‘Major expectations’ for Yukon premier’s new cabinet, say some political watchers
Some veterans, and some newcomers among ministers appointed by Premier Currie Dixon
Political watchers in the Yukon — and the Official Opposition leader — are weighing in on some of Premier Currie Dixon’s choices for his cabinet.
The premier along with eight ministers were sworn in at a ceremony in Whitehorse on Saturday.
The cabinet is among the largest the territory has ever seen. Along with Dixon, three of the newly-appointed ministers have held cabinet roles in previous Yukon Party governments, and five are first-time MLAs.
Critics say the cabinet picks include some surprises, along with some expected appointments.
“Their salaries alone are going to be $1.5 million a year, plus all sorts of costs to support their work – which is legitimate – but it’s going to be a very costly cabinet,” said Jim Butler, former editor of the Whitehorse Star and a longtime political commentator.
“And I think the public’s expectations will be very, very onerous to try and fulfill.”
Environment Minister Wade Istchenko previously acted in the same role from 2015 to 2016, while Scott Kent is returning as Education minister, a role he held from 2011 to 2013.
Brad Cathers is also back in cabinet as minister of Health and Social Services, a position he held from 2005 to 2008. He was also the Yukon Party’s health critic for more than four years.
Some in cabinet have more than one portfolio while others, like Istchenko and Cathers, are responsible for one.
Floyd McCormick, a former clerk of the Yukon legislative assembly, said it makes sense to distribute the work and let some ministers just focus on one portfolio.
“So you’re not expecting the minister of Health and Social Services to take on any other responsibilities, and the same with Highways and Public Works,” McCormick said.
“And in a sense that’s logical, because it you look at the government’s budget, health and social services combined are more than half of government spending every year.”
Both Butler and McCormick said it makes sense to see some cabinet veterans return to roles they’d held before.
“I expected that those with previous cabinet experience would be appointed, and they were,” said McCormick.
‘Major, major expectations’ of new health minister
Butler called Cathers’s appointment as health minister a “very interesting choice.”
“He was ruthlessly critical about the shortcomings of the system, and I think there will be major, major expectations that he’ll have all the answers to implement effective reforms,” Butler said.
Butler said the premier had shown “impressive confidence” in assigning Laura Lang the Justice portfolio along with several others. Lang has more than 13 years of experience in government but is a first-time MLA.
Another newcomer to the legislature and cabinet is Ted Laking, a former Whitehorse city councillor who is now minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, minister responsible for the Yukon Development Corporation, and minister responsible for the Yukon Energy Corporation.
Speaking to CBC on Saturday, Laking called his appointment “a big responsibility […] a huge honour.”
Butler agreed that Laking has a big job ahead of him, with “serious, heavy-duty portfolios” that are a lot to take on all at once.
“He’ll be working seven days a week,” Butler said.
Veteran cabinet ministers are no ‘change,’ says Official Opposition leader
Kate White, new leader of the Official Opposition, also shared her thoughts about the new cabinet, pointing out that the Yukon Party “campaigned on change.”
“And what we’ve seen with the cabinet positions is four previous cabinet ministers put back in,” she said.
White said she was concerned to see Cathers return as health minister because of his track record in the role. That follows other comments earlier this year from former premier Ranj Pillai, who referred to hospital operations as a “dumpster fire” under Cathers’s earlier leadership.
White also said she’s heard concerns from marginalized groups who are concerned about Cathers’s appointment, “especially around funding for the supervised consumption site or for gender-affirming care for queer and trans Yukoners.”
CBC News reached out to Cathers for comment. Over email, cabinet spokesperson Tim Kucharuk said Cathers has built relationships with health care organizations during his time as opposition health critic.
“[The premier] has confidence in the minister to deliver the change in health care that Yukoners are looking for, based on the experience with the file and those relationships,” wrote Kucharuk.
Kucharuk also dismissed Pillai’s comments from earlier this year, saying they refer to something from “18 years ago, and we are not going to spend time responding to old media stories.”
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: New Nunavut premier takes office as federal government pushes infrastructure drive, CBC News
