Todd Hardy (1957-2010)
Yukon New Democrat Party Leader Liz Hanson has expressed her condolences to the family of Todd Hardy, who died Wednesday morning following a long journey with leukemia. Todd was the MLA for Whitehorse Centre and the former Leader of the YNDP.
“Todd was committed to serving the people of Yukon and was passionate in his pursuit of social justice” said Hanson. “Not everyone agreed with the way Todd defined issues, but everyone know where Todd stood – for social justice, community inclusion, the rights of workers, including the right to organize collectively, and for human rights.”
Todd was first diagnosed almost four years ago. He continued to work on behalf of his constituents, and all Yukoners, right up until his untimely death July 28.
We will miss you, Todd.
A service will be held Sunday, August 1, at 2 pm at the Mt McIntyre Centre. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Habitat for Humanity.
Here are the media reports:
CBC, Whitehorse Star, Yukon News
Updated July 30, 2010
Leader's Message
Elizabeth Hanson
I have enjoyed the Yukon’s summer light as I knock on doors across Whitehorse. Yukoners have welcomed me and talked with me about the issues they feel are important.
Many expressed worries about the lack of decent, available, and affordable houses to buy or rent in the Yukon, and many spoke of distrusting the current Yukon government. Housing is becoming an emergency issue in Yukon.
I believe that Yukon municipalities and First Nations need to collaborate to address land availability and development options. I also encourage you to tell me what you think about this serious issue.
I’ve also called for more accountability from the RCMP. As long as the RCMP continue to investigate complaints against themselves, it will be impossible to re-establish the public’s trust. In Yukon, I was part of the Review of Yukon’s Police Force. At the national level, I added my voice to the federal NDP’s call for a national civilian unit to investigate complaints about the RCMP.
I hope to meet more Yukoners to discuss these and other issues in the next couple of months. I encourage you to attend, or even to host NDP meetings so I can meet your neighbors and friends, and we can together talk about what the NDP stands for in the Yukon.
Elizabeth Hanson
July 2010