Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by AinslIe Cruickshank

SUN-SPLASHED PROTEST – Yukoners challenge the federal omnibus budget bill Saturday outside Yukon MP Ryan Leef's offices.

MP steadfast in support for controversial bill

The Yukon's MP says he will vote in support of the omnibus budget bill despite protests calling for him to stand up against it.

By Ainslie Cruickshank on June 12, 2012

The Yukon's MP says he will vote in support of the omnibus budget bill despite protests calling for him to stand up against it.

In an interview Monday, Ryan Leef provided a number of reasons why he plans to support the bill, a significant one being that the budget is a confidence vote.

If the government were to lose a confidence vote, it would fall.

Leef added that there is no option to vote to split the bill into sections; it's either for or against.

"It's not a matter of the government saying, "OK, we had people vote against it so we're going to take another look at this and we're going to restructure, we'll go back to the drawing board and try again.' No; we'd be thrust immediately into a federal election,” Leef told the Star.

"From that point of view, it's a very simple choice for me,” he said, adding that he doesn't want to diminish anyone's concerns about the budget.

While he ultimately supports the content of the bill and will vote for it for that reason, he said, he doesn't see an alternative plan either.

"We've laid out a great plan,” he said. "The opposition has not presented any kind of credible plan or any kind of credible option as an alternative.

"So we say, ‘Vote against this, throw us into an election,' and then adopt what? There's this big question mark left ... right now, we're the only party with a clear and coherent plan.”

Leef said he's also heard from a number of constituents who support the budget.

A spokesperson from Leef's office said today the MP has heard support for the budget from the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, various industry stakeholders including small and large independent businesses, the Canadian Federation of Municipalities and small business owners.

A second budget protest was held outside Leef's office on Saturday.

The turnout was slightly smaller than the week before, but the protesters were able to get their message across.

Concerns were raised on a number of aspects of the bill, from the changes to environmental legislation to the "undemocratic” omnibus form the bill has taken.

David Skelton organized the most recent rally and had an opportunity to speak directly with Leef later that afternoon.

Both Skelton and Leef said the meeting went well and that each of them had an opportunity to express their thoughts on the federal budget.

One of Skelton's main goals for the conversation was to talk about the omnibus form of the bill.

"An omnibus bill is not the kind of legislation to bring in all of these things; it is not democratic and is not in the spirit of the house, it does not respect voters or the opposition,” he said in an interview Monday afternoon.

The budget plans to make changes to more than 70 pieces of legistlation.

While Skelton did not hear what he was hoping to from Leef, he's not giving up quite yet, and neither are other Yukoners concerned about the budget.

A silent march in protest of the omnibus bill leaving from the Elijah Smith Building was planned for noon today, and another action is planned for tomorrow, with the time and place still to be announced.

In Ottawa, voting on amendments put forward by the opposition parties is expected to begin tomorrow after more debate today.

The Conservatives passed a time allocation motion today to curtail report stage budget debate to 10 more hours of speeches, according to a report by the Ottawa Citizen.

The approximately 1,000 amendments introduced by opposition members have been limited to between 67 and 159 votes by the Speaker of the House of Commons.

The Citizen reported there will be another eight hours of debate after the voting before the bill goes through third reading and then onto the Senate.

The final House of Commons' vote on the bill is expected to take place next Monday, according to the Globe and Mail.

Comments (16)

Up 0 Down 0

Lisa on Jun 14, 2012 at 3:08 pm

Im a voter, I voted Conservative. Leefs doing a fantastic job, much better than larry ever did.

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Right wing no longer on Jun 13, 2012 at 4:43 pm

An omnibus bill like C-38 spells the end of democracy. The cons have their majority so where is the harm in having the individual debates? After all that is what we elected you to do.

It's like going to the store for eggs but they won't sell you eggs unless you also buy sugar, ham hocks, rice, broccoli, chicken wings, orange juice........Ichiban, hot dogs, nan bread, radishes and olives. You get the idea.

Ryan, when you are teaching those kids who were bullied how to fight back is there a section on how to react when the bully is using a whip? Is the recommended action turtling and complying for self preservation?

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Billy Polson on Jun 13, 2012 at 11:16 am

This Bill puts nonrenewable resources before the environment. Basing your economy on non renewable resources puts the environment and other resources in jeopardy, like the already decimated salmon fishery for one, which is very short sighted.

I can't imagine there are folks out there who think when the fish are gone we can just farm them. I'd like to think we could fit those who believe that in one room there are so few.

Politics can be greasy, as this certainly is, and to read comments in support of this Bill is shocking.

Leef didn't get my vote. He is not a good choice to represent the Yukon. His past wildlife charges prove he will flaunt the law (the law he knew very well with his background in enforcement) to benefit himself.

We don't need these kind of people representing our values when it comes to the environment or the economy.

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Maureen N on Jun 13, 2012 at 6:48 am

There is no way that any of the MPs have read and fully understand this enormous bill which was designed specifically this way. All they are doing is what they are told to do.

I will not vote for Leef again.

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Anonymous on Jun 13, 2012 at 2:57 am

Anyone missing Larry yet

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June Jackson on Jun 12, 2012 at 1:03 pm

I remember when Larry Bagnell, who was a whole lot more popular than Ryan, voted against the expressed wishes of his constituants. Thats how Ryan got the job to begin with.

Now.. Ryan is doing the same thing.. Perhaps a rousing rendition of "Happy Trails to You" is in order.

I won't vote again for someone who won't represent me.

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Thomas Brewer on Jun 12, 2012 at 12:19 pm

Typical two-faced politician.

Don't forget that Larry followed party lines on something that Yukoners were very much against and look what happened there Ryan.

Of course your Party's misleading robocalls sealed Larry's fate.

We really need repeal legislation enacted ASAP.

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really? on Jun 12, 2012 at 11:34 am

larry did the same thing for the gun registry vote. it's called politics people. it is strange how the conservatives finally have a majority they're changing all the liberal policies and laws. oh wait no it's not surprising at all. the country has shifted it's political views the last few years and it will change in a few years down the road.

this isn't fear mongering at all it's called the conservative government governing the country. don't take what a few people say online as the accurate voice for canada. conservative people are quiet by nature and not outspoken like the left side of the political scale.

towing the party line isn't anything new so don't act like it's specific to the conservatives because it's something that all parties have to do on occasion.

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3rd generation Yukoner! on Jun 12, 2012 at 11:05 am

Pretty arrogant comments here guys! You presume to speak for all Yukoners or what?

Way to go Ryan,this constituent says vote for the budget as you should.

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Lee Carruthers on Jun 12, 2012 at 10:58 am

Our accidental MP will be a one-term-wonder. A trained seal? No, seals at least recognize their real masters.

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Linda on Jun 12, 2012 at 9:46 am

I think that the majority of Yukoners support Ryan, or we would not have elected him. This crowd of protesters is the same crowd that was protesting against Harper before the last election, why should Ryan listen to them more than the majority that elected him? Oh I know, someone is going to bring up the percentage of people that didn't vote for Ryan or Harper, but it's still a bigger percentage that didn't vote for the other parties or candidates, no matter how you do the math.

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Jackie Ward on Jun 12, 2012 at 9:38 am

Great way to flush any integrity Ryan may of had down right the toilet. I hope you can look into your kids or grand kids eyes Ryan, and tell them you hand a hand in destroying their future. And the future of Canada aswell with your unintelligent regurgitation of what your bosses tell you to say. Hey Ryan? Yukoners are your real bosses, maybe you forgot that. Why do we even waste our time electing people who to refuse to listen to the people that put them there? We can all have a good laugh about how politicians promise us the world, then get elected and do the opposite. But how much longer Canada? When will you stand up for what our Grandparents died to protect? So you can waste your life in the privacy of your own home, adding your fake virtual friends on FaceBook?

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Arn Anderson on Jun 12, 2012 at 9:23 am

Wow, looks like 50 people out there TOPS. That represents the entire Yukon, I guess the people that are OK with the bill are WORKING for a living, the real representation of the Yukon.

Go ask any of them who did they vote for, I bet 95% voted left, nuff said.

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Anonymous on Jun 12, 2012 at 8:44 am

Ryan Leef will never stand up for anything the Yukon asks for ....

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Patrick on Jun 12, 2012 at 8:33 am

I expected this from Ryan but hoped for a better response.

When you consider the federal layoffs in the Yukon, the many reduced services due to this bill, and the number of people who wrote letters and participated in peaceful protests over this omnibus bill- then there is no way of viewing Ryan other than an MP who has ignored his constituents- the same thing he accused Larry Bagnel of doing over his voting for the gun registry.

Ryan can teach bullied children how to fight but it seems he will not fight Harper for the betterment of Yukoners. Its very sad and lame and it shows why he does not deserve to represent us.

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Joel on Jun 12, 2012 at 7:28 am

Tow the party line Ryan! I know you said you would do what your constituents wanted when you were trying to get elected...but now that you have the job the hell with them!

"Leef added that there is no option to vote to split the bill into sections; it's either for or against."

That is why the bill was designed as it was...if it passes, and it will, then everything gets done. If it was split down into smaller bills, they would never pass since common sense would kill most of them.

Aren't these the same arguments given when it was a minority government? Vote for this or there will be an election! We need this to pass. The economy depends on this!

Fear mongering at its finest

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