
Photo by Whitehorse Star
POST-MORTEM TIME – Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon discusses the just-concluded fall sitting of the legislature on Thursday afternoon.
Photo by Whitehorse Star
POST-MORTEM TIME – Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon discusses the just-concluded fall sitting of the legislature on Thursday afternoon.
Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon has called the fall sitting of the legislature the worst he’s ever seen.
Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon has called the fall sitting of the legislature the worst he’s ever seen.
The first minority government in 30 years, along with a number of contentious issues and a partnership between the Liberals and the NDP, all combined to create what could be called the perfect political storm.
Dixon could have included himself and his party when it came to contributing to that atmosphere – but he didn’t while addressing the media on Thursday afternoon.
For the first week, the Yukon Party didn’t ask about anything other than the Hidden Valley School sexual abuse scandal. It followed that with spearheading a motion that called on Premier Sandy Silver to remove deputy premier Tracy-Anne McPhee from cabinet over her role in the scandal. The motion passed, but the minister stayed.
It could be argued Dixon fizzled further when he introduced a non-confidence motion to oust the Liberals that was utterly condemned by the NDP.
In that motion, Dixon made overtures to the NDP that he would maintain the Confidence and Supply Agreement the NDP created with the Liberals that allowed the Liberals to maintain power.
For months, Dixon has castigated that agreement, and savagely criticized the other two parties and their “left-wing coalition” over it.
Many people – including NDP Leader Kate White – saw the move as crass political opportunism.
Dixon said Thursday he didn’t think he and the party came off as foolish after that fiasco and the session in general.
“That was a significant offer on my part, and a significant concession,” he told reporters. “It’s something I’ve been vehemently opposed to, and it took a lot for me to go to my party and my caucus to ask for. I made it hoping the NDP would accept, and it was made in good faith.
“This session was a difficult one for the government, and it capped off a difficult year for the Liberal party.”
Last March, he noted, “they called an unnecessary snap election, and had a fairly disastrous result. They lost MLAs, they lost the popular vote and as a result they were forced into an agreement with the NDP to stay in power.
“Since that time, they’ve struggled to maintain that relationship, and we’ve seen the number of fractures in that relationship grow. They seemed to take that relationship for granted.”
Dixon said this was the “worst session for a government that he’s seen in his time in Yukon politics.”
He pointed to the demand for McPhee to resign and the postponement of “marquee” legislation such as Bill 3 for home renovations and retrofits (see p. 9), as examples of government ineptitude.
“And of course they face a non-confidence motion. They held on by the skin of their teeth, with reluctant support from the NDP. It’s a bizarre tactic that they treat the NDP so poorly.”
Dixon also pointed to ministers’ inability to provide a non-garbled answer to even simple inquiries as another example of general incompetence.
“The fact the ministers were unable to answer basic questions, and were often left reading from scripts unrelated to the actual subject demonstrates a disrespect for the legitimate questions and concerns of Yukoners,” he said. “This failure of leadership and disrespect for Yukoners starts at the top with the premier.
“It’s an unprecedented poor performance,” he said. “They barely squeaked by.”
Dixon praised his team for its work over the session.
“I think we did a good job representing Yukoners and holding this government to account.”
Dixon also suggested the Yukon Party has built a “fairly strong relationship” with the NDP.
To most onlookers, that might be considered unlikely after the way the party and White repudiated the offer to join forces and form a new government as political opportunism.
“I think we have a strong relationship with Kate White and her team, and I think we will continue to work together,” Dixon said earnestly.
In a follow-up news release, Dixon and the party stated “the Liberal minority government’s 2021 fall sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly can be summed up in one word: disastrous.
“The Liberals’ failure to answer opposition questions surrounding the Hidden Valley sexual abuse scandal dominated the sitting. The Liberal government desperately attempted to change the channel on the Hidden Valley scandal in mid-October by announcing a hastily-thought-out vaccine mandate for government employees, contractors, and NGOs that led to communication failures and more questions from Yukoners. “ The Oct. 15 announcement came mere weeks after Silver had claimed there was no need for such a mandate in the Yukon, the party noted.
“The government also fumbled the mandate’s implementation. Originally identified in the mandate, allied health care providers were not included until just hours before the new rules took effect. It took a last-minute emergency cabinet meeting to fulfill this obligation.
“The Liberals also bungled their signature piece of legislation that would create the Better Building Program – a building retrofit program that would see municipalities administer loans for energy retrofits.”
This program would help Yukoners and businesses fight climate change, “and should have been a slam-dunk for this government with unanimous support,” the Yukon Party said.
“However, the minister of Community Services (Richard Mostyn) and the Liberal government alienated municipalities to the extent that multiple mayors and councils requested a delay on the legislation to address questions and concerns.
“At the last minute, the Liberals admitted their failures and agreed to shelve the legislation until the spring so the Liberals could go do their homework.”
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Comments (16)
Up 1 Down 3
Patti Eyre on Dec 8, 2021 at 12:53 pm
Even in the darkest of times, we can praise God for his love. Or hers! The bible didn't think much of women, let's be honest about that.
Up 19 Down 11
woodcutter on Dec 6, 2021 at 3:50 pm
lol..this is rich. I think boy wonder suffers from amnesia. The worst government was the Spaz, as even with a majority he balled it all up.
Up 28 Down 16
Davis on Dec 6, 2021 at 8:24 am
Not sure who Currie Dixon thinks he's impressing with these antics but to me he's just coming off as an increasingly greasy politician only concerned with his personal political gain.
Half, if not more, of the toxic Yukon political atmosphere right now is caused by the Yukon Party, but yet somehow he claims no responsibility in it.
He slams the CASA between the liberals and NDP and calls it a left-wing coalition, then turns around and tells the NDP he'll back the same agreement if they support him into power.
He's been hammering the liberals about child protection measures in the Education system for months now when a lot of the current problems now coming to light either started or were present when he was in power but yet again somehow he takes no responsibility for that either.
Up 13 Down 17
Big cummins on Dec 5, 2021 at 8:09 pm
@dairymax..lol sticks and stones…bud. A few off coloured texts pail in comparison to sexual assault negligence of children…period.
Up 20 Down 12
S. Petersen on Dec 5, 2021 at 8:08 pm
Does anybody else feel like their tax dollars are wasted on the majority of people sitting in the Legislative Assembly - no matter which party?
It all feels like a stay at home power struggle rather than moving into a sensible direction, any direction at all. Was anything accomplished? Did anyone address the housing crises (apart from the NDP's disastrous request that ended in a lot of people losing their living and paying more rent)? Did someone address the power shortage? Or the fact that power is generated with gas and generators while people are being encouraged to buy electric vehicles? Are our kids being educated with a view of enhancing their intellect, their critical thinking, their common sense, their basic knowledge? Do you have a family physician, and if you do, can you see him/her in under three weeks? Are you allowed into the hospital? How about a timely surgery? No, no and no?
Yukoners are unhappy, miserable, in a real crisis - work, housing, school, opioid, suicide, medically. And no, Covid is not an excuse, it's just being handled lousily.
There are good reasons why Yukoners are working towards establishing the new Yukon Freedom Party. We have had enough of all of you fighting amongst each other while neglecting to get anything done for your constituents. That's why.
Up 13 Down 14
Juniper Jackson on Dec 5, 2021 at 11:41 am
The Liberals are not capable of running the Territories business competently. They stagger along listening to advice from DMs, ADMs, Managers, Directors and the 2 administrators. The same folks that advised the Conservatives. They take that advice because they simply don't know any better. I am telling you, that someone that earns 300K a year, looks at finance, life, a whole lot differently than someone who earns 50K a year. We both like steak, but only 1 can buy it. This government, maybe all of the them, PCs, NDPs, Freedoms, Green. Ok..who's living in a trailer with mice and black mold? Who's living in Arkell? So, effective government for everyone might be to operate as if everyone of you is living in that trailer. Sandy Silver has a heart attack, a street bum has a heart attack, they both arrive at emerg at the same time.. who gets treated first?
Up 27 Down 40
Nathan Living on Dec 4, 2021 at 8:01 pm
I think the Liberals have done well with the exception of a couple of files
Nice to see Tracy and Vic have gotten through the smear campaign.
Up 49 Down 44
Lex on Dec 4, 2021 at 3:19 pm
What did y’all think was going to happen when you re-elected the oppressive liberal regime…?
Up 52 Down 15
Gary Duff on Dec 4, 2021 at 2:37 pm
Anybody else feel like we're back in High School ?
Lots of people wanting to be "Senior Class President" but none of them interested
in or capable of doing the job if they get the position. ?
Up 49 Down 45
Allan Stanley on Dec 3, 2021 at 8:49 pm
"Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon has called the fall sitting of the legislature the worst he’s ever seen."
Really Dickie Doo ?
Worse than the last time that you were Pasloski's Prince Harry ?
A session so bad that you didn't have the guts to run on your "rape the Peel" record ?
Up 34 Down 30
Adam Smith on Dec 3, 2021 at 8:11 pm
"I think we have a strong relationship with Kate White and her team, and I think we will continue to work together,” Dixon said earnestly."
And this is exactly why Yukoners who believe in true liberty and not cozying up to the socialists (NDP) have been forced to form the "Yukon Freedom Party". If you had any real conservative principles, we would have remained with you Currie.
At first I thought you might be ok even though I voted for Cathers in the leadership race. Now I'm absolutely certain I made the right decision so I at least have a clear conscience. Anyways, my donations will now be going to the Freedom Party instead of the Yukon Party.
Up 56 Down 36
Not confident on Dec 3, 2021 at 5:02 pm
Currie in a hurry should be ashamed of himself. His side kicks Hassard and Isckenko are a pair of misogynistic old boys. Currie and crew are out of touch with reality. Nothing but a group of has beens trying to be important.
Their lies and bully tactics are just like the GOP.
Bullies and not very imaginative ones.
Currie gets coal for Xmas.
If we are lucky the Yukon Party will start looking for a leader with integrity.
Up 49 Down 34
Roy on Dec 3, 2021 at 5:02 pm
Currie and his third place team are here to tell us they’re not impressed.
Maybe before they do that they should work on even being relevant.
Tell us again about how that vaccine petition went with the duplicate names, out of province names, names of right wing mass murderers on it - how’d that go?
Tell us again about how that childish media stunt to pretend you had the political clout to pull off a coup - how’d that go?
Do better YP. Start by recognizing that this is not likely possible with the current group of amateurs running things. You’re making it easy for Sandy.
Liberal report card C-
NDP report card D
Yukon Party F
Up 44 Down 34
Derp on Dec 3, 2021 at 4:10 pm
“Liberals had unprecedented poor performance”
That’s rich coming from a guy that literally lost every feeble effort (including the election) to unseat the Libs with school yard taunts and fake petitions.
Up 56 Down 57
Dixon’s Duramax on Dec 3, 2021 at 3:34 pm
It’s a pity that the Liberals don’t have MLAs of Hassard and Istchenkos caliber.
Consummate professionals....
Up 58 Down 31
Captain Obvious on Dec 3, 2021 at 3:24 pm
TAKING THE FALL
So ends thirty-one days of the fall legislative sitting
This will hopefully help with what needs interpreting
It featured the Yukon Liberal government in minority
The official opposition Yukon Party and NDP sorority
Aside from the usual important business of the House
It had plenty of theatre and rhetoric that did espouse
Of the winners and the losers who won, said the spun
Chicken dinner goes to Kate who outplayed everyone
Her party’s wish list advanced through the CASA deal
She spared us another election, allowing it to congeal
The big loser was Currie who trumped up a show fight
Set-up to fail after the police shed incriminating light
For Sandy and crew it was rocky nearly every day
Making it difficult to always remain above the fray
Along with bumps and bruises they all felt the sting
Now it’s time for all members to prepare for spring
(Now on twitter at https://twitter.com/CaptainO_Yukon)