Jean-Sébastien Blais is running for city council.
Blais first ran for the position in 2012. Since then, he’s been involved with the Yukon Human Rights Commission, the vice-president of the Association Franco-Yukonnaise and the Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon, where he has been president since 2015. Now, he’s announced he’s taking a second crack at council.
Blais first arrived in Whitehorse in 2009, as his wife was from the Yukon, Blais told the News.
Blais said he’s been deeply involved in the Francophone community in the Yukon since arriving. He sat as a trustee on the Yukon’s French school board in 2013, and has been president since 2015.
Blais said he was president of the school board when it took the territory to the Supreme Court over the provision of French-language education in the territory.
The territory and the school board reached a settlement out of court in 2020. Part of that settlement was the establishment of CSSC Mercier.
In his professional life, Blais said he worked for the Yukon government as a policy analyst for ten years before starting a management position with the federal ministry of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) in 2021.
Blais said he is running for council for two reasons: the growth of the city and potential turbulence ahead.
“I want to maintain a sense of welcoming and safety for those who choose to live here to have a good quality of life,” said Blais.
With both federal and territorial elections scheduled for 2025, Blais said council will need someone who knows how to negotiate with both levels of government to get the funding necessary to implement the official community plan (OCP).
"I know the machinery of government. I know what is needed to influence government, and I think that I can leverage that asset for the council,” said Blais.
“We have a lot of work to do, from the bylaw perspective. In terms of implementing the plan, we also need the budget necessary to do that. So without the budget, the OCP will never flourish,” said Blais.
He said he would also look at increasing active transport corridors through the city, as well as working towards a new recycling program for the city with the support of the territory and federal government.
Vincent Larochelle sat as a trustee with Blais on the Commision scolaire francophone du Yukon. Larochelle said Blais is a consensus builder, in that he fosters dialogue and ensures every perspective is heard.
“He was excellent at making sure that everyone would have their say at managing meetings,” Larochelle said. “I think his competence, his conciliatory style, are all going to be valuable assets for city council.”
Larochelle also told the News Blais is an avid hockey player. Blais is known to build backyard ice rinks in the past, Larochelle said.
Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com