Leader's Message

Elizabeth Hanson

The Christmas season is a time of reflection and celebration. I hope that it is also a time of renewed hope and joy for you.

As the new leader of the Yukon New Democratic Party I am now getting a good sense of the issues and challenges facing us in the New Year. These first few months have been a time of adjustment and learning for both me, the Executive and our Caucus.

I told the Leadership convention on September 26th, that good government requires thoughtfulness, courage, humility and hard work -- that’s what we, as New Democrats, bring to the table.

I appreciate the many offers of assistance I’ve received to help me and the Party move forward, in ways big and small. Thank you for fixing the bookshelves in our tiny HQ … and thank you for figuring out our internet issues … and thank you to the members who are now bearing down on election planning.

We’ve been busy since Sept. 26th. The executive held a one-day-long planning retreat, a strategic plan is now unfolding, and we held a fundraiser with Dr Ryan Mieli as our guest speaker.

I commend the consistently positive approach taken by MLAs Todd Hardy and Steve Cardiff over the Fall Session. Thanks to them, the government has committed to an Anti-Poverty Summit that will include participation from labour, business, and those living in poverty, as well as government reps. The YNDP caucus has made it possible for meaningful work to take place on the Landlord Tenant Act and on legislative renewal.

I encourage you to invite your friends and neighbors to engage in the process of rebuilding democracy in Yukon. I hope YNDP members will engage in the discussions to come about how MLAs work together and about changes to how they are elected.

I welcome opportunities to meet with you – individually or in small group settings -- to talk about issues that matter to you. I can be reached at hansone4ndp@gmail.com or 668-2203.

I would also encourage you to give frank and honest feedback to me, to our MLAs, and to the executive. Let us know if we’re on the right track or if we need to refocus our efforts.

The NDP can and will form government again. We can and do make a difference in the legislative assembly. Each of us needs to contribute what we can, both time and money, to make reinvigorate our Party. The YNDP‘s strength comes from the support each of us provides.

Whatever the issue, listen to your fellow Yukoners with an open heart and let them know they have a trusted ally in the NDP.

Elizabeth Hanson
December 2009