Premier confident about nomination for Speaker
Premier Sandy Silver believes his nomination for Speaker of the legislature would fulfill the role with “diplomacy and goodwill.”
Premier Sandy Silver believes his nomination for Speaker of the legislature would fulfill the role with “diplomacy and goodwill.”
During Saturday’s swearing-in of the new Liberal cabinet, it was revealed that Nils Clarke, the Liberal MLA for Riverdale North, would be nominated for the post when the legislature is reconvened for a short sitting next month.
The Speaker’s role is to balance the two fundamental principles of allowing the government to conduct its business in an orderly manner, and protect the right of all MLAs to be heard.
“I am pleased to nominate Nils Clarke as Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly,” Silver said in a statement today.
“I am certain that his vast experiences have prepared him to maintain the civility and order of the assembly.
“We are committed to improving collaboration amongst all members and changing the way the legislative assembly works. We recognize that good ideas can come from all sides, and I am counting on Mr. Clarke to create a positive and dynamic environment in the assembly to support all MLAs to do the job Yukoners sent us to do.”
Clarke has previously volunteered as the treasurer of both the Teen Parent Access to Education Society and MacBride Museum.
He has also served on the Whitehorse Elementary School Council and the Yukon Learn Board of Directors.
Married to wife Janet, with two sons, Clarke has practised law in Yukon for more than 24 years, and has worked as the executive director of the Yukon Legal Services Society since 2000.
“I am honoured to be nominated by Premier Silver for this position and look forward to helping to ensure that the work of the entire legislative assembly can proceed with civility and efficiency for the benefit of all Yukon citizens,” Clarke said.
Yukon Party MLA Patti McLeod was the Speaker between last spring and the end of that party’s mandate.
Comments (10)
Up 4 Down 7
iceberg on Dec 9, 2016 at 10:45 pm
I hope Clarke stays as the Speaker where he can do the least harm. Just because someone worked at Yukon Legal Services for 16 years means nothing in the Yukon, take a look around folks.
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north_of_60 on Dec 7, 2016 at 7:27 pm
It's obvious that the cabinet selections are pandering to the aboriginals. It's a new tactic for the YTG, lets see how well it works. It can hardly be worse than the previous government's opposite stance.
Up 13 Down 3
Roger on Dec 7, 2016 at 6:43 pm
It would appear I was acting on false info. Someone had told me they thought McPhee was a teacher. But I looked it up and she has spent her career in law as well, so she seems fairly qualified for the justice roll too. My apologies.
Up 12 Down 1
Hugh Mungus on Dec 7, 2016 at 4:22 pm
@Roger
I suspect that there might be a perceived conflict of interest if Nils headed up Justice right out of the gate. He has a obvious grasp on what is and isn't working within that department and the Courts. He may end up heading that department at some point but not right away.
Up 14 Down 5
Wasted talent on Dec 7, 2016 at 3:38 pm
I was hoping Mr. Clarke would be given the health portfolio. He has the skills to clean up a department that is badly in need of clean up, and Ms. Frost does not. The rules of the house are so lame that the speakers role just isn't challenging. But perhaps the new premier doesn't want anyone dimming his shine.
Up 10 Down 12
Lost in the Yukon on Dec 7, 2016 at 2:49 pm
Dearest "How Much Longer" ... of that it would be possible but it is not. The rules governing the House and what the Speaker is able to do are quite clear and restrictive. Last year the NDP tried to introduce a Bill/ or Motion that would have required that questions are answered and the Speaker would be the enforcer. It did not pass. The game will continue as perfected by Brad Cathers. There is little the Speaker can do.
So it is a waste of a good potential Minister having Nils sit out. He could have led by example as a Minister.
Sandy blew it. This is strike two for him. First swing and miss happened when he was wishy washy on the actions of their candidate in Whitehorse Center.
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How much longer? on Dec 7, 2016 at 11:03 am
I think this choice represents the importance Sandy is placing on the legislative assembly better serving Yukoners. It has been a joke under the Yukon Party, they evidently saw it as tiresome and just talked the hours out with endless blather and non-answers at huge cost to us all. A strong speaker such as this can make the place more useful and relevant to us.
Maybe, just maybe, he'll insist Ministers actually answer the questions.....
Up 16 Down 4
CJ on Dec 6, 2016 at 6:44 pm
@Hugh Mungus, that's exactly what I thought. I was looking forward to seeing Nils in cabinet. He was a prize candidate.
Up 17 Down 4
Roger on Dec 6, 2016 at 5:44 pm
God forbid he give the justice portfolio to the man who was the executive Dir of the law society for 16 years...
Up 38 Down 11
Hugh Mungus on Dec 6, 2016 at 4:47 pm
I think Silver is wasting Nils putting him in a role like that. He should have landed a cabinet position especially give how loaded some of his ministers plates will be.