Photo by Vince Fedoroff
A POLITICAL NEWCOMER – Jeremy Harper, the new MLA for Mayo Tatchun, gives a thumbs-up Friday while Commissioner Angélique Bernard signs a document.
Photo by Vince Fedoroff
THE PREMIER’S TURN – Liberal MLAs look on as Premier Sandy Silver (standing at end of table) signs the documents necessary to renew his status as the MLA for Klondike.
Photo by Vince Fedoroff
SIGNIFICANT SYMBOL – Liberal MLA Jeanie McLean (Mountainview) carried an eagle feather at Friday’s swearing- in ceremony.
Photo by Vince Fedoroff
Sandy Silver.
Liberal MLAs officially sworn-in
Eight Yukon Liberals were sworn in as MLAs on Friday afternoon.
Eight Yukon Liberals were sworn in as MLAs on Friday afternoon.
The members of the Yukon Liberal caucus are:
• Sandy Silver, the MLA for Klondike;
• Nils Clarke, Riverdale North;
• Jeremy Harper, Mayo-Tatchun;
• Jeanie McLean, Mountainview;
• Tracy-Anne McPhee, Riverdale South;
• Richard Mostyn, Whitehorse West;
• John Streicker, Mount Lorne -Southern Lakes; and
• Ranj Pillai, Porter Creek South.
All are returnees except Harper.
“It is an honour to be sworn in as a member of the legislative assembly today alongside a talented team of Liberals that are ready to continue serving Yukoners,” Silver said.
“There is a lot of work to do as we build on what we accomplished during our last mandate, and we look forward to collaborating with all MLAs.”
The premier did not say when he plans to unveil his new cabinet.
Members of the NDP and Yukon Party were sworn in earlier in the week.
After the April 12 election, there are also eight Yukon Party MLAs and three New Democrats, though a court challenge has been launched against new NDP MLA Annie Blake’s victory via a judicial draw held last Monday.
Blake continues to be an MLA pending a Yukon Supreme Court decision on the Liberals’ challenge of two names on the voters list for the Vuntut Gwitchin riding.
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Comments (22)
Up 1 Down 2
Al on May 1, 2021 at 11:50 am
CORRECTION to - Al on Apr 30, 2021 at 2:53 pm
@ Mick
Please note that my note should read "...and not form part of the government." vs. "...and form part of the government."
Up 2 Down 3
Mick on Apr 30, 2021 at 6:35 pm
@Al
So far your predictions are 0 for 100. Safe to say we will see the Libs win again in 2025!
There is a road that heads straight to Jason Kenny’s promised land, if you leave now you can be there by Monday morning. Safe Travels.
Up 2 Down 5
Al on Apr 30, 2021 at 2:53 pm
@ Mick
Evidently you did not read the full text of the 8 page "Agreement". I suggest you do. Nowhere within the agreement does it mention a "coalition". If you had read the document you would have had your facts in better order. It clearly sets out that L will provide the Speaker and NDP the Deputy Speaker. It also affirms that the NDP in total will sit in opposition and form part of the government.
You are so typical as L with your half truths, misrepresentations, lies and straight avoidance of the truth.
Just as an aside. This government will not last four years - except in your dreams...
Up 4 Down 3
Mick on Apr 30, 2021 at 2:19 pm
@Al
With brilliant political minds like yours I don't know how the YP managed to lose this election. Hahaha
It's a coalition. The NDP will prop up the Liberals on all confidence votes for 2 years in exchange for a couple NDP planks filling in the Lib platform. We don't yet know the make up of cabinet or the speaker but rest assured, the YP have no dogs in the fight as they aren't willing to work with anyone on anything.
See ya in 4 years!
Up 5 Down 5
Joe on Apr 30, 2021 at 12:21 pm
@ Al...if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. Call it whatever you want, it's a coalition and it's not what Yukoners voted for. It's a deal to assure pensions time is reached in consideration of a left wing mandate. Plain and simple.
Up 4 Down 6
Al on Apr 29, 2021 at 9:59 pm
@ Mick
Nice to know you can read the dictionary. Kudos to you - how nice.
However you fail miserably at political science. Coalition in the context of a parliamentary system of government (such as Canada ascribes to) requires that a member of each party form part of the government's cabinet for it to be a true coalition. Poli Sci 101...
Up 4 Down 8
Groucho d'North on Apr 29, 2021 at 4:44 pm
Sworn in to be sworn at.
@Patti Eyre,
I think somebody has been feeding you a line regarding payouts. Every facet of Legislative oversight has been created by all parties over many years and is marshalled closely to adhere to the established rules. Learn all about it here: https://yukonassembly.ca/
Up 11 Down 2
Mick on Apr 29, 2021 at 4:24 pm
@ Al
I know big words are hard but:
The term "coalition" is the denotation for a group formed when two or more people, factions, states, political parties, militaries etc. agree to work together temporarily in a partnership to achieve a common goal. The word coalition connotes a coming together to achieve a goal.
Tissue?
Up 8 Down 11
Al on Apr 29, 2021 at 1:23 pm
@ Mick
Just to keep the record straight - the two parties did not form a coalition. Ha, Ha, Ha...
The true losers in this "arrangement" are the people of the Yukon.
Up 8 Down 6
Jim on Apr 29, 2021 at 10:07 am
@Nathan Living, let me help through the math on your statement. Yes Liberal and NDP won 60% of the votes combined. But the Yukon Party and the Liberals Won 72% of the votes combined. Which combination do you think represents the majority of voters?
Up 12 Down 7
Mick on Apr 28, 2021 at 6:36 pm
@Al
I marked your words and a day later they are already irrelevant. Hahaha.
The Libs and NDP formed a coalition today and the YP slide back into the shadows of irrelevance from whence they came.
Up 20 Down 8
Patti Eyre on Apr 28, 2021 at 12:59 pm
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.yukon-news.com/news/golden-parachute-mlas-now-qualify-for-extra-severance-pay/
Massive payouts
Up 15 Down 15
Patti what? on Apr 27, 2021 at 7:10 pm
Patti Eyre what are you talking about massive payouts? And Istchenko was elected again. There was no payout. This is his third consecutive term. And Currie has a right to come back. Anyone has the right to run at any time. Glad he did he’s a great MLA and will be a great leader. Did you know the Liberals have brought back Deputy Ministers who have taken severance payments far greater than any MLA would ever get? Or paid one to move here all the way from Australia and ship all his belongings, only to send him packing with...ahem...a Huge severance? Patti you’re delusional.
Up 17 Down 16
Al on Apr 27, 2021 at 4:06 pm
@ Living & Atom:
Hm, so let me get this clear you have lumped the NDP in with the Liberals in your count. Did you ask the NDP if they would liked to be lumped in with them? I suspect if you "ask" (a strange word for the Liberals to comprehend) them it is likely the would say "thank you - but no thank you". Now that we have done that simple math exercise (I know you come from the school where budget's balance themselves) that puts the Liberals in 2nd in terms of Yukon population support from those that cast a ballot. Your math sounds like you were tutored by Slippery Silver "the great Math teacher from Nova Scotia" .
Now Atom, yes if you read my note, I mean actually read it you will see that I said the Liberals had the legal right but lacked the moral right. There is a huge difference between the two. Of course if you are a Liberal than "only the rule of law applies" as we all found out in the recent scandals in Ottawa - a government that totally lacks ethics and morality. My god they are even at it today denying that they knew nothing of the sexual misconduct when it was brought to their attention in 2016. They thought it was just a casual complaint. Gotta shake your head - but please be careful when you do that as the stones within are likely to give you a migraine.
Have a nice day...
I suspect within a year we shall be back at the ballot box, or, SS will fail and the Commissioner will ask if the YP are prepared to form a government. Mark these words in your diary for future reference.
Up 27 Down 19
Patti Eyre on Apr 27, 2021 at 3:46 pm
It’s not uncommon for cabinet to be announcing a few weeks after the election, come folks don’t be such haters! Let’s not forget, Currie and Ischentko gave themselves massive payouts in 2016, all tax payer money. It’s not like they live on any moral high ground here.
Up 27 Down 26
JSM on Apr 27, 2021 at 10:05 am
Maybe they can finally get on with Governing? These Lieberal blowhards take there sweet time getting anything done. Meanwhile their constituents are toiling away in a plandemic while Pauline Frost thinks it's better to challenge the court systems then help out the people.
Up 25 Down 25
Atom on Apr 27, 2021 at 8:31 am
Jeez Al, in denial much?
The Yukon did not vote in the YP. The YP didn't win.
Focus on attainable goals.
Up 24 Down 16
Nathan Living on Apr 26, 2021 at 11:38 pm
Yukon Party tied but protocal suggests liberals have opportunity to form the government.
NDP and Liberals were supported by 60 percent of the voters.
Up 23 Down 21
Yukoner61 on Apr 26, 2021 at 9:33 pm
Hey Joe, you aren't quoting a community leader, you are quoting an arrogant fraternity bro who thought he should have been just given the job of Premier.
Also, since you are really keen on the Liberals "getting to work", you must have really been after the Yukon Party in 2011, the last time they formed government. It took them (including Currie Dixon) 25 days to swear in a cabinet after their win! Plus, they had a majority, so they weren't even busy negotiating with another party to avoid another election as the current government is probably doing as we speak.
Just to reiterate, Currie Dixon and the Yukon Party were elected on Oct.11, 2011. Their Cabinet was not announced until Nov.5th 2011.
Up 69 Down 42
Al on Apr 26, 2021 at 3:56 pm
Hm, and when are you going to get to work? Or are you waiting for the court case and subsequent by-election months down the road? Are you afraid to face the Legislature? Or are you and the NDP cooking up a scheme to keep you propped up?
Just remember - you may have the legal right to form the government but you lack the moral where-withal to do so. In essence the people in the Yukon spoke loud and clear!
Up 46 Down 22
Joe on Apr 26, 2021 at 2:36 pm
Now to quote a community leader “ get to work”.
Up 44 Down 10
So wait on Apr 26, 2021 at 2:23 pm
I take it Nils Clarke won't be the speaker now, Liberals would lose a vote.
What's the play there?