Whitehorse Daily Star

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RETURNING TO POLITICS – Jan Stick is looking to return to city council after serving a term in the legislature as the NDP MLA for Riverdale South.

Stick seeks return engagement to city council

After nearly a decade away from her city councillor’s seat at city hall, Jan Stick is hoping to return to it.

By Whitehorse Star on August 22, 2018

After nearly a decade away from her city councillor’s seat at city hall, Jan Stick is hoping to return to it.

The former councillor and NDP MLA for Riverdale South announced Tuesday she plans to run for council in the Oct. 18 municipal election.

She’s been thinking of running for office again since early in the year.

After months of considering it and discussing it with friends and family, Stick decided she would put her name on the ballot.

“I really enjoyed my time on city council,” she said, citing being part of the planning process for the city as important to her.

Stick was first elected to council in a 2005 byelection, and was returned to council in the 2006 election.

She decided not to run again in 2009. She wanted to focus on family and her own personal life following the death of her husband, Ed, that year.

In announcing she wouldn’t run then, she also made it clear it wasn’t something she wasn’t ruling out in the future.

In 2011, she was elected as the MLA for Riverdale South. In the 2016 vote, she lost the seat by 37 votes to current Liberal MLA Tracy-Anne McPhee.

Along with her political career, Stick is a co-owner of Well-Read Books, which she opened with her business partners in 1999. That followed a career as a case manager with the territory’s Department of Health and Social Services, working with individuals with disabilities.

She has also received the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Medal and a Commissioner’s Award for Public Volunteer Service for her volunteer work.

This morning, Stick said serving in council chambers and as an MLA are very different.

At the city level, she pointed out, the decisions impact citizens at the grassroots level, down to when they turn on their taps in the morning.

There’s a wide range of issues the city is now dealing with as Whitehorse continues to grow.

“Some of the main issues facing the city include planning for new residential growth, affordable housing, strategies to reach the city’s waste management goals, accessible transportation, and infrastructure. These issues are important in planning for sustainable growth for our city,” Stick said in a statement.

In terms of addressing those issues, she pointed out the city will be heading into consultations for a new Official Community Plan later this year.

That’s a critical way to listen to citizens about the direction the city could take in planning for the coming years.

During her last stint on council, Stick recalled, many of the efforts focused on planning for the Whistle Bend neighbourhood.

While there is still work to plan and develop the area, the first phases of the neighbourhood are now home to many residents.

“It’s amazing how that has grown,” Stick said.

In looking ahead to city development after Whistle Bend has been fully developed, she said the city will have to consider local First Nations, which are significant land owners in the city.

It will also have to work with the Yukon government on future developments and look at how to better densify the city.

As Stick moves ahead with her campaign, she highlighted the campaign efforts she and fellow candidate Steve Roddick will work together on. Roddick announced his candidacy Aug. 8.

“I have known Steve for years and have found him to be an intelligent, passionate person who cares deeply about this city,” she said.

“We share many of the same values, and together we can bring a united voice to council.

“We have talked extensively about the issues facing our city, what is working well and what ongoing concerns need attention and creative solutions.”

Roddick also praised Stick, noting: “Jan has experience as an elected official and I trust her to make good decisions for the future of this city.

“We both strongly believe that Whitehorse needs smarter transportation infrastructure, safer and more livable neighbourhoods, and affordability-focused development.

“Working together will help us both to connect with more people on the campaign trail, and to be better advocates for these important issues on city council.”

Stick said there are no other candidates who are part of her and Roddick’s campaigns.

As well, they aren’t endorsing and haven’t discussed the three candidates seeking the mayoralty.

Stick is the sixth candidate to announce her plans to run for a councillor’s seat. The others are Roddick, incumbent Roslyn Woodcock, former councillor Mike Gladish, former Yukon Party MLA David Laxton and lawyer Laura Cabott.

Incumbent Dan Curtis, Rick Karp and Wilf Carter have announced their plans to seek the mayor’s seat.

Comments (16)

Up 0 Down 6

Jake on Aug 28, 2018 at 10:41 am

I think Jan did fine while at Council. Here is the reality. Communities are significantly underfunded when it comes to the services they are obligated to offer and ones they are expected to offer. If You look at what Ottawa gives the Yukon and what is given to communities, who provide the essential front line services, we all need so bad, you would see it is minuscule. About 2 percent or so. Think total for all communities is around 40 million with Whitehorse getting the largest portion. If you want real change and want relief on your taxes and fees elect people that will have the courage to stand up to YTG and demand a larger share!! Services to people and properties that is the basic need of all Yukoners and very little is flowing down. That is what needs to happen if you want relief.

Up 2 Down 6

Juniper Jackson on Aug 27, 2018 at 8:04 pm

I like Jan Stick.. Not an NDP fan but on Council she doesn't have to follow the leader so to speak.. Jan is a nice person.. which is more than I can say for most of the existing council. No one person gets to make the decisions.. council is a group thing..

Up 4 Down 4

Hugh Mungus on Aug 27, 2018 at 4:11 pm

PSG, COW Dwellers pay Federal, Territorial and City taxes, so yeah, we have a say how that money is spent. Would it be reasonable for a COW Dweller to have a say of municipal issues in Watson Lake? Vancouver? I spend dollars there!!!!

Up 9 Down 3

ProScience Greenie on Aug 27, 2018 at 12:37 pm

Err, Hugh, a large chunk of non-CoW Yukoner's Fed and YG taxes are fed back into CoW. Most non-CoW Yukoners spend oodles of money supporting CoW businesses. Most services are user-pay. Non-CoW Yukoners have every right to voice their opinion about the good, the bad and the ugly of Whitehorse and the endless gravy train it exists on.

Time for Whitehorse to live within it's means and for more of the Fed and YG 'gravy' go out to the communities so they can also grow and prosper.

Up 6 Down 9

Ginger Johnson on Aug 27, 2018 at 10:17 am

SOOOOOOO
Is Ryan Leef going to run for the "Mad Max Party" in the next Federal Election ?

Up 6 Down 8

Hugh Mungus on Aug 26, 2018 at 2:37 pm

@PSG
Oh, it all makes sense now. You don’t pay taxes but are happy to use all or services here in town and then whine continuously like a spoiled child.

Womp womp

Up 2 Down 8

Scott Etches on Aug 25, 2018 at 11:47 am

I have not heard or seen anything about Smart Growth and hope that Ms. Stick when considering future planning will take into account these basic principles in developing Whitehorse as a livable city.

Up 10 Down 3

Josey Wales on Aug 24, 2018 at 11:54 pm

Hey wronged power...jeez might read as I being a dick, but are you new to the sty...here I mean?
Matters not to me other than reading your electrical travesty and gargantuan costs incurred, tripped a newbie alarm in me.

Old stock folks here know we have 3rd world power and internet, whilst it truly blows chunks...we know the futility of having our electron pimps care.
Very prezoomy of me indeed, that said...
Welcome to the Yukon, there may be times when you might have to talk to folks and catch up on stuff, make some kids, listen to the boreal forest ...at least what is left of it around town at time of post, go for a piss, walk the dog and let them have a piss...etc.
These are some of the things we do during those times of heinous dark de energized times here.
...oh yeah, one more thing...we don’t call them cottages.
Still, welcome.

Up 7 Down 5

Doug Ryder on Aug 24, 2018 at 7:11 pm

In the dirty business of politics she will just be a Stick in the mud.

As an average politician she won’t Stick out.

A vote for her is Stick gambling?

Will she Stick to the platform issues?

If things get tough will she Stick it out?

I could go on but... This thread is lame enough already... Besides, I got no Stick-to-itness.

Up 18 Down 1

Dean LaRue on Aug 24, 2018 at 4:29 pm

SIGH - Stick - Gladish - Laxton - ...........

Who is next ? Taylor ? Pasloski ? Leef? Stockdale ?

Old Yukon politicians never seem to die or fade away

Up 11 Down 2

ProScience Greenie on Aug 24, 2018 at 2:42 pm

Thanks for your support Hugh, glad I could count on you and yours for votes but no can do as I'm a non-resident of the city state of CoW. Don't worry, as so many of my YG and Fed taxes disappear into the black hole of city finances and also the taxes derived from supporting local business owners, I'll continue to put in my 2 cents about the waste, graft, grift, bloat and shenanigans happening in Whitehorse coming from all political and ideological directions.

CoW is right on the edge of no longer being that wonderful small town, a true wilderness city, and if changes are not made it will become just another sad, ugly little random Canadian city. The number one driving force is greed.

Up 3 Down 12

Wronged Power customer on Aug 24, 2018 at 8:03 am

I wonder if Jan is prepared to deal with this heinous situation. Recently we had two different power outages of about 1 hr each. My fountain l.e.d. devices power supply and six of eight l.e.d.s got taken out due to power rockets or they would all come back after I changed out the 12v power supply. Phone Atco-nope, not their problem because their wasn't a direct connection between their equipment and my damage. The recent outage was caused by power generation apparently so phone Y.E.C. and reiterate my tale of whoa there to no avail as I'm not one of their customers. I paid for clean power that I didn't get and it took out my equipment which nobody wants to accept responsibility for. I'm out 50 bucks with no recourse???

Up 9 Down 3

Josey Wales on Aug 23, 2018 at 9:54 pm

Hey Hugh....feeling a tad triggered are ya?
If not, allow me...
I read PSG as not having all the answers, but has heaps of opinions based on historical observations, much of them falling into facts.
PSG doesn’t get all willfy, just participates in discourse as I, as you, as many.
I read that you seem to have few answers, but common tactics of a Marxist. Seems too that dissent is not something you hear in a echo chamber, and seemed to trigger you...again...dunno?
Speaking of Marxists, we certainly do not need one in our hall.
Having a National Destruction Party retread strapping on the civic feedbag for another round...sorta defines insanity!
Now of course folks please do not forget this is my mere opinion, factoring in my biases...we all have them.
She... as in Stick will not get my vote, if y’all like commi lite, SJW virtue?
Then do not do as I do, do what you wish to do.
Please base it on some historical observations of facts and patterns Vs snake oil from political blowholes, our community is in bad shape.
As I made a few suggestions and intervened...using your logic, should I be the speaker of the house now...Hugh?

Up 16 Down 3

Max Mack on Aug 23, 2018 at 6:36 pm

I'm with PSG. For the love of pete, please give us councillors that will rein in the tax-and-spend and gentrification attitudes that have dominated Whitehorse politics for well more than a decade.

Up 14 Down 7

Hugh Mungus on Aug 23, 2018 at 4:06 pm

PSG: Why don't you run for office at some level, you seem to have the answer for literally EVERYTHING.

Up 22 Down 31

ProScience Greenie on Aug 22, 2018 at 3:34 pm

Meh. Nice person but just another tax and spend political hack. Need some fresh people on council that will reel in the spending like drunken sailors thing and for once represent the citizens rather than the endless gravy train.

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