Photo by Whitehorse Star
Stacey Hassard and Kate White
Speech leaves parties disenchanted and wanting much more
The leaders of the official Opposition and the third party say they were left unimpressed by Thursday afternoon’s throne speech.
The leaders of the official Opposition and the third party say they were left unimpressed by Thursday afternoon’s throne speech.
“I think it was a throne speech that probably could have been done through news releases,” Yukon Party Leader Stacey Hassard told reporters.
Hassard noted the throne speech will now consume several days of the legislature’s time.
“I think the time probably could have been better spent discussing legislation and issues that are important to Yukoners.”
Hassard said he was surprised to hear electoral reform wasn’t addressed, just days after the chair of the electoral reform commission resigned.
He added his party has been critical of the commission’s “arbitrary” appointment process, and is encouraging the premier to take a different approach in selecting a replacement.
“Maybe this is the opportunity where we’ll get to turn things around and head in the right direction,” he said. (See editorial, commentary, pages 14, 15.)
Hassard said the throne speech’s focus on climate change is important, but doesn’t include plans for significant action. He added the movements on buildings’ energy retrofits and midwifery are left over from previous sittings.
“It’s just another case of re-announcing things,” he said.
NDP Leader Kate White said she was “ecstatic” to see commitments brought forward by her party in the 2016 election included in the throne speech.
“You know, they say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, so welcome to our 2016 NDP election platform,” she said.
When her party originally brought forward a motion to ban single-use plastic bags last year, White said, she was told it “just wasn’t possible.”
White also said she was pleased to see movement toward banning conversion therapy, but is looking to see a timeline for implementation.
White also noted a number of the issues brought forward were carried over from the last sitting, and assessed the throne speech as “a little bit light.”
Last spring, there was discussion of the Department of Environment working on species-at-risk legislation. White said she was hopeful to see concrete measures taken.
“What we got is, ‘We’re working on it,’” she said.
White also said she was disappointed to see a lack in “bold commitment” toward climate action.
She noted words of a “green economy” felt recycled from the previous year.
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Comments (9)
Up 15 Down 7
Wan Kenobi on Oct 7, 2019 at 5:51 pm
Hell Obi - Good point,
The Yukon has been punished, perhaps undeservedly so, for the last 3 years or so of Liberal rule. Your maxim fits very well. Rock bottom politics in the Yukon. It certainly appears that we are in the midst of a great dimming - The eradication of intelligence - The eugenics of a reasoned polity.
Up 20 Down 3
Obi on Oct 7, 2019 at 10:56 am
"Those who are to smart to engage in politics, are punished by being governed by those who are dumber."
Plato.
Up 12 Down 14
Steven on Oct 6, 2019 at 4:36 pm
@snowman : OR... all the Liberals could finally realize they should have been voting NDP all along! Don't split the vote! Vote NDP!
Up 15 Down 14
Snowman on Oct 5, 2019 at 7:52 pm
A curious thing for the NDP to say lol. By saying that most things the Liberals are doing are in line with the NDP platform, they are basically telling their supporters it's good to just support the current Liberal government since they are mostly the same as we are. So why risk splitting the progressive vote? Might as well stay with the good thing we have going.
Up 15 Down 4
Jake on Oct 5, 2019 at 2:02 pm
But, it's our own fault! We reward these guys for this behaviour, content to let them take turns at the trough while we complain and pretend someday someone will show up with easy answers!
Up 23 Down 9
Josey Wales on Oct 5, 2019 at 8:33 am
They are not impressed much eh?
Perhaps their expectations were too high?
Treat the throne speech as you do for some criminals here, lower your expectations.
In a non partisan way, I liken a speech not just this one, to some talking head...using both sides of their mouth to pander to the lowly peasants.
I have not done this, but one could, here is my point...
If one were to go back in speech time and plot out statements made Vs tangible achievements to said statements?
I suspect single digit percentage on success, team colour completely irrelevant.
It is a room full of snakes and snake oil sales folk, all hissing at each other publicly. However the symbiotic need for one and other, keeps them all warm in the holes they hide.
Given all the political lunacy, the rapid erosion of thee individual for collective rights, the laundering of the human trade game, the clear attack on logic and reality (scowling...”how dare you” GT manufactured eco goddess)
The clear engineered willful ignorance....blah blah....blah!
Whacking day (pop culture ref.) should be held each week, until those snakes understand we are a free people. Enough with the race crap, enough with kowtowing to the 7th and 16th century.
Take the monocle outta the eye of lady justice, put the blindfold back on.
Your politically correct policies have destroyed communities all over the country.
Not impressed much either...full stop.
Up 19 Down 7
Mr M on Oct 5, 2019 at 8:28 am
Listening to Politicians talk and all the promises they make just before an election reminds me of a time when I was young oh ya that was in elementary school. The school ground has smarter people on it. BS after BS after BS. Cannot trust any of them.
Up 26 Down 31
Willard on Oct 4, 2019 at 6:09 pm
The unelected leader of the opposition is unimpressed is he? What does he think of democracy anyway being an appointee? How is he enjoying the economy since he and his cohorts were given an unceremonious boot last election by a resounding 7000 votes? There's much more to running a proper Government than lining your friends pockets and I think some of these cement heads are starting to get it. Stacey, the position you have is untenable as it exceeds your ability.
Up 27 Down 39
Atom on Oct 4, 2019 at 4:17 pm
Of course the opposition parties are critical of the throne speech (White less so and as ususal with tact). Hassard doesn't have the ability to formulate an articulate answer because he doesn't agree and is disappointed....if the YP ever used the time in the legislature to discuss issues and what's important to Yukoners it would be the first time. Puttz