The Association of Yukon Communities (AYC) has a new boss.

Whitehorse municipal councillor Ted Laking won an election over Haines Junction councillor Angie Charlebois on Saturday at the association’s annual general meeting.

Gord Curran, the mayor of Teslin, chose not to run again for the position.

Laking, who has extensive past ties with the Yukon Party as its chief of staff and a strategist, won his seat with Whitehorse council in last October’s municipal election.

He told the Star this morning he believes his background provides a “unique perspective” on municipal and territorial issues.

Laking was born and raised in Dawson City before moving to Whitehorse.

“I’ve spent the first half of my life in Dawson and the second half in Whitehorse,” he said. “I think I’m going to provide a strong voice at the table.”

He was quick to say he sees that as a continuation of the leadership the AYC has seen from its various presidents in the past.

Laking said he was particularly impressed with Curran, who has guided the association over the last two years during the pandemic.

“It’s quite incredible he succeeded,” Laking said. “I felt more comfortable taking over as president knowing Gord was going to stay on the board as past-president.

“These last two years have been the most difficult the association has ever faced. His presence was a big part of what made me come to the table,” Laking said. “There’s such a wealth of experience in this association.”

One of Laking’s goals is to visit every council in the organization once a year.

“It’s a big commitment and a lot of travel,” he said, “but I need to be on the ground talking to members.”

He was quick to acknowledge his relative lack of experience as a municipal politician, but he doesn’t think it would hamper his ability to work on his initiatives or hinder the learning curve as president.

Laking said he was planning to meet his staff for the first time this afternoon, and would have a better idea of how quickly he could get to work on ideas.

He said he wanted to continue the policy development that has been in place under Curran and other past presidents.

He cited housing, managing growth and climate change as some of his immediate focuses.

As for his background with the Yukon Party, he said he doesn’t feel it would impact the relationship of the association with the territorial government.

Laking said he gets along well with the current Community Services minister, Richard Mostyn, and he expects that relationship to continue.

“I think my experience will be an asset,” he said. “I work very well with them (the government). I don’t think it will affect us at all.”

Three resolutions were passed at the weekend meeting.

The first called for the territorial government to negotiate a solution for the higher utilities charges municipalities are facing, particularly during peak use period.

The second called for an increase in the terms of municipal councillors to four years from the current three. That was introduced by the City of Whitehorse. Terms were expanded from two years to three in the mid-1980s.

The third resolution called on the government to sit down and negotiate with the municipalities on a relief package to cover COVID-19-related losses of revenues.

Laking said some of the items where the municipalities lost money were on public transit in Whitehorse, which was interrupted at one point due to the pandemic.

He also noted the municipalities lost money on user fees for recreational activities due to the COVID-19 restrictions implemented by the government.

He said the only other option was to raise taxes or user fees, and there is no appetite for that at the moment.

The government has already had the concept broached by municipalities, Laking said, but is looking for more details.