Dear Yukoners,
One year ago today was a day that I will remember forever. What a great honour it was on November 7, 2016 to be elected to serve the wonderful constituents of Copperbelt North. I am proud every day of the work our Yukon Liberal caucus is accomplishing. We are working hard to listen to Yukoners, and make Yukoners’ lives better.
Our caucus is committed to a people-centered approach to wellness, and this is seen in how we have taken action on important issues, such as aging in place, improving access to mental wellness support, proposing presumptive and preventative legislation for PTSD in the workplace, and Legislation which makes it illegal to discriminate against a person on the grounds of gender identity and gender expression.
I would also like to highlight the work done through boards and committee, of which I am the chair. I am proud to participate in the important work of appointing passionate and skilled Yukoners to boards and committees that help shape how Yukon moves forward. Another committee that works to benefit our communities is the Public Accounts Committee, which is a tri-partisan committee that works with the auditor General of Canada to review audits to government departments. This work ensures that the government remains accountable and transparent.
I want to speak to the work done through the Community Development Fund. I am proud to support this work as vice chair of this fund. With approximately a 3 million dollar budget we receive requests from all over Yukon to help fund projects that will benefit stronger, more vibrant communities. We have met 4 times since January and have approved many projects taking place in communities across the Yukon, from Old Crow and Mayo to Whitehorse and Carmacks. Approved projects include a range of exciting initiatives, like revitalizing historic churches, upgrading sports complexes, to supporting the construction of Yukon’s first mosque.
Reconciliation and building strong government-to-government relationships has been a priority this first year, and it will continue to be a priority as we move forward. I support the steps that have been taken to reinvigorate the Yukon Forum, and the agreement to meet 4 time each year. We must work together to build a thriving, sustainable and modern Yukon.
I am proud of the action our caucus has taken so far, and I look forward to continuing to serve my constituents and all Yukoners in the years to come.
2017 Highlights
- Work to appoint passionate and skilled Yukoners to boards and committees that help shape how Yukon moves forward.
- Independent Yukon Financial Advisory Panel established to provide options and engage with Yukoners on healthy financial management in Yukon.
- Fixed sitting days established in the Legislative Assembly.
- National Aboriginal Day became a statutory Holiday in Yukon.
- Changes to legislation that make it illegal to discriminate against a person on the grounds of gender identity and gender expression.
- Yukon Forum revitalized with the commitment to meet 4 times per year.
- Proposed legislation that will work to increase prevention of PTSD in the workplace, and ensure emergency responders are presumptively covered.
- Moving on a plan to regulate and fund midwifery within Yukon’s health care system.
- Making progress on the construction of a new French high school in Riverdale.
- 11 new mental wellness workers currently being recruited for Yukon communities.
