Ted Laking is nearing the end of his term as president of the Association of Yukon Communities (AYC).
Ahead of the AYC annual general meeting and conference in Dawson City this week, the Whitehorse city councillor told the News by phone on May 7 that he won’t be seeking another term at the helm of AYC.
Laking said he looks forward to handing over the reins to whoever takes over the presidency.
After his term ends, Laking will shift into the role of AYC’s past president, replacing Teslin Mayor Gord Curran.
Laking said his attention is currently focused on handing over the AYC presidency and being a city councillor in the Yukon’s capital.
“I’m focused on that stuff, but yeah, I’m not ruling anything out at this point,” he said.
“I might have more to say in the future, but right now, this is my primary focus.”
With municipal, federal and territorial elections all on the horizon by the end of 2025, Laking said he hasn’t spoken to Whitehorse Mayor Laura Cabott about his future career plans.
The upcoming AYC annual general meeting and conference has a line-up of speakers on the agenda, including the premier and territorial opposition party leaders, deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada Melissa Lantsman, Mark Mather of the Dawson City General Store and Olympic gold medalist Sami Jo Small.
It will include wildfire emergency presentations involving Rebecca Alty, the mayor of Yellowknife, and an emergency preparedness panel, which Laking is keen on.
Eight resolutions were passed at last year’s yearly AYC event, including a key one for improved emergency medical service in rural Yukon.
As part of his work as AYC president, Laking echoed Canadian municipality’s concerns that changes to the Canada Community Building Fund may mean individual municipalities won’t have the flexibility to decide where to spend their share of that fund.
He clarified that the AYC was not involved in consultations regarding the future of solid waste management facilities in unincorporated Yukon communities.
He co-signed a letter with Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston calling for the Yukon government to “take immediate action to address the concerns brought forward by the community of Mayo as they relate to the opioid crisis and health care.”
— With files from Amy Kenny and Matthew Bossons
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com