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NDP, Kate White

NDP leader did not participate in Forum

Despite a clause in the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) between the Yukon Liberals and NDP, Kate White was not welcome at last Friday’s Yukon Forum.

By Tim Giilck on June 8, 2021

Despite a clause in the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) between the Yukon Liberals and NDP, Kate White was not welcome at last Friday’s Yukon Forum.

The Yukon Party says that leaves Yukoners wondering if this will affect the NDP’s support of the Liberal government.

The NDP leader was noticeably absent from last Friday’s meeting. It turns out that was at the behest of the First Nations leaders, who said they didn’t want her there just yet as a regular participant.

Grand Chief Peter Johnston made that clear during a post-Forum news conference.

Johnston said bluntly the invitation wasn’t extended because the Forum’s First Nation members are not sure they want the NDP to attend the forums immediately.

He said they were happy with the rapport they had developed with the Liberal government – and didn’t wish to disrupt that.

At some point in the future, Johnston said, there might be more point in inviting White to attend, but he wasn’t sure when that could happen.

The CASA, signed in late April, has the NDP supporting the minority Liberal government until January 2023.

It includes a clause calling for the government to ask Forum participants to permit White and the NDP to attend.

It wasn’t a binding motion in the CASA that White would definitely attend the gatherings.

Rather, it was clear it would be at the discretion of the members. The government would only be obligated to make the gesture under the agreement.

Premier Sandy Silver had little to add to Johnston’s comments on the issue.

On Tuesday, White issued the following statement:

“Grand Chief Johnston and I had a productive exchange, and I’m very appreciative of the discussions we’ve been having,” she said.

“I’m excited to continue to work together with Yukon First Nations and Grand Chief Johnston to ensure that First Nations’ rights and interests are upheld in all forms of government decision-making.”

She didn’t directly address the issue of not being invited to the Forum.

The Yukon Party noted Tuesday the CASA laid out many commitments to be executed in a short amount of time – with little detail provided.

“One of those was having the leader of the NDP at the Yukon Forum,” the official Opposition party said.

“The CASA stated the premier would send a letter by May 15 to First Nation members requesting ‘the full participation of the leader of the Yukon NDP caucus.’ Both the premier and NDP leader would sign the letter.

“The first Yukon Forum of 2021 was held on June 4,” the Yukon Party added.

“Yukoners are wondering if the NDP participated and, if not, why not, and will it affect their support of the Liberals?”

Comments (13)

Up 23 Down 7

Groucho d'North on Jun 10, 2021 at 9:19 am

Seems Ms White is not welcomed to the cabal. I wonder why?
Cabal - noun
Websters definition:
ca·​bal | \ kə-ˈbäl , -ˈbal \

1: the contrived schemes of a group of persons secretly united in a plot (as to overturn a government)
also : a group engaged in such schemes

Up 25 Down 10

Wilf Carter on Jun 9, 2021 at 2:31 pm

Larry Bagnell just voted against a motion in the house in Ottawa to not support the following:
Affordable housing funds for Yukoners.
Fund Canadian program so they can affordable housing.
Down payment program that works.
To stop funding immigrants 100% funding over Canadians. So that means if you are not from the Yukon you do not get funded.
No support for the poor.
No support for low income Canadians under Trudeau program which Bagnell supports.

Up 12 Down 25

woodcutter on Jun 9, 2021 at 12:54 pm

@TMYK
Denis Fentie's government was the one that started this. This is why it's best to leave stuff like this to your betters.

Up 46 Down 9

TMYK on Jun 9, 2021 at 10:33 am

So what did the Liberals promise CYFN for this? Remember that the Yukon Forum discussions are secret and not subject to ATIP requests which is incredibly undemocratic.

Up 21 Down 29

Jim on Jun 9, 2021 at 10:32 am

I like the way this article is the YP complaining on behalf of the NDP. Not the NDP. Not the FN’s. Not the Liberals. Just YP on the outside just hoping for an issue so Currie can get another crack at it. Fake News.

Up 30 Down 12

martin on Jun 9, 2021 at 7:38 am

Sad to see how Ms White got to be used by the powers-that-be. Best thing for the NDP is to look for another leader, but they got nothing.

Up 17 Down 37

Politico on Jun 8, 2021 at 5:37 pm

Oh, the Conservatives are all upset all 3 parties in this discussion are behaving like adults and not taking their toys out of the sandbox to go home and pout.

Up 80 Down 26

Schmagma on Jun 8, 2021 at 4:29 pm

You weren’t elected into power, just orchestrated your way there via a spineless Liberal Party. Be careful what you wish for.

Up 86 Down 27

Leeches be leeches on Jun 8, 2021 at 4:00 pm

This line right here:
"He said they were happy with the rapport they had developed with the Liberal government – and didn’t wish to disrupt that."
Audit the Liberals and CYFN please. You can't say that you want to work with Yukoners when you're hiding behind closed doors. Your idea of community has become one of elitism. "We choose who we talk to." Pompous much?

Up 61 Down 38

george on Jun 8, 2021 at 3:29 pm

Kate, please, please take offense and scrap this coalition !! Take down this obtuse government and call an election. Yukoners will thank you and you will become official opposition with more seats as the liberals will sink into oblivion. What an opportunity for Yukon NDP.

Up 55 Down 38

JSM on Jun 8, 2021 at 3:00 pm

Looks like both sides of this agreement are already renegging on their agreements. Classic Socialist parties and lying through their teeth to their peers and their consituents. The Lieberals got their confidence vote and probably have no intention of holding up their end of the bargain. Kate White should sue for breaking that clause but I imagine no one has the gusto these days to actually do that.

Up 60 Down 25

Crunch on Jun 8, 2021 at 2:50 pm

The libs know they will never return as a majority so they are choosing to go out in flames. They will hand as much power to Johnston as is possible under most circumstances. It is obvious and in open view. If you think the electoral system is broken now, well all I can say is that you have not seen anything yet. This will force Dixon's hand in having to deal with it, with the hope he will look bad in the process. There are a lot of issues in Yukon which need attention and here we are playing out slimy politics in full view. I would encourage Yukoners to look at this carefully and pay full attention to what is happening here.

Up 53 Down 25

john on Jun 8, 2021 at 2:38 pm

Humpty-Dumpty had a great fall and fell off the wall. Gee seems to be a theme here - Yukoners didn't want Premier White and it appears the First Nations Governments don't either.

Well Mr other Premier perhaps there is a warning bell here for you as well...

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