New Yukon NDP Leader Kate White seeks ends to first past the post voting

White survived the NDP’s loss off four seats in 2016 to become one of two New Democrats in Yukon’s legislature. (File Photo: Kate White/Facebook)

WHITEHORSE — The new leader of Yukon’s New Democratic Party is Kate White, a two-term politician representing the Whitehorse-area riding of Takhini-Kopper King.

White was acclaimed over the weekend at the NDP leadership convention in Whitehorse.

She replaces Liz Hanson, who stepped down in November.

White survived the NDP’s loss off four seats in 2016 to become one of two New Democrats in Yukon’s legislature.

The former professional baker, mining worker and life-skills coach for women in the territorial correctional service said in her acceptance speech that she is fed up with a system “that clearly doesn’t work.”

She plans to introduce a motion in the fall session of the legislature declaring a climate change emergency in Yukon and has also pledged that if the New Democrats win the next election, the party will scrap the first-past-the-post electoral system.

“I am tired of false majority governments,” White told a gathering of about 80 supporters.

The Liberal party captured 11 seats during the territory’s 2016 election, ousting former premier Darrell Paslowski and his Yukon Party, which was reduced to six seats.

Data from Elections Yukon shows the Liberals won 39.4 per cent of the vote, while the Yukon Party grabbed just over 33 per cent and the New Democrats were close behind with 26 per cent.

“I’m not standing here because the system works and I am not standing here to tell you I support the status quo, because I am done with it,” White said Saturday.

White said she’s skeptical that any motion declaring a climate change emergency will pass.

She said even though the climate change situation is dire, she expects motions about it will be amended to “take away any of the teeth.” (CKRW)