February 8, 2024, WHITEHORSE – The Yukon Liberal Caucus continues to support work towards improving the Yukon electoral process to ensure the voices of Yukoners are heard and respected through their votes.
The Yukon Liberal Caucus would like to acknowledge significant developments towards exploring electoral reform as Dr. Sara McPhee-Knowles assumes the role of Chair of the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
Dr. McPhee-Knowles was appointed by the Clerk’s office at the Yukon Legislative Assembly, which operates independently from political parties, to oversee administrative duties for the Citizens’ Assembly.
This appointment comes following the adoption of Motion No. 711 by the Yukon Legislative Assembly on April 25, 2023. The motion led to the establishment of the Special Committee on the Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
The committee’s report, presented to the Legislative Assembly on October 31, 2023, received approval through the adoption of Motion Respecting Committee Reports No. 8 on November 7, 2023.
“This latest advancement of the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform marks a significant stride in our commitment to engaging with Yukoners on their vision for the Yukon’s electoral process”, stated John Streicker, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes, and a Committee Member for the Yukon Liberal Party on the Special Committee on the Yukon Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
Repeatedly, Yukoners have told us that they want their government to explore avenues for enhancing the electoral process to ensure that Yukoners’ voices are heard through our voting system. Additionally, a survey conducted last year revealed that the majority of Yukoners (just under two-thirds) are interested in exploring a Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.
The Yukon Liberal Caucus looks forward to reviewing the comprehensive report once issued by October 31, 2024.
Quick facts
- A citizens’ assembly on electoral reform is a process where randomly selected citizens come together to study, discuss, and make recommendations regarding changes to the electoral system.
- The citizens’ assembly will be composed of two individuals from each of the 19 electoral districts in the territory. They will be randomly selected from the nearly 1,800 respondents who expressed their willingness to participate on the citizens’ assembly in a Yukon Bureau of Statistics survey of all Yukon residents aged 16 and up conducted earlier in 2023.
- The mandate of the assembly is to look at electoral systems and put together a report recommending whether the current model for electing MLAs should stay or be replaced with another model.
- The citizens’ assembly can consult with Yukoners by holding public meetings and give them the chance to make submissions in writing and orally at meetings. It can also gain insight from experts in the field and build on the work that has already been done by the legislative assembly’s special committee on electoral reform.
- Dr. Sara McPhee-Knowles was appointed Chair of the Yukon Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform on February 2, 2024.
