Liberal MLAs celebrating the new LGBTQ2 and transgender flag crosswalks with Yukoners.
Our Yukon Liberal caucus is working every day to improve life for all Yukoners through better mental wellness and home care support, access to education, improved childcare support for families, and by ensuring the human rights of all Yukoners are protected.
Highlights from the first 8 months: A People-Centered Approach to Wellness
1. Action on increased home care and mental wellness support
Mental wellness and home care are important issues in Yukon, and our caucus remains committed to increasing support for both.
The 2017/18 Budget includes funding for 11 new full-time addiction and mental wellness workers in eight communities across the territory. This past December, the three territories negotiated for an additional $36.1 million over 10 years in additional funding for mental wellness and home care from the federal government.
2. Investment in improved education for students
Our Liberal caucus is dedicated to ensuring that the needs of all Yukon students are met. The 2017/18 Budget added $4 million for frontline teaching staff.
Minister of Education, Tracy-Anne McPhee, announced that a revised version of the BC curriculum would be introduced to Yukon schools, starting September 2017. The new curriculum is student-centred, focusing on multi-disciplinary skill development, and provides many opportunities to integrate local content and Yukon First Nations ways of knowing and doing through all subjects and grade levels.
Left: National Chief Perry Bellegarde and MLAs Pauline Frost and John Streicker cheer on athletes at NAIG 2017.
Middle: MLA Pauline Frost congratulates Naoise Dempsey on his Silver metal.
Right: MLA Pauline Frost helps Team Yukon NAIG athletes get ready to paddle.
3. Support for Sport in Yukon
Our MLAs proudly cheered on and supported Yukon athletes who competed in the 2017 Special Olympics, the 2017 North American Indigenous Games, and the 2017 Canada Summer Games.
In July, the Government of Yukon, in partnership with the Yukon Lottery Commission and Sport Canada, announced 1.4 million in funding to support Yukon’s sport and recreation community. In the 2017/18 Budget, the Yukon government also included $325,000 to support the Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle in delivering training to communities and to Team Yukon attending the North American Indigenous Games.
MLA Jeanie Dendys, Megan Jensen and federal Minister Monsef at the UN commission.
4. Bringing a Yukon perspective to the United Nations
In March MLA Jeanie Dendys, in her role as Minister responsible for the Women’s Directorate, was honoured to bring a Yukon perspective to New York for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
“The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women is a wonderful opportunity to bring forward a Yukon perspective on Women’s Economic Empowerment to this global conversation, and to highlight our understanding of the importance of community development as a starting point for Indigenous women’s safety and economic security.” –Minister responsible for the Women’s Directorate Jeanie Dendys
5. Human Rights for all Yukoners
All Yukoners deserve to live free from discrimination. On June 13th, our caucus was proud to support a bill that will protect transgender and other gender-diverse Yukoners from discrimination. Our Liberal caucus is committed to building healthy communities by improving the well-being and quality of life for all Yukoners.
“All Yukoners deserve to be treated equally. The passing of this important bill ensures that LGBTQ2 Yukoners have the rights they deserve.” –Pauline Frost, MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin
MLA Pauline Frost, in her role as Minister of Health and Social Services, represented Yukon at the federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for early learning and child care meeting.
6. Working with all governments to improve early learning and child care in Canada
Our Liberal caucus proudly supports the Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework agreement announced on June 12th by the federal, provincial and territorial governments. This agreement outlines their shared vision for improving the lives of Canadian children and their families.
In her role as Minister of Health and Social Services, Vuntut Gwitchin MLA Pauline Frost highlighted Yukon government’s desire to provide quality, affordable child care in Yukon communities to Ottawa.
7. Yukon Financial Advisory Panel listening to the Priorities of Yukoners
Our Liberal caucus is committed to listening to Yukoners when it comes to important financial decisions. This spring, the Yukon government announced the creation of the Yukon Financial Advisory Panel to collect feedback from Yukoners on their financial priorities, and advise the government on options for future financial planning.
The first round of feedback was received this summer, and starting early fall the panel will be visiting communities across Yukon to meet with the public, municipal and First Nations governments to continue the conversation. This feedback will help the government build a sustainable financial path forward, grounded in the priorities of all Yukoners. Want to get involved? Join the conversation at www.yukonplans.ca.
Read our highlights on Investing for Healthy Communities.
