On the fourth day after the elections were declared, the federal NDP announced Katherine McCallum as its candidate for Yukon MP.
The party made the announcement in a press release to the media on March 26.
As a theatre producer for 30 years, McCallum told the News by phone on March 26 that she’s deeply involved in the Yukon’s theatre and arts scene.
McCallum has been a political observer for more than a decade but is new to working in politics. Her experience is in community building and theatre creation.
She understands the arts is a way to connect people and reflect their stories.
“Creating theatre for your local community is kind of a political act in itself. What sparked me to want to move into politics right now is because I'm really concerned about the state of the world and the state of what is happening,” she said.
“I thought it was time to get off the sidelines and put myself into the public sphere and ask my neighbours and friends and community if they would entrust me with representing their needs on a federal level.”
Born and raised in Australia, she moved to Canada in 2001 and has been producing theatre in the Yukon since arriving in the territory in 2007. She teaches theatre at Yukon University and is the founder and executive producer behind Larrikin Entertainment, as noted in the release.
McCallum said she successfully parented two children to adulthood.
As noted in the release, she advocates for climate action and "marginalized groups."
“I'm an honest person, and I really consider the community of the Yukon to be a really important voice,” she said. She aims to hear those concerns, seriously consider them and take them to a place where they can be actioned.
Noting the federal government’s big role in funding the territory, McCallum wants everyone to have access to quality health care, affordable housing and a good education, according to the release.
The NDP makes sense to McCallum, particularly the party’s dedication to improving access to mental health and dental care.
“Housing is another enormous issue that needs to be addressed, because that is also a right and not a privilege,” she said.
“To have a safe, secure, warm roof over your head that is affordable, that doesn't take a majority of your monthly income, is so important, and it is something that obviously the country is struggling with.”
National sovereignty and balancing resource development and the environment are some other major issues she sees facing the Yukon and the country.
“I think that we need to have commitment to diplomacy and international cooperation when we're dealing with all of these things,” she said.
The Yukon is regarded as a swing riding. It went from blue to red in 2015.
With a close race in 2021, Yukon MP Brendan Hanley took the Yukon seat with 6,471 votes. Conservative Barbara Dunlop came in next with 5,096 votes. Lisa Vollans-Leduc of the NDP got 4,354 votes. Independent Jonas Smith, who was booted as the Conservative candidate for his vaccine stance, followed up with 2,639 votes. Lenore Morris of the Green Party received 846 votes, and 142 ballots were rejected.
While McCallum had no comment on the weaknesses and challenges that her party will have to overcome, she’s confident in NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s ability to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump around tariffs and Canada-U.S. relations given Singh’s authenticity and ability to connect.
“I don't think Jagmeet would bow down to bullies,” she said. She believes he would stand up for Canada’s sovereignty and people.
McCallum commented on the few times that she has met Singh.
“I've been really impressed with his ability to make every person he speaks to feel special and important and seen,” she said.
She’s trying to connect with Yukon voters who are looking for change and feeling underrepresented.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
