Sandy Silver being sworn in as MLA for Klondike.
Dear Yukoners,
On the evening of November 7, 2016, I waited anxiously along with all members of our Liberal caucus to hear the results of the election. Our team was filled with nervous hope, and I was glad to be surrounded by fellow Dawsonites that night. At the end of the process voters elected, for the first time since 2000, a Yukon Liberal majority government.
We are so grateful for this opportunity, and to have the gift of this responsibility. As we near the end of our first year in office, I want to highlight a few of the achievements that make me especially proud. I am honoured to lead such a dedicated team, and am proud of the work that has been done to make headway in implementing our commitments and fulfilling the promises we made to Yukoners.
As we move forward, there is much to do. We will continue to work in the spirit of reconciliation to build thriving communities and a growing, healthy economy. Our priority is to move Yukon forward to a place of strong financial management, and make Yukoners’ lives better. Working together, we can build a Yukon that works for all of us.
Thank you to my riding of Klondike for your support, and to the many people who contributed countless volunteer hours to my campaign. Your support is why I am able to serve today, and I am proud to represent you as your MLA and Premier.
2017 Highlights:
- Established the independent Yukon Financial Advisory Panel to provide options and engage with Yukoners on healthy financial management in Yukon.
- Established fixed sitting days in the Legislative Assembly.
- National Aboriginal Day became a statutory holiday in Yukon.
- Over 870 individual naloxone kits distributed to address the opioid crisis.
- Improved mental wellness services through the ongoing recruitment of 11 new mental wellness workers for Yukon communities.
- Changes to legislation making it illegal to discriminate against a person on the grounds of gender identity and gender expression.
- Yukon Forum revitalized with the commitment to meet four times per year.
- Proposed legislation that will work to increase prevention of PTSD in the workplace, and ensure emergency responders are presumptively covered.
- Moving forward on regulating and funding midwifery within Yukon’s health care system.
- Making progress on the construction of a new French high school in Riverdale.
- Increased accuracy in the Budgeting process.
- Working to establish a program evaluation unit in the Department of Finance for increased efficiency and better planning.
