Photo by Whitehorse Star
Premier Sandy Silver
Fixed vote dates, shorter terms planned
The Yukon government has moved to implement fixed election dates – every four years.
The Yukon government has moved to implement fixed election dates – every four years.
“Establishing a fixed date for Government of Yukon elections would strengthen the overall democratic process and provide for efficiencies in democratic procedures and planning,” Premier Sandy Silver said Tuesday.
“Yukoners would also benefit from increased fairness, transparency and accountability by knowing when they can vote for their next government.”
The implementation of fixed election dates was one of the Liberal party’s 2016 election campaign promises.
Silver tabled the amendment to the Elections Act in the legislative assembly on Tuesday.
The amendment would see a general election held on Nov. 3, 2025 and every four years afterward.
This means the implementation of fixed election dates would not affect the next election, which must be called sometime prior to Nov. 18, 2021.
The ruling party currently sits in government for a maximum of five years from the previous election date.
The Yukon and Nova Scotia are the only two Canadian jurisdictions without fixed election dates written into their legislation.
Territorial mandates were lengthened from four to five years under a previous Yukon Party government.
Former premier Darrell Pasloski’s regime, for instance, was in office from 2011 to 2016.
Currie Dixon, the current leader of the Yukon Party, told the Star this morning he is in favour of implementing fixed election dates.
“I certainly agree with having an election every four years; that’s a good component of this,” Dixon said.
“But, of course, it’s a bit hypocritical that they’re doing this in their fifth year.”
Dixon added that he wishes the Liberal party had introduced the amendment earlier in its term.
He said a briefing on the amendment this morning revealed that the government did not consult with the chief electoral officer on the legislation before proposing the amendment.
“(It’s) just another example of the Liberals talking a good game on this stuff but failing to deliver,” Dixon said.
“They’ve said this is an important step for government accountability, but not for their own government, and I think Yukoners will see through that for what it is.”
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Comments (14)
Up 3 Down 2
Rational Thot on Oct 13, 2020 at 1:16 pm
Amateur hour again in Yukon politics. Why can’t we have good leadership?
Terms should absolutely be four years but I don’t think it is hypocritical to introduce this in year 4. It’s fair to leave a 5 year term for the next government (Which probably won’t be the Libs) then all plan for four years thereafter.
But, as a lifelong Yukoner and a father of two, Currie definitely knows what’s best in every aspect of our lives.
Up 2 Down 1
Josey Wales on Oct 13, 2020 at 12:54 pm
Hey patti...ewe are still reading as a "Judas" type Vs. a god fearing lady with a brain.
Up 10 Down 14
Spud on Oct 8, 2020 at 6:50 pm
TMYK? The liberals will lose the next election? How do you figure? Who is going to win?? Sounds like some empty thoughts and wishful thinking.....
Up 11 Down 2
Unfeckingbelievable! on Oct 8, 2020 at 6:45 pm
Hello Matthew - We do need to make sure all are included.
I also like your idea of the non-confidence checkbox. This should be done yearly to keep the government honest.
They should be subject to the perpetual fear of being removed from office at anytime if they do not conform to the wishes of the electorate and the technology exists to do this now.
This way they would know the fear and terror of working in government as do many of the employees who are muzzled into silence at the behest of an employer who then asserts itself to be a top 100 employer... FFS! LOL!
Up 20 Down 8
TMYK on Oct 8, 2020 at 2:48 pm
Just a reminder the the Liberals voted in favor of the 5 year election cycle when it was implemented.
Up 15 Down 22
Patti Eyre on Oct 8, 2020 at 2:21 pm
Another promise delivered, and also an undoing of a horrible decisions by the cons!
Up 10 Down 19
Woodcutter on Oct 8, 2020 at 12:50 pm
@ Mathew .. feeling a little fragile ? Imagine if the left actually could work together. With 2/3 of the Yukon population being left and center, an election would just be a democratic exercise. The right would perhaps be in the "also ran" category and our society wouldn't have to consume time listening to all the cry baby sounds.
Up 17 Down 7
Anie on Oct 8, 2020 at 12:38 pm
Woodcutter, fixed election dates do not have any impact on non confidence votes in any other jurisdiction and there's no reason to think it would here.
Up 30 Down 19
Matthew on Oct 8, 2020 at 6:21 am
Want to see real politics in Canada? Then ALL ballots need to have a NON CONFIDENT box. Municipal, territorial and federal. Looks like we have a new winner! MR. NonConfident! Liberals are trying to buy votes from ALL walks of life except white men.. I guess white privilege is the fact we get to pay for every other demographic, race and sex...
Up 18 Down 8
Critisize youself on Oct 8, 2020 at 5:43 am
Curry you might want to let the next sentence sink in if that's possible.
"Territorial mandates were lengthened from four to five years under a previous Yukon Party government. "
Up 23 Down 11
woodcutter on Oct 7, 2020 at 4:22 pm
This brings up some questions on the USA style of dysfunctional government. The first question comes to mind is, what happens when there is a successful non confidence vote? And then this brings forward so many other questions. Do we have to then suffer the rest of the term with a government that does not have the confidence of the house? My understanding is once a government loses a non-confidence vote, other parties have an opportunity to form a government.
Just because everyone else does something, does it mean we have to?
Up 25 Down 9
Yellow beard on Oct 7, 2020 at 3:55 pm
The 5 years that the Cons brought in was ridiculous. I'm also a fab of fixed dates.
Up 53 Down 1
Yukoner on Oct 7, 2020 at 3:52 pm
And while they are at it how about they change the number of terms of service needed for a full pension..
Up 54 Down 22
TMYK on Oct 7, 2020 at 3:41 pm
The Liberals know they will loose the next election. This is a pretty petty move on their part. They could have introduced this in their 1st year and not their 5th.