Yukon NDP call out "racist" comment made by Yukon premier in legislative assembly

Wednesday, 23 October 2024 07:00

Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai speaks with media at the Jim Smith building. (Photo: S. Bonell)

Yukon NDP leader Kate White called Pillai's comment "racist," "colonial," and "gross in every way."

UPDATE: An email statement from the Yukon NDP confirms that Premier Pillai and MLA Blake have discussed the comments made, and that Blake considers the issue resolved.

The Yukon NDP are calling on the premier to apologize for a comment he made in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.

On Tuesday, MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin Annie Blake gave notice to a motion urging the Government of Yukon to cancel a Request for Proposals involving long-term health system development. Later, during question period, Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai was answering Yukon NDP leader Kate White’s questions regarding the conversation around privatizing healthcare infrastructure when he made what the NDP are calling an inappropriate comment.

“We also have an obligation to look at self-government agreements, and we have an obligation to respect Chapter 22,” said Pillai in question period. “And, for the NDP today to get the member for Vuntut Gwitchin to get up and make that comment without clearly understanding that this also is about making sure that Chapter 22 is considered […] I think there was a lack of thinking in that.

“We will look at our self-government agreements. We’re always going to look to work with First Nation governments.”

According to White, Pillai’s comment suggested that Blake had been instructed to give notice to the motion because she is First Nations, and for no other reason.

Speaking with media after question period, Pillai raised concerns that the Yukon NDP hadn’t considered the consequences that Blake’s motion would bring about.

“I don’t believe that the leader of the NDP – when they had MLA Blake get up – I don’t know if they sat down and talked about the fact that they were excluding, in their motion, the ability to work with development corporations and fulfill Chapter 22 on health infrastructure today.”

White called the notion offensive and said that she doesn’t instruct her colleagues to speak, vote, or think a certain way.

“Annie Blake is far smarter than I will ever be,” said White. “She has more education, she has more experience, and she has a better understanding of the healthcare system than I ever will. So, she does not need me to tell her anything.”

“But to have the Premier make that assertion – that assumption – that allude to that is so deeply offensive. It’s racist. It’s colonial. It’s [patriarchal]. It’s gross in every way. It is totally gross.”

“What I need from him, is I need him to apologize to her. That is what has to happen. He needs to say he was wrong, and he is sorry that he said what he said.”

White says that Pillai can apologize to MLA Blake in the legislative assembly, through a written statement, or privately and directly.