About Us
New Democrats across Canada and in the Yukon work to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.
MLAs Todd Hardy and Steve Cardiff represent the NDP in the territorial legislature, working closely with Party Leader Elizabeth Hanson. The NDP caucus recently initiated the territory-wide ban on smoking in public places and businesses, one of many progressive actions over the years.
The Yukon New Democratic Party has a long history of activism and social change in the territory. We are proud of the legacy of our first MLAs (Fred Berger, Stu McCall and Eleanor Millard), the successful territorial governments led by Tony Penikett (1985-1993) and Piers McDonald (1996-2000), and MPs Audrey McLaughlin and Louise Hardy.
May 2010 marked the 25th anniversary of the NDP forming government in the Yukon for the first time. Over three different terms (1985-89, 1989-1993, 1996-2000) NDP governments made a real difference to the lives of Yukoners.
This is an incomplete list, but here are some NDP government achievements we can remember and share with others in the months to come:
• Never increased income taxes in 11 years in government and, in fact, decreased personal income taxes by 2% for all income brackets in the 2000 budget;
• Posted consecutive balanced budgets and left the Yukon in surplus.
• Eliminated health care premiums;
• Appointed the first Aboriginal Speaker in Canada;
• Created Direct Operating Grants for daycares;
• Created the Kids Recreation Fund;
• Appointed the first Aboriginal Minister of Justice in Canada;
• Negotiated the transfer of power generation assets from the Northern Canada Power Commission and established the Yukon Energy Corporation;
• Negotiated the transfer of the management oil and gas resources from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and passed the Yukon Oil and Gas Act, leading to the territory's first land sale in over 20 years;
• Established the Community Development Fund; Fire Smart Fund; Tourism Marketing Fund; Trade Development Fund; Yukon Mining Incentive Program; and Yukon Mineral Exploration Tax Credit;
• Restored collective bargaining rights for Yukon government employees;
• Introduced the Small Business Investment Tax Credit;
• Developed and introduced the Rural Road Upgrade Fund;
• Created the Education Act;
• Established the workers' advocate and the workers' compensation appeals tribunal;
• Established the Low Income Family Tax Credit and Child Benefit Program;
• Provided and funded a permanent home for the Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre; and
• Instigated the two wind turbines on Haeckel Hill;
The Yukon NDP has a strong record of activist, progressive governments – and a legacy of which we can all be proud. It is all the more remarkable that almost every program, service or agreement listed above has been continued by governments of other political stripes.