Dawson City file photo
WHITEHORSE, YT – The Yukon Government has modernized regulations within the Municipal Act as it relates to the Oath of Allegiance to the Crown for elected municipal officials.
This comes following the refusal of the Mayor and Council-elect of Dawson City to take that oath, which had prevented them all from being officially sworn-in to office.
In a press conference on Friday, November 29th, the Yukon’s Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn had confirmed updates to the Municipal Act have provided the option to pledge allegiance to the Constitution of Canada, rather than go though with the existing Oath to the Crown.
“New councilors can now either pledge allegiance to the Crown, or the Constitution of Canada. We respect the diverse viewpoints on the matter and believe oaths of office should reflect the values of the constituents we serve, for this reason we have chosen the Constitution of Canada as an alternative. This allows elected municipal officials to take the oath of allegiance in a way that aligns with society’s broader values and cultural identities” – Yukon’s Minister of Community Services, Richard Mostyn
Dawson City Councilor-elect Darwyn Lynn, himself a member of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation, says he struggled with the requirement to take the Oath to the Crown, given it’s history in Canada and abroad.
“I didn’t feel… comfortable. I was hesitant on it, I actually sat there and I looked at it, and I read it probably about 15 times, and it didn’t get any easier to do. I think that’s just with the history that the Crown has had in Canada and other places… I thought that there may be another option.” – Dawson City Councilor-elect Darwyn Lynn
While The Mayor and Council have yet to say when they’ll be taking the new Oath, Councilor-elect Lynn says he wants to make sure it takes place in Dawson City.
The Department of Community Services confirmed they had meet quickly after news broke that the Mayor and Council-elect of Dawson City had refused to take the Oath, and that they had to act quickly to find a resolution within 40 days or risk the results of the recent Dawson City election becoming null and void.
The Department also confirmed these updated regulations we’re possible without a major overhaul of the existing Municipal Act, an extensive consultation process, or a vote in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
