Yukon Party sworn-in as official Opposition
The Yukon Party MLAs were sworn into the 34th Legislative Assembly early Tuesday afternoon in a ceremony led by Commissioner Doug Phillips at the Yukon legislature.
The Yukon Party MLAs were sworn into the 34th Legislative Assembly early Tuesday afternoon in a ceremony led by Commissioner Doug Phillips at the Yukon legislature.
Though his party’s 14-year reign in power is over, interim leader Stacey Hassard was jovial after the ceremony.
“You just have to look at the positives in things all the time,” he said. “It is a great day and for most of us, it’s not our first time, but for Geraldine (Van Bibber) obviously it was.”
Van Bibber was all smiles following the ceremony.
“It’s going to be fun,” she said, about her expectations for her new job. “It’s a different focus, but I think being a Yukoner at heart, I’ll find it challenging, and I want to keep it interesting as well.”
Van Bibber was commissioner of the Yukon from 2005 to 2010. Phillips made a note of this when he swore her in on Tuesday.
“This is the very first time that a former commissioner of the Yukon Territory is sworn in as a member of the legislative assembly by a former elected member of the legislative assembly and now the commissioner,” he said, to chuckles from the crowd.
The public gallery was full of friends, family members and former Yukon Party MLAs and staffers.
Noticeably absent from the public gallery during the ceremony was outgoing Premier Darrell Pasloski, who lost his Mountainview seat in the election.
Asked about how it felt to see all those faces looking down on him as he took his oath, Hassard said, “You trying to make me cry now?”
“It’s just great to see all of the support,” he added. “The family members from all of the MLAs, it’s wonderful to have them all here today.”
Brad Cathers took a more sober view of the day – “It’s mixed feelings, of course,” he said – and his party’s new mission.
“From my perspective, our job is not just about criticizing (the government), but also offering constructive solutions and policy options when we think they’re on the wrong track,” he said.
“Doing that in a useful and constructive manner is something that I’m very interested in doing.”
Yukon Party MLAs’ many years of experience as the government will give them strength as they take on the role of official Opposition, said Cathers, who is beginning his fourth term in territorial office.
The MLA for Lake Laberge said Hassard is “doing fine” as interim leader.
Van Bibber was more glowing in her review, and said the new head of the party is doing a “wonderful” job.
“Stacey’s easy to talk with, easy to be involved with; I think we’ve got a strong caucus,” she said.
Comments (10)
Up 3 Down 0
Groucho d'North on Dec 6, 2016 at 2:38 pm
After many years of Conservative governance, Yukoners will now get a refresher in how another party applies itself to the job. The last time the Liberals were driving, they didn't last very long and many still feel the last NDP government lasted too long. But it's now a clean slate and we can all compare the performance of our newly installed Executive. Let the Games Begin!
Up 3 Down 3
June Jackson on Dec 5, 2016 at 5:24 pm
Vlad: Yup..I used buckets of the stuff when the Yukon Party was in power. I'll send the rest of it to the remaining Yukon Party.
Up 7 Down 1
vlad on Dec 5, 2016 at 2:52 pm
June - perhaps save some for yourself
Up 18 Down 3
ProScience Greenie on Dec 4, 2016 at 7:12 pm
Well at least we'll have kind of a half decent Official Opposition. Long overdue as the NDP was the worst opposition ever in the Yukon.
Up 6 Down 22
Sally Wright on Dec 3, 2016 at 9:45 pm
Dear Editor,
Noticeably absent but not forgotten. Nor is Fentie, the NDP turned Yukon Party from Watson who tried to sell the YEC to ATCO for $50M in 2008... I cry foul. The stench with this Particular Party, the Yukon Party, needs to be no more.
I went door to door in my riding of Kluane this past half year and I have heard an earful from people who I have known for most of my adult life. They said to me that the last 15 years of Yukon Party rule has done nothing for them and a lot of things against many. The Peel, Mayo B, S-6, Fracking, affordable housing and Climate Change.
We need to change. Let us start now.
I am a person, just one, but if I hold out my hand and say I want change right now and if you reach back to me,
Sally Wright from the south shore of Kluane Lake, the place on our precious planet where the Salmon return on their sacred journey.
We will agree to together to take up this torch of hope together.
Here in the Yukon we have an amazing opportunity. To live on renewable energy like I do and strive to do.
Thank you.
Sally Wright
Kluane Lake
Up 15 Down 10
Walther on Dec 3, 2016 at 7:08 am
I think this is a role that these members will be more comfortable with. Hassard still thinks the YP was wiped because they forgot who they were not all the failed policy and lack thereof so I guess a future vision is not really in the cards right now. I was somewhat shocked that he got back his seat after the 1 million dollar sole sourced contract that cost them many votes.
Up 20 Down 13
Now the political ceremony is over, let's get down to it on Dec 3, 2016 at 1:09 am
Great to see the new party sworn in. Now let's see them actually create some good changes--start by ensuring that there is a local hire policy, prioritizing Yukoners with certificates, degrees and training in job applications--way too many southern hires from the con party and nepotism. When a government boldly gives the Yukon grant to its students, economically it makes sense to hire those Yukoners when they return from university or trade school--after all, we helped pay for their training! I'm a Yukon student, got the grant, got my degree and I could not even get an interview, so this needs to change!! Prioritize jobs for Yukoners, education and health care (esp. for seniors). The conservative party of Yukon certainly did not prioritize these things. Interesting to see how they will behave as opposition.
Up 26 Down 13
Lost in the Yukon on Dec 1, 2016 at 6:32 pm
So the Pazloski couldn't be bothered to show up ... a great display of party loyalty.
Up 25 Down 27
john on Dec 1, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Van bibber should cross the floor where she could actually do some good work. Not her fault she picked the wrong party.
Up 21 Down 31
June Jackson on Nov 30, 2016 at 6:45 pm
I feel quite badly that Yukon Party got any seats at all.
I wish for them in the next 5 years that they get back exactly what they gave to Yukoners in the last 5 years. I'll even send each of them some Preparation H.