Photo by Whitehorse Star
Yukon Party asked to provide Deputy Speaker
It appears old enmities die hard,
It appears old enmities die hard, even in the face of a minority government and a supposedly renewed commitment for all of the Yukon’s political parties to behave and work together.
On Monday, Premier Sandy Silver sent out a terse statement to the Star saying he had talked with Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon.
“This afternoon I met with Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon,” the statement said.
“We had a brief discussion about the upcoming sitting of the legislative assembly, including the length of the sitting and special committees of the assembly,” Silver said.
“Yukoners clearly called for a more collaborative government in this month’s election. My Yukon Liberal team and I are committed to working with all parties to deliver the best possible services and programs to Yukoners.
“We will continue to pursue a collaborative approach because we know that the best way forward for the Yukon is to go forward together.”
Not unexpectedly, the Yukon Party had a different perspective.
Chief of staff Ted Laking said Tuesday, “We met yesterday for 10 minutes and were disappointed that Liberal Leader Sandy Silver brought forward no offers or proposals to work collaboratively with the Yukon Party.
“Instead, rather than making an attempt to work together, the Liberals asked the Yukon Party to make concessions by providing the Deputy Speaker while offering nothing in return.”
Laking went on to say, “It quickly became evident that the Liberals are focused on forming a left-wing coalition with the NDP.
“Despite this, the Yukon Party remains open to working collaboratively with the Liberals if they change their mind and make a proposal to work together.”
Laking called the Liberals’ request for the Yukon Party to provide a Deputy Speaker a failed attempt to poach a Yukon Party MLA.
“We continue to have a strong working relationship with the NDP, and thank them for their sincere and good faith discussions,” Laking said.
The NDP did not respond to a request to discuss whether it has met with the Liberals or to make leader Kate White available for an interview.
Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar
In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.
Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.
Comments (31)
Up 0 Down 0
Observer on May 4, 2021 at 10:07 pm
Dear Whitehorse Star, I don't understand why the WS shut down commenting on the juiciest story to hit this paper in ages? Was it because the comments were getting so offensive?
Up 3 Down 9
Moose on May 1, 2021 at 9:20 pm
@Whatever
I see my stalker is even bringing me into articles which I haven't weighed in on yet. I'ts also quite cowardly of you to not use the same moniker in an attempt to remain even more anonymous. I must say I'm getting concerned for you my friend. At first you followed me around calling me a "Liberal Staffer" every time I commented. Now you are saying I'm other commenters on this page and even a politician! Your obsession isn't healthy.
Oh and for the record, I agree with Snowman. Currie is being disingenuous and seemingly in the midst of an ongoing temper tantrum. Hopefully it ends soon so he doesn't keep embarrassing himself and the rest of the YP fraternity.
Up 17 Down 6
Bewildered on May 1, 2021 at 2:25 am
I'm a center left voter and voted Liberal but not for this agenda. I wouldn't have cast my vote had I known this radical left wing agenda would be the outcome. Trust is lost.
Up 6 Down 5
charscterized? on Apr 30, 2021 at 6:29 pm
I had to look up ‘charscterized’. Turns out it’s a made up word.
Anyway if you’ve ever been in the political arena or even played an organized sport you’d know that what is said in the arena is just words. One day you’re chirping at me across the benches, the next we’re having an ale. You’re confusing what is on the record in Hansard or the Blues as some sort of gospel, NEWSFLASH: it ain’t.
All that matters is the actual work done and there will be no work done by the YP in the next 4 years. None.
Up 17 Down 5
im done?? on Apr 30, 2021 at 1:45 pm
You don't read Hansard do you?
You didn't read or listen to how Mostyn charscterized White
Look in a mirror. Self righteous hypocrites aren't the answer. We're tired of you saying you're taking the high road while the actions are different.
Up 21 Down 30
I’m done on Apr 29, 2021 at 5:40 pm
The YP continues to circle the drain into obsolescence. Now relegated to a bunch of dogs barking in the corner and no say in the future of the territory.
We’ve grown tired of conservative style angry and divisive politics. It’s time to heal as a territory, a country a people and move forward. Mr Dixon et al, this election should serve notice to all parties that we are done with the fighting, the name calling, the lies, the pork barrelling. Shut your traps and get to work, all of you.
Up 48 Down 20
Are you serious on Apr 29, 2021 at 4:57 pm
Why would the Yukon party in their right mind agree to be deputy speaker and lose a potential vote in sitting as speaker? That’s has got zero to do with ‘working together’. Good old Sandy and Kate can collude together to come up with a deputy speaker from the NDP! Liberals - NDP = Losers!!
Up 34 Down 19
Whatever there Snowman on Apr 29, 2021 at 4:07 pm
Snowman/Moose/Mostyn - whatever you choose to be today. You think the YP is WHINY? That's funny. I have never seen as much whining in the Legislative Assembly as the last 4 years. The Liberals "offering for a YP member to be part of the official proceedings" is BS. What you are trying to do is saddle them with a position where they will potentially lose a vote in the House. Good thing they are also a smart and savvy Opposition, because falling for Liberal tricks is something they have NEVER done.
Up 27 Down 19
Joe on Apr 29, 2021 at 3:41 pm
@captain obviously Moystyn...you're funny, if you actually believe there will be a stable government for two years. Once Kate realizes her lackey role and how she was played, it will fall apart and there will be another election, one called at an appropriate time ( not snap election middle of pandemic pre-budget lol). YP got more votes than any other party and, due to ill timed unnecessary election, more than 40% of eligible voters didn't show. Now that everyone has seen true colours of NPD its very obvious it will be YP majority.
Up 37 Down 22
Mike on Apr 29, 2021 at 1:53 pm
The Liberals and NDP will destroy the Yukon and deface its history in less than a year. Then run our debt to a point it will take 100 years to pay off all while inviting more immigrants to come and diversify the Yukon, not keeping in mind that with them comes their culture and religion and beliefs. This is no longer the Yukon Territory. This is Sandy Silver as Joe Biden and Kate as Kamala Harris. Can't wait to see the results of this GONG SHOW.
Up 24 Down 53
Lennie on Apr 29, 2021 at 10:32 am
Well, well, well. Looks like Currie or Ted put most of the comments together with assistance from Teslin Wilf. Currie should volunteer for Deputy Speaker, he could benefit from some education and experience. I might be tricked to vote for him next time if he proves to be able to handle some responsibility without the goofs presently acting as his guide dog.
Up 22 Down 39
CaptainObvious on Apr 29, 2021 at 9:07 am
To Joe the Know Nothing and Peter the Sour Grapes. Chill out, boys. Enjoy the next two years of a stable government with a social conscience that you helped create through your roles within Currie's Clickers. LOL
Up 33 Down 20
Crunch on Apr 29, 2021 at 9:00 am
The offer by SS to Dixon is merely a ruse, an attempt to deflect his sellout to the NDP and disguise his promised mandate to the liberal voter as cooperation.
Up 24 Down 10
KC on Apr 29, 2021 at 8:23 am
The hostility between the Yukon Liberals and Yukon Party is so unhelpful and unproductive for two parties that -- while different in some respects -- aren't exactly miles apart on the political spectrum. They are always so nasty to each other. Without seeing what goes on behind the scenes it is hard to say who is to blame for the hate. Probably a bit of both but I wish they would knock it off. The NDP is going to have more power than it ought to in the next legislature because these two parties can't get along and find some common ground.
Up 33 Down 21
Mad Trapper of Riverdale on Apr 28, 2021 at 9:38 pm
Sandy sold his soul to the devil....Kate now owns his butt. (This is no slag to Kate by the way. She is playing it masterfully. She controls the government and won the least seats and got the least popular vote. Well played!)
if it wasn't terrible news for the Yukon's economy, I'd be amused to see how long this love in lasts. Even weak Sandy Silver will have to say no to Kate eventually!
Up 27 Down 38
Snowman on Apr 28, 2021 at 9:03 pm
There has never been a more whiny opposition in the history of the Yukon. The government was literally offering them to be part of official proceedings in the legislature and they somehow view it as an insult. Unbelievable. I'm pretty sure this position would come with a nice pay bump as well. But Currie and Ted probably never mentioned that to their MLAs before shooting down the offer. They would rather play the victim than act in good faith.
Up 35 Down 20
Do your own dirty work on Apr 28, 2021 at 5:44 pm
Hey Sandy, Since you’re so powerful and connived to get in bed with the NDP, why not offer up your own speaker? The YP owes you folks NOTHING, just so you know.
Up 19 Down 18
bonanzajoe on Apr 28, 2021 at 5:23 pm
Joe, do you know what one pregnant termite can do to a house? You can't join Conservative and Marxist together. That spells big trouble. Let those two Marxist partys work their voodoo together. The YP will soon have to clean it all up.
Up 25 Down 20
bonanzajoe on Apr 28, 2021 at 5:19 pm
Captain Obvious: Open your eyes, it's the Liberals that can't be trusted.
Up 5 Down 13
bonanzajoe on Apr 28, 2021 at 5:17 pm
Patty Eyre: yeah, an honor for the liberals. It gets another trouble maker out of their hair.
Up 8 Down 15
bonanzajoe on Apr 28, 2021 at 5:15 pm
Like my Pappy used to say, a conservative should never dance with a marxist liberal. The ML will always lead.
Up 65 Down 49
Joe on Apr 28, 2021 at 4:51 pm
It's obvious the best coalition would be YP with Currie premier and NDP with Kate Minister of Health and Social Services. This would show respect for popular vote and show progressive movement by the two opposite parties. Liberals are self centered and go with the flavour of the day and spend-taxpayer dollars to buy votes.
Up 65 Down 41
Peter on Apr 28, 2021 at 4:48 pm
Well it is clear to me reading this that the Yukon Liberals are making a deal with the Yukon NDP and are not meeting their mandate and not representing their constituents wishes 100% by bowing to the Yukon NDP. Me personally, when I vote for a Party and I want them to meet the mandate, not some other parties mandates or demands to form government. How disgusting the Yukon Liberals are!! Yukon Liberals should be ashamed! If I was a Yukon Liberal voter, I would express my dissatisfaction to the Yukon Liberal party and disown them!!
Up 46 Down 72
CaptainObvious on Apr 28, 2021 at 4:43 pm
Working together in a minority government of course means contributing to the legislative assignments. To view this as "poaching" and "making concessions" shows the YP can't be trusted.
Up 55 Down 22
dun dun dun on Apr 28, 2021 at 3:43 pm
Hey Sandy,
since you're doing such a great job and putting out great policies
why don't you provide the speaker? With the new collaborative approach there is no way your policies aren't going to have the interests of the majority in mind.
Oh...
oh
Up 38 Down 27
Wilf Carter on Apr 28, 2021 at 3:37 pm
Terse approach liberals have intentions to work with the Yukon Party and continue going ahead and taking Yukon into the worse recession in its history. I hope they wake up and see the future - as it is coming.
Up 42 Down 62
Nathan Living on Apr 28, 2021 at 3:23 pm
The Yukon Party's leader Currie Dixon should have been the person giving this interview.
The YP should cooperate and provider the speaker. Ted Laking had a poor attitude based on this interview.
Up 53 Down 41
JSM on Apr 28, 2021 at 3:10 pm
Classic Lieberal tactics to ask for everything but not offer anything in return. Makes me sick how selfish they are! Lieberal's get their way from the big man in charge in Ottawa so it is no surprise to see them act in bad faith! Sad!
Up 51 Down 49
Patti Eyre on Apr 28, 2021 at 3:05 pm
Failed attempt to poach? Asking for an MLA to do their job and serve as Dep Speaker is an honour, sad Laking speaks for Dixon in such a crass and disrespectful way. Shame!
Up 37 Down 11
In support of diversity... on Apr 28, 2021 at 2:54 pm
“It’s a trap!” Said, Admiral Ackbar of the Rebel Alliance.
Up 57 Down 28
Al on Apr 28, 2021 at 2:44 pm
Well SS that is the price you pay when you form the government. You get to pick your Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Part of the perks that comes with the role. It is an affront to ask the opposition to fill your vacancies.
Of course if it is too hot in the kitchen...