Whitehorse Daily Star

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SHORTLY BEFORE HIS RESIGNATION – David Laxton is seen in April 2016 in his role as Speaker of the Yukon legislature. At that point, he was a Yukon Party MLA.

Charge comes weeks after MLA’s public statement

David Laxton,

By Amy Kenny on September 19, 2016

David Laxton, the former Yukon Party MLA and ex-Speaker of the Yukon legislature, has been charged with one count of sexual assault under the Criminal Code.

The charge is in relation to an alleged incident that occurred last February.

When allegations of an assault surfaced in May, Laxton called them false.

He said in a statement he had twice hugged and kissed “a long-time acquaintance”when she visited the legislative assembly building one day.

At the same time, however, Laxton suddenly stepped down from the Yukon Party caucus, and from his position as Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly.

He currently serves Porter Creek Centre as an independent MLA, and has publicly mused about seeking re-election.

The Yukon Party has barred Laxton from running for it in the upcoming election.

Patti McLeod, the Yukon Party MLA for Watson Lake, was appointed Speaker.

In July, Laxton and the complainant made statements in a press release issued by the Yukon Human Rights Commission.

According to the commission’s statement, the two had come to a “mutually agreeable resolution.”

Laxton apologized for any distress he may have caused the woman.

She said she was satisfied with the resolution and considered the matter closed.

In the statement, the commission noted the lack of a policy around allegations of sexual harassment (which it defines as deliberate, unwelcome behaviour including “offensive sexual comments, gestures or physical contact that are unwanted or offensive”) committed by MLAs. It said one should be developed.

Floyd McCormick, the clerk of the legislative assembly, said this morning the all-party Member Services Board is currently working on that policy.

He said the board is looking at what other jurisdictions, such as Nova Scotia and Quebec, are doing.

For example, does a policy need only to deal with issues between members of the legislature and other members and staff? Or should it also look at issues between members and people outside the legislative assembly?

McCormick said there’s currently no timeframe for the completion of the policy.

Laxton, who made his first court appearance on Aug. 31, could not be reached for comment on the charge, which has not been proved in court.

He will appear in court again on Wednesday.

Comments (8)

Up 28 Down 13

Too Damn Far on Sep 20, 2016 at 12:39 pm

This is unbelievable. Poor Dave. I know him personally and I know he never would have done what he did if he thought it would harm anyone. @ Lynx You are right when you say the Yukon Party is full of rotten apples, but Dave was not one of those rotten apples. Yes, Dave made a mistake...he has paid for it already....publicly and no doubt, privately. The only way I would support a charge of sexual assault in this case would be if it was the woman he kissed filing the charge - no one else - which might lead me to believe there was more to the story than what is being published. Otherwise, what a waste of resources. What a waste of the RCMP's time. What a hurtful thing to do. I'm in agreement with Politico.....this charge is not in the public interest. I would bet money it was a Yukon Party member that called the RCMPto lay the charge. So sad. I still believe in you, Dave.

Up 65 Down 14

another eye roll on Sep 20, 2016 at 9:35 am

This is so dumb. Soon we'll be a bunch of robots who don't even look at each other or even accidentally brush up against one another because you don't know who might be watching and think it's inappropriate. It's my understanding that it wasn't even the woman who was kissed that had the issue--it was someone else who saw it.

Society has gone way too far with everything. As a woman, I think too many women pull out the sexual harassment card way too often. It's disgusting.

Up 27 Down 15

June Jackson on Sep 20, 2016 at 9:27 am

Mr. Laxton should have known better from the get/go. These days, all men, and women too should be aware and respectful of someone's personal space.

"For example, does a policy need only to deal with issues between members of the legislature and other members and staff? Or should it also look at issues between members and people outside the legislative assembly?"

I think this is a stupid comment. If they are developing a policy on sexual harassment it should apply to everyone whether they are in the Leg or not. Harassment is harassment no matter where it occurs.

Up 62 Down 11

Politico on Sep 19, 2016 at 10:23 pm

Sexual assault for a hug and a kiss. Why didn't the woman say no after the first one and let it go. Is this case in the public interest? Something stinks here.

Up 49 Down 2

CJ on Sep 19, 2016 at 9:12 pm

Crazy story. What relevance did the Human Rights Commission have in it, if this is where it's going?

Up 49 Down 1

Mark Sanders on Sep 19, 2016 at 8:22 pm

I would like to hear what took place when the case goes to court.

Up 68 Down 51

Lynx on Sep 19, 2016 at 5:04 pm

God, the Yukon Party sure has a lot of rotten apples in it. Alleged drinking and driving, sexual assault, patronage appointments, handing big contracts to friends and the last YP Premier even did hard time! Sad part is that people don't seem to care how few morals the party has, they just keep blindly voting them in.

Up 79 Down 22

mary laker on Sep 19, 2016 at 2:28 pm

This country is going insane. Where's my safe place? I've been triggered without a trigger warning.

Sexual assault? As a woman, I can say this behaviour was wrong but he already paid a big price and calling for criminal charges of sexual assault is going way too far.

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