Yukon.

• Author: Kolody, Linda
• Position: ASSEMBLEE NATIONAL

On March 7, 2013, Premier Darrell Pasloski having advised Speaker David Laxton that the public interest required the House to meet on March 21, the Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 73, informed the Members. On April 3, the Government House Leader, Brad Cathers, informed the House, pursuant to Standing Order 75(4), that after conferring with opposition House Leaders and the Independent Member, it was agreed that the Spring Sitting would be a maximum of 32 sitting days, with the 32nd day being Thursday, May 16.

Bill No. 9, Interim Supply Appropriation Act, 2013-14, introduced on March 21, received assent from Commissioner Doug Philips on March 28. Bill No. 53, Act to Amend the Education Act, was introduced on March 23, and received assent on April 10; passage of this bill was required to establish the 2013-14 school calendar.

Budget Day

The first day of the Spring Sitting is traditionally the day the Budget is introduced. During a tribute earlier that sitting day to Kwanlin Dun elder Annie Smith, the Premier--who also holds the Finance portfolio--noted that it is a tradition for the Finance Minister to wear a new pair of shoes on Budget Day. He noted that Ms. Smith--who was seated in the Speaker's Gallery for the tribute, accompanied by her daughter Judy Gingell, former Yukon Commissioner--is recognized as "an icon of Yukon's First Nation sewing and beading community". The Premier indicated that in keeping with tradition, he was wearing a brand new pair of mukluks, created for him by Ms. Smith. The mukluks were made from hometanned caribou and moosehide, trimmed with beaver fur, and featured a colourful beaded floral design, and a depiction of a dog team. Later that afternoon, the Premier introduced Yukon's 2013-14 Budget, in the amount of 1.23 billion dollars. It is expected that much of the remainder of the sitting will be devoted to consideration of departmental estimates.

Chief Electoral Officer

On March 28th, the Speaker delivered a tribute in recognition of Jo-Ann Waugh, Chief Electoral Officer, who was retiring after a 35-year long career in Yukon elections. The Speaker noted that Ms. Waugh had been involved in every Yukon general election--and by-election--since the 1978 introduction of party politics. He noted that Ms. Waugh, in addition to running elections, has, since 1984, been central to the work of all Yukon electoral district boundary commissions. As well, as head of Elections Yukon, she has...