fairness arising from the use of artificial intelligence in the public sector — Joint Special Report No. 2 June 2= 021 — Ombudsperson British Columbia, Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia, Yukon Ombudsman, Yukon Information and Privacy Commissioner (Speaker Harper)<= /p>
35-1-15
First Report of the Standing Com= mittee on Appointments to Major Government Boards and Committees (July 27, 2021) (Clarke, N.)
35-1-16
First Report of the Standing Com= mittee on Rules, Elections and Privileges (October 7, 2021) (Mostyn)
The following legislative return=
s were
tabled October 7, 2021:
35-1-8= span>
Response to Written Question No. 8,= Written Question No. 9 and Written Question No. 10 re: compensation for placer and quartz mining claim holders, successor resource legislation, and land withdrawals and staking bans (Streicker)
Written notice was given of the
following motion October 7, 2021:
Motion N= o. 113
Re: am= endment to Standing Order 76 (Dixon)
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