Yukon.

• Author: Kolody, Linda
• Position: ASSEMBLEE NATIONALE - Report

The 2012 Fall Sitting of the 1st Session of the 33rd Yukon Legislative Assembly convened on Thursday, October 25th, and is expected to rise on Thursday, December 13th, after 28 sitting days. Pursuant to Standing Order 74 the government introduced all its legislation for the Sitting by the fifth sitting day, Thursday, November 1. The bills introduced and given first reading were:

* Bill No. 7, Second Appropriation Act, 2012-13

* Bill No. 42, Donation of Food Act

* Bill No. 43, Act to Amend the Securities Act

* Bill No. 44, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2012

* Bill No. 45, Act to Amend the Municipal Finance and Community Grants Act

* Bill No. 46, Act to Amend the Income Tax Act

* Bill No. 47, Act to Amend the Retirement Plan Beneficiaries Act

* Bill No. 48, Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act

* Bill No. 49, Act to Amend the Oil and Gas Act

* Bill No. 50, Statute Law Amendment (Nurse Practitioners) Act

* Bill No. 51, Residential Landlord and Tenant Act

Tribute to former Speaker

At the outset of the opening day, Speaker David Laxton offered a tribute to former Speaker Don Taylor, who had passed away from lung cancer on October 7th. Mr. Taylor had won seven successive elections, serving as MLA for Watson Lake from 1961 through 1985, and as Speaker from 1974 through 1985. Mr. Taylor holds the dual distinctions of being Yukon's longest-serving MLA, and longest-serving Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (as opposed to the Territorial Council).

Protesters in the Gallery

Also at the start of the opening day, the public gallery was filled with protesters representing a few different groups, some of whom had placed advertisements in local newspapers respecting their intention to hold a rally outside the building and to then fill the gallery. The protesters in the gallery were orderly, and, as anticipated, left at the conclusion of Question Period.

Interim leader leaves the Liberal caucus

During the summer recess (on August 17th), Interim Liberal Leader Darius Elias, MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin since the Fall 2006 general election, left the Yukon Liberal Caucus to become an Independent member. Mr. Elias indicated that the responsibilities of Interim Leader were detracting from his mandate to represent the people of his northern community of Old Crow. The remaining member of the Yukon Liberal Party caucus, Sandy Silver, issued a statement thanking Mr. Elias for the contributions the latter had made to the Liberal...