An independent commission on the Yukon’s electoral boundaries says a northern-Indigenous electoral district should remain its own separate riding.
The Yukon Electoral District Boundaries Commission released a final report last week recommending the Vuntut Gwitchin riding in Northern Yukon should not be merged with the Klondike riding.
The Vuntut Gwitchin riding encompasses the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation (VGFN), located in Old Crow, the territory’s only fly-in community. It has the smallest electoral population in Canada with 188 voters.
The nearest hub to Old Crow is Dawson City, some 400 kilometres south in the Klondike riding. An interim report by the commission earlier this spring recommended merging the two ridings into one in order to better balance the vote.
The final report was tabled in the legislative assembly last week. Its recommendations are contained in the Electoral District Boundaries Act, which was tabled earlier this week.
VGFN said in a statement Friday it applauded the report’s recommendation.
“VGFN is pleased to see the maintenance of the Vuntut Gwitchin electoral district in the Electoral District Boundaries Act tabled in the Yukon Legislative Assembly earlier this week,” it said.
Commission changes recommendation
Despite a growing population, especially in Whitehorse, Yukon’s electoral boundaries haven’t changed since 2008.
There are currently 19 electoral districts in the territory, 11 of which are in Whitehorse and eight are in rural communities.
The commission’s interim report proposed reducing the eight rural ridings to six, as well as adding two new ridings in Whitehorse’s growing Whistlebend neighborhood, increasing the number there from 11 to 13.
VGFN said in the statement the commission’s interim suggestion to merge the Vuntut Gwitchin and Klondike ridings “raised significant concerns.”
“The Vuntut Gwitchin electoral district was created in 1978 and since then Vuntut Gwitchin electors and representative members in the Yukon Legislature have made immense and lasting contributions to the political, social, economic and cultural development of the territory, including the achievements of greater local autonomy and responsible self-government for Yukoners and Yukon First Nations alike,” it said.
In its final report, the commission noted there was significant public pushback to its suggestion.
It said written submissions from people in Old Crow were “powerful and persuasive” and that many argued the riding is unique because of its remoteness, strong First Nation’s identity and connection to the land.
It also found Vuntut Gwitchin people were likely to be disenfranchised if their electoral district was combined with the Klondike.
“After much discussion and consideration, the Commission changed its recommendation from the Interim Report and now recommends leaving Vuntut Gwitchin as its own electoral district,” it said.
The commission’s final report ultimately suggests having 13 ridings in Whitehorse and eight in the rural communities.
Rural Yukon ‘needs a voice’ says NDP leader
Yukon NDP leader Kate White is taking the issue one step further.
She put forward a private member’s bill to amend the Election’s Act last week.
The amendment would guarantee eight rural MLA’s regardless of population growth in Whitehorse. It would also guarantee the Vuntut Gwitchin district as its own separate riding.
“This is just about looking towards the future to make sure that rural Yukon has a voice, and that Vuntut Gwitchin still has a voice,” she told APTN.
Vuntut Gwtichin MLA Annie Blake spoke about the issue during second reading of the bill last week.
“If the Vuntut Gwitchin was absorbed into a larger district, our specific priorities could be overlooked or overshadowed by larger, more populated areas. Issues central to our way of life, such as the protection of the Porcupine caribou herd, climate change impacts, and Indigenous rights, require focused advocacy from a representative who understands and is directly accountable to the community,” she said.
White said the time was right to put the bill forward as there’s no majority government.
“This is probably the most representation we’ll ever have to have this conversation about the Elections Act, because under majority governments, it doesn’t matter what anyone else enacts,” she said.
She noted it’s important there are “parameters” put in the Elections Act as future boundary commissions “will be dealing with the same question.”
“What we’re trying to do is give direction in the future to say that rural Yukon cannot lose out, and Vuntut Gwitchin must remain a riding,” she said.
VGFN thanked White for her support in its statement, though it said it still had “serious concerns” with the territory’s Elections Act, especially regarding the lack of input from Yukon Indigenous people when it was created.
“The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation reiterates our call—and the call of the General Assembly of the Council of Yukon First Nations—for a comprehensive review of the Elections Act. It is time to revisit and transform elections in the Yukon in collaboration with Yukon First Nations,” it said.
White’s bill could be up for a final vote as early as next week.
The new electoral boundaries act still requires legislative approval before it becomes law.
