THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon, in conjunction with the leadership of self-governing Yukon First Nations, to adopt a new protocol for government-to-government relationships; and
THAT such a protocol would allow all Members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly to engage in open, transparent dialogue with First Nation leaders to promote mutual understanding and foster collaborative approaches to governance for the benefit of all Yukon people in the future; and
THAT the Co-operation in Governance Act be amended to provide for formal meetings between First Nation leadership and Members of the Legislative Assembly on an annual basis, with the proceedings of such meetings being open to the public and forming part of the public record of the Yukon Legislative Assembly. (Oct. 25/07)
THAT this House urges the Minister of Environment to immediately release the interim state of the environment reports from 2003 and 2004, which have been in the minister's possession for more than a year, and to table the 2005 state of the environment report as he is required to do during the 2007 fall sitting of the Legislative Assembly. (Oct. 29/07)
THAT this House urges the Minister of Finance to use whatever portion of the Yukon government's $100-million financial surplus is necessary to ensure:
(1) that social assistance rates will be raised significantly to reflect the increase in the cost of living since the last time the rates were adjusted without triggering unwarranted increase in rental cost for those on the lower rungs of the economic ladder;
(2) that Yukoners afflicted with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder will finally receive the level of housing and support services they require;
(3) that safe, clean housing is available for all Yukon people who need it, regardless of their ability to pay; and
(4) that the Yukon youth who need a safe place to live will have access to emergency shelter and support programs this winter. (Oct. 29/07)
THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon to refuse to permit any individual or company that has been convicted of serious violations of Yukon's environmental regulations to engage in any new resource extraction operation in the territory until suitable financial compensation has been made to Yukon and Canadian taxpayers for any environmental cleanup arising from their previous operations within the territory's boundaries. (Oct. 30/07)
THAT this House urges the Yukon government not to enter into bilateral talks with any other Canadian jurisdiction with respect to the Yukon signing on to the trade investment and labour mobility agreement that currently exists between the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia without first conducting broadly based consultation with Yukon people about the implications of such an agreement and without seeking the consent of the Yukon Legislative Assembly to engage in such talks. (Oct. 31/07)
THAT this House express its displeasure to the Government of Canada that recent tax measures announced by the Minister of Finance did not include any adjustment in the northern residents tax deduction to reflect the increase in the cost of living of Canada's northern territories in the 20 years since the deduction came into effect. (Nov. 1/07)
THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon to develop and adopt an ethical investment policy that will ensure that a significant ratio of the investments it makes on behalf of Yukon taxpayers are in funds or other financial instruments with a demonstrated commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, fair labour standards and sound environmental practices. (Nov. 8/07)
THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon to develop and adopt a Yukon-wide training and employment strategy that ensures that Yukon people who live in rural communities are able to participate as fully as possible in current and future economic activities in the territory, and that their families and communities will be able to enjoy the benefits of such activity. (Nov. 6/07)
THAT this House urges the Yukon government to increase cigarette taxes by at least $15.60 per carton and close the tobacco tax loophole that allows roll-your-own tobacco to be taxed at a lower rate, as recommended by the Canadian Cancer Society because:
(1) higher tobacco taxes are the most effective measure available to reducing smoking;
(2) increasing tobacco taxes improves health and increases government revenue; and
(3) the Yukon has one of the lowest tobacco taxes in Canada. (Nov. 7/07)
THAT this House urges the Yukon government to increase funding and establish long-term contribution agreements with non-government organizations dealing with women's issues, so that:
(1) the availability of shelter and support programs for women in domestic violence situations is assured;
(2) the effects of federal government cutbacks in funding for Status of Women Canada and the elimination of its advocacy mandate can be offset;
(3) effective advocacy is available to Yukon women dealing with legal, support and custody questions; and
(4) concerns of First Nation women, including cultural identity rights, are recognized and supported. (Nov. 13/07)
THAT this House calls upon the Government of Canada to express its disapproval of the imposition of martial law in Pakistan by immediately imposing an economic embargo on the country and by supporting the immediate expulsion of Pakistan from the Commonwealth of Nations until the current crisis is resolved and a freely elected democratic government is in place. (Nov. 13/07)
THAT it is the opinion of this House that:
(1) the Public Accounts Committee of the Yukon Legislative Assembly has a mandate to:
(a) examine the correctness and legality of any expenditure made by a government department, Crown corporation, or agency;
(b) evaluate whether or not government expenditures are in accordance with the intention of the Legislative Assembly in voting them;
(c) ensure that systems are in place to ensure probity in the expenditure and receipt of monies;
(d) examine the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of government expenditures;
(e) evaluate the effectiveness of programs in achieving their stated objectives;
(f) inquire into the maintenance of adequate systems of financial management, the safeguarding of public property, the supervision of compliance with contracts and the control of allotments;
and
(2) recent disclosures regarding investments made by the Department of Finance have called into question the probity and security of these investments; and
(3) it is in the interest of Yukon taxpayers that a formal examination of Yukon government investment policies be undertaken; and
THAT this House urges the Public Accounts Committee to convene as soon as possible after December 14, 2007, for the purpose of conducting public hearings into the investment policies and procedures of the Department of Finance, including a specific examination of the recent investment of $36.5 million in asset-backed commercial papers. (Nov. 14/07)
THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon to end its practice of turning prisoners captured by Canadian military personnel over to Afghan authorities until there are effective safeguards in place to ensure that these prisoners will not be mistreated in Afghani custody. (Nov. 19/07)
THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon to impose a moratorium on any uranium exploration or development activities, including the development of roads or other infrastructure to facilitate exploration, until Yukon people have been fully informed about the environmental, social and health impacts of uranium mining and have been properly consulted about whether or not uranium mining should be permitted in the territory. (Nov. 19)
THAT this House respond to the clear expression of support from Yukon people for comprehensive legislation to protect workers, children and others from the toxic effects of second-hand smoke by resuming its consideration of Bill No. 104, the Smoke-free Places Act, at the earliest opportunity, with the intent of having legislation adopted before the end of the current sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly. (Nov. 22/07)
THAT it is the opinion of this House that:
(1) Canada's population is aging, and according to Statistics Canada a rising wave of retirement should reach its peak in the early 20s;
(2) a key challenge for the Yukon government will be the availability of qualified public servants as the baby-boom generation, about half of Canada's labour force, enters retirement;
(3) in its investing in the public service (IPS) strategy, the Yukon government said that 70 percent of Yukon public servants were 40 years of age or older;
(4) young people -- frequently faced with limited opportunities to find meaningful, well-paid employment -- must be given opportunities in the public service;
(5) exactly a year ago the minister responsible for the Public Service Commission said in the House that a succession plan was being developed; and
THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon to release its plan for ensuring that the Yukon public service has an appropriate number of well-trained employees to continue providing excellent public services as older workers near retirement age. (Nov. 22/07)
THAT this House urges the Yukon government to respond to the 2007 report card on child and family poverty in Canada by urging the Government of Canada to set minimum targets of a 25-percent reduction in the child poverty rate over the next five years and a 50-percent reduction over 10 years through improving federal income programs for the poor and working poor in order to:
(1) act on the unanimous House of Commons resolution in 1989 to reduce child poverty by the year 2000, which has consistently been ignored by both Liberal and Conservative governments;
(2) lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty, benefiting our whole society; and
(3) allow all Canadian children and families to enjoy our prosperous economy. (Nov. 26/07)
THAT it is the opinion of this House that:
(1) 2,000 scientists contributed to the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;
(2) the final volume of that report, Climate Change 2007, is now available;
(3) the report states that climate change is a reality beyond doubt and that aggressive programs are now needed to prepare for the inevitable change;
(4) the report calls on world leaders, governments and individuals to respond, which our Prime Minister failed to do at the Commonwealth Conference in Uganda; and
THAT this House urges the Yukon government to do its share in taking up the challenge of climate change as outlined by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (Nov. 26/07)
THAT this House urges the Yukon government to research and develop a policy on a guaranteed annual income, as recommended by the Royal Commission on the Status of Women, the Macdonald Commission, the National Council of Welfare, the Special Senate Committee on Poverty and the federal working paper on social security, that would:
(1) be a simple, non-taxable basic income available to all adults;
(2) be recoverable through the personal income tax system for those earning over a certain amount;
(3) eliminate or significantly reduce the social assistance system;
(4) simplify administration and reduce administrative costs;
(5) maintain consumer demand in the face of unemployment, part-time employment and inadequate wages;
(6) deal with long-term structural unemployment, underemployment and the demand for a flexible workforce; and
(7) stimulate the growth of a variety of useful non-market work such as literary and artistic pursuits, volunteer service work, study and research, which will benefit society immensely in the long term. (Nov. 27/07)
THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon not to permit the development of a winter road into the Wind River-Bonnet Plume area for purposes of uranium exploration until Yukon people have had an opportunity to engage in full public discussion of the question of whether or not uranium exploration and development should be permitted in the territory;
THAT this House urges the Premier to direct the Yukon Council on the Economy and the Environment to conduct research into the risk and benefits associated with uranium exploration and development and to make its findings public; and
THAT a select committee of the Legislative Assembly, consisting of equal representation from all parties in the Legislature, be established to conduct comprehensive public consultation on the environmental, health and social impacts of uranium exploration and development using the research provided by the Yukon Council on the Economy and the Environment as a public information tool in the course of those consultations. (Nov. 29/07)
THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon not to permit the development of a winter road into the Wind River-Bonnet Plume area for purposes of uranium exploration until Yukon people have had an opportunity to engage in full public discussion of the question of whether or not uranium exploration and development should be permitted in the territory;
THAT this House urges the Premier to direct the Yukon Council on the Economy and the Environment to conduct research into the risk and benefits associated with uranium exploration and development and to make its findings public; and
THAT a select committee of the Legislative Assembly, consisting of equal representation from all parties in the Legislature, be established to conduct comprehensive public consultation on the environmental, health and social impacts of uranium exploration and development using the research provided by the Yukon Council on the Economy and the Environment as a public information tool in the course of those consultations. (Nov. 29/07)
THAT this House urges the Government of Canada to demonstrate its support for Canadian men and women serving in Afghanistan by removing them from a dangerous mission with little likelihood of long-term success and reassigning them to peacekeeping and community development tasks they can attain, and which most Canadians support; and
THAT this House urges the Government of Canada to adopt an independent foreign policy with respect to the deployment of Canadian forces that emphasizes peacekeeping, community development and national sovereignty, in keeping with traditional Canadian values. (Oct. 30/07)
THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon to end the needless delay in introducing effective whistle-blower protection legislation so that government employees who act in good conscience to report unethical or possibly illegal activity within the workplace will be protected from discipline or retribution for doing so. (Dec. 3/07)
THAT it is the opinion of this House that:
(1) there have yet to be long-term health studies done around the introduction of genetically engineered crops, known as GE crops;
(2) the effects of GE crops on the environment have yet to be ascertained;
(3) socio-economic impacts of GE crops have been devastating in some parts of the world;
(4) GE crops, once planted, could cause irreversible harm to our natural ecosystems and sustainable farms;
(5) the Yukon is one of the only regions in North America that remain uncontaminated by GE crops;
(6) there is currently no legislation preventing the planting of GE crops in the Yukon; and
THAT this House urges the Yukon government to put in place a 10-year moratorium on the planting of any genetically engineered seed in the Yukon and to use that time period to consult with the Yukon people and study the implications of GE crops from a health, environmental and socio-economic perspective. (Dec. 4/07)
THAT this House establish a select committee with equal representation from all three parties, with the Speaker acting as a neutral non-voting chair, to conduct public consultations throughout the Yukon about a code of ethical conduct for Members of the Legislative Assembly, as well as other potential measures to renew and reform the legislative process to make it more relevant, accessible and accountable to the Yukon people. (Dec. 4/07)
THAT, in the interest of making the proceedings of the Yukon Legislative Assembly more accessible, accountable and relevant to the Yukon people, this House direct the
Government House Leader to set the order of budget debates of departments according to the amount of money in departments, from most to least. (Dec. 13/07)
THAT, in the interest of making the proceedings of the Yukon Legislative Assembly more accessible, accountable and relevant to the Yukon people, this House allow members of the public to appear as witnesses to make presentations. (Dec. 13/07)
THAT, in the interest of making the proceedings of the Yukon Legislative Assembly more accessible, accountable and relevant to the Yukon people, the Public Accounts Committee hold a minimum of four regular meetings each calendar year, at the call of the Chair, in addition to other meetings as requested in writing by two or more members of the committee. (Dec. 13/07)
THAT, in the interest of making the proceedings of the Yukon Legislative Assembly more accessible, accountable and relevant to the Yukon people, this House allow members of the public to appear as witnesses to make presentations. (Dec. 13/07)
THAT, in the interest of making the proceedings of the Yukon Legislative Assembly more accessible, accountable and relevant to the Yukon people, this House establish reasonable time limits for questions and responses during Committee debate on departmental budgets. (Dec. 13/07)
THAT, in the interest of making the proceedings of the Yukon Legislative Assembly more accessible, accountable and relevant to the Yukon people, this House direct the Government House Leader to set the order of budget debates of departments according to the amount of money in departments, from most to least. (Dec. 13/07)
THAT in the interest of making the proceedings of the Yukon Legislative Assembly more accessible, accountable and relevant to the Yukon people, articles 75 and 76 be removed from the Standing Orders. (Dec. 13/07)
THAT in the interest of making the proceedings of the Yukon Legislative Assembly more accessible, accountable and relevant to the Yukon people, this House set a limit on the time for each member's questions when witnesses are called to the House. (Dec. 13/07)
THAT in the interest of making the proceedings of the Yukon Legislative Assembly more accessible, accountable and relevant to the Yukon people, this House adopt a rotation of private members' motions based on the number of private members, rather than on party affiliation. (Dec. 13/07)
THAT in the interest of making the proceedings of the Yukon Legislative Assembly more accessible, accountable and relevant to the Yukon people, this House adopt fixed sitting dates for the commencement of the Legislature under article 73 of the Standing Orders. (Dec. 13/07)