It’s a short week this week, to allow rural MLA’s to go back to their ridings to celebrate Remembrance Day with their communities. Here is what happened on November 9 and 10 in the legislature.
Bills 9 and 10 are now law
On Monday, November 9, Yukon’s Commissioner gave royal assent to Bills 9 and 10. These two bills provide significant supports to Yukoners, and are now law.
Bill 9, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Protection Act bans the provision of conversion therapy to minors. Yukon has become the 4th jurisdiction in Canada to ban this harmful practice. We are working hard to make Yukon the most inclusive place in Canada to call home, and that work continues.
According to Minister McLean:
“All Yukoners benefit from a more inclusive society. Banning conversion therapy in Yukon is another step in our journey to ensure our territory is inclusive and free of discrimination. I want to thank Yukon’s strong LGBTQ2S+ community for their advocacy and advice on how we can make Yukon a place where all are welcome. This is not only about protecting Yukoners today, but also protecting the generations to follow us.”
Bill 10, Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, introduces paid and unpaid leave for victims of domestic and sexualized assault in the territory. These new provisions will provide five days of paid leave and five days of unpaid leave that can be taken in increments.
According to Minister John Streicker:
“Learning from the expertise and knowledge of support organizations, employers and those with lived experience will be invaluable as we develop the capacity and education materials for this new leave. Providing the right supports for employees and employers will allow victims to access this leave readily and in a way that ensures their confidentiality and dignity is respected.”
Aviation Supports
Yukon’s aviation sector will receive more than $7 million dollars to support their efforts in providing essential services in the territory, Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn told the Legislature on Monday November 9.
Funding will flow from the federal government and the government of Yukon to Air North and Alkan Air, with an additional $1.1 million available for charter and rotary carriers.
Aviation fee waivers are also being extended until March 31, 2021, which will have saved Yukon air operators over $1 million.
This is phase 2 of our aviation support program, and our total amount of support for aviation funding is now over $10 million in 2020.
WCB Witnesses
On Tuesday, November 10, the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board President and CEO Kurt Dieckmann and Chair Mark Pike appeared as witnesses in the Legislature to answer questions from MLAs.
You can read the full transcript here: https://yukonassembly.ca/sitting-day/34-3-061
Congratulations to President-Elect Biden and Vice-President Elect Harris
The MLA for Porter Creek Centre, Paolo Gallina, put forward a motion on Monday congratulating our southern neighbors on a successful election. We congratulate President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris. We look forward to working with them on important issues such as cross border safety, trade and protecting vital salmon and caribou habitats.
