The sign for the Legislative Assembly at the Jim Smith building. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – Two Yukon Party MLAs oppose proposed electoral boundary changes over concerns it will lead to less effective representation but the Yukon Government aims to push the changes through before the fall sitting ends.
MLA for Pelly-Nisutlin Stacey Hassard and Watson Lake MLA Patti McLeod both oppose the proposed merging of their ridings as suggested in the Yukon Electoral District Boundaries Commission’s final report.
Hassard cites the vast distances between Faro, Ross River and Watson Lake, and concerns about the unreliability of the Robert Campbell Highway in the winter, which he says would hinder his ability to travel to and effectively represent his constituents.
“They don’t feel that they’re going to be represented properly in the Legislative Assembly and I don’t disagree,” said Hassard. “I know the challenge in a seven-hour trip so to add three hours to that is only just going to make it that much more difficult.”
Both MLAs also voiced concern over decreasing rural ridings from eight to six while increasing Whitehorse ridings from 11 to 13.
The municipalities of Watson Lake and Faro share the two MLAs concerns.
“Our concerns have gone unheeded which is extremely frustrating for us,” said Faro Mayor Jack Bowers.
The bill, introduced late in the fall sitting, required unanimous consent to proceed but was blocked by the two MLAs. They aimed to delay the debate until spring for further consultation. However, the Yukon Government looks to override this by introducing a motion to expedite the debate before the sitting concludes.
Yukon Government’s Cabinet Communications says extensive consultation happened to bring the bill forward and argues the Yukon Party could have shared their concerns previously instead of pushing the debate.
“The Yukon Party’s disingenuous stance seems driven by their political agenda rather than what’s best for Yukoners, and it’s wasting the time of everyone involved,” reads a statement criticizing the MLAs for blocking the discussion last week.
