The upcoming territorial election is a time to give the government a job evaluation and all candidates a tough interview!
For the current government members it is now time to hold them to account for all that they have said, all that they have done, and, all that they have not done.
As I have gone door-to-door in the riding where I am running for MLA, I have heard many issues raised and the sort of things that concern my neighbours about this government include: reckless spending on building projects; careless investment in asset-backed paper; secret negotiations to sell our energy resources; funding obtained by special warrant to avoid scrutiny by the legislature; callous treatment of the homeless and disdain for due process in the Peel land-use process.
Sadly, these concerns are often expressed with a shrug of the shoulders and an observation that all governments behave this way and, besides, most of the members of the government are nice people.
This attitude troubled me and it is the parent in me that helped me figure it out.
Nice is nice, but a smile used to mask unkindness and unfairness is just bullying.
None of us would accept this in our children and I do not think we should accept it in our government.
What we have a right to expect from every member of the Yukon legislature is that they treat every person whom they serve with genuine friendliness, fairness, due process, and a determination to act in the best interests of every Yukoner.
After all, it’s exactly what we expect of our children in the playground, but, all kidding aside, the legislature is not a playground.
We are electing a government to build a better Yukon for our children and future generations.