Legislature to sit next Tuesday, Premier Silver intends to nominate Jeremy Harper for Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, and Government issues special warrant

Tuesday, 4 May 2021 13:01

By Dylan MacNeil

Here is what is going on in Yukon Politics

This afternoon, Yukon Premier Sandy Silver announced that he has asked the Commissioner of Yukon to convene the first sitting of the 35th Yukon Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, May 11th, at 1 p.m.

The session will begin with a speech from the throne.

Silver said in a statement, “I am pleased to announce we will reconvene the Legislature swiftly and we look forward to tabling a revised budget. Our capable Cabinet has been sworn in and I have announced who I intend to nominate as Speaker; we are well on our way. I am excited to continue serving Yukoners.”

Silver said that he intends to nominate Jeremey Harper for Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly.

Harper was elected as the MLA in the riding of Mayo-Tatchun in last month’s territorial election.

“I am honoured Premier Silver would consider me for this position. Should I become the Speaker, I will do my part to ensure all members are heard and treated equally.” Said Harper in a statement.

The Speaker enforces the rules and conventions of the Legislative Assembly. It is their job to treat all MLAs equally and ensure that they get a fair opportunity to participate.

Harper is a member of Selkirk First Nation and has worked in recreation there for over 20 years. He has also served as a Wolf Councillor, an elected leader with the First Nation, and has been on the board of the Selkirk Development Corporation for several years.

The Government of Yukon has issued a second special warrant to ensure government programs and functions are able to continue while the 2021–22 Budget is debated during the Spring Legislative sitting.

The special warrant provides budgetary authorization for up to $161 million in government spending for the month of June. Out of the money, $116 million relates to operations and maintenance spending and $45 million is included in capital funding.

The second Special Warrant for the year has been issued as an order in council under the Financial Administration Act. The funding ensures that government departments continue to have spending authority for operational purposes if the current Special Warrant for the year expires before the budget passes in the Legislative Assembly. The first special warrant expires on May 31. It was issued on March 12.

Spending in the new warrant is approximately one twelfth of government spending for the fiscal year in addition to some major commitments, which require government payments at the start of the summer. The commitments include programs or initiatives such as $15 million in payments for construction of the Dempster Fibre line, $5 million in payments for housing-related initiatives, and $19 million for land and infrastructure development.

More from CHON-FM Northern News

Coroner's Inquest sees footage of lifeless body ignored for more than 12 hours

The on-site paramedic called the incident of Darla Skookum's death “bizarre” because she had obviously passed away many hours earlier.
How We Walk with the Land and Water holds two open houses

The open houses gave citizens and relations an opportunity to share their vision for the Southern Lakes Region
Whitehorse Emergency Shelter staff not trained for emergencies, inquest hears

Last week inquest heard Whitehorse emergency shelter staff members testifying that they were not trained for the emergencies that caused the deaths of four Yukon women.
Premier pledges to meet with Yukoners living in tents to help them find housing

Audio

Yukon NDP House Leader Lane Tredger describes Premier Ranj Pillai's commitment as a bluff; says Pillai is "out of touch."
Whitehorse Emergency Shelter saw a higher presence of drugs after the Connective took over

One staff member while testifying, said things changed for the worse when Connective took over, as they saw a higher presence of drugs.
Whitehorse Shelter has recorded 144 overdoses between 2020 and 2022

144 overdoses has happened at the shelter between 2020 and 2022. Three were at least fatal, including Cassandra Warville and Myranda Tizya-Charlie, on Jan. 19, 2022.
Whitehorse Emergency Shelter understaffed and staff lacked training - inquest reveals

They said at the time of the incident, there was no clear policy or training available to staff on how to deal with overdose incidents nether were they trained on how to monitor intoxicated guests.
Yukon’s legislature recognizes 40 years of programming by CHON-FM/NNBY

Audio

Tributes to CHON-FM include special mention of the late Rockin' Terry Carlick
Coroner’s Inquest into Whitehorse Emergency Shelter deaths begins in Whitehorse

Loud screaming was heard and many broke into tears in painful disbelief when the CCTV footage showed shelter staff dragging the women's lifeless bodies from the shower room.
The Whitehorse Star says goodbye after over a century of publication

One of the last locally owned newspapers in Canada is closing its doors after 124 years of serving Yukoners; thanks staff, advertisers, and readers for being part of its rich history.
City of Whitehorse tables new bylaw to discourage abandoning buildings

If introduced, the bylaw would make annual permits mandatory for buildings left vacant for more than a month and would require owners to safeguard the building from fire and other hazards, maintain insurance and carry out snow and ice removal.
Yukon Party renews its criticism of Yukon Hospital Corporation funding following CBC article.

Audio

Health Critic Brad Cathers quoted documents acquired by the public broadcaster through an Access to Information request, while Minister McPhee stands by the funding of the Hospital Corporation.
Ah'Nezen! happens tonight at 5pm

Join Jennis for their last 'live' show from Kaska country
CHON-FM's Kaska-language coverage of hockey tournament gets national attention

You can hear CBC's national host interview Testloa Smith
Yukon Party criticizes the health minister's trip to Scotland

Health and Social Services Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee spent seven days in Scotland following several rural health centre closures and service reductions in Yukon communities. McPhee hasn't visited Watson Lake in-person since 2021.
Whitehorse RCMP arrests one suspected to be involed with Victim Services Office break-in

A search warrant by Police officers with Whitehorse Detachment General Investigation Section and General Duty officers was executed where Kyle McCormick was known to reside and recovered additional items also believed to be taken from the break-in.
Yukon Native Hockey Tournament returns to Whitehorse

The 44th Annual Yukon Native Hockey Tournament will see 56 teams from the Yukon, Bc, and North West Terriotries attending one of the most anticipated social events of the year.
Community space in the former cafeteria in Jim Smith Building now open

The community space situated on the ground floor of the Jim Smith Building, which is located at 2071 2nd Avenue in Whitehorse, will be open starting Monday, March 18th and will continue to welcome visitors for the next six and a half weeks
Break-in at Whitehorse Victim Services office under inverstigation

Confidential files and other items are believed to have been accessed and individuals who have obtained services or may have been referenced in victims’ files through Victim Services may be affected.
Yukon's RCMP records historic seizure of cocaine in Dawson City

This seizure of cocaine is the largest cocaine seizure in the Yukon to date.