Whitehorse Daily Star

Image title

Photo by Vince Fedoroff

ENTERING THE POLITICAL PROCESS – ‘No political party has a monopoly on good ideas,’ believes Tracy McPhee. She is seen at this morning’s news conference, called to announce her candidacy for the Yukon Liberal Party nomination in Riverdale South.

Former ombudsman seeks Liberal nomination

The executive director of Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre and former Yukon ombudsman and privacy commissioner is seeking the Liberal party nomination in Riverdale South for the coming election.

By Sidney Cohen on July 19, 2016

The executive director of Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre and former Yukon ombudsman and privacy commissioner is seeking the Liberal party nomination in Riverdale South for the coming election.

Tracy McPhee has lived in the Yukon for more than 23 years. She currently resides in Riverdale South with her family.

The riding is held by popular NDP MLA Jan Stick, a former city councillor.

As a lawyer, McPhee helped develop the Yukon Domestic Violence Treatment Option Court. That’s an alternative to the criminal court that is meant to provide a therapeutic option to those responding to domestic violence charges, and a meaningful remedy to both victims and offenders.

In 2002, McPhee was named president of the Law Society of Yukon, the first woman to hold the position.

In 2006, she was the first northerner named as president of the Canadian Federation of Law Societies, which regulates more than 100,000 lawyers, according to her LinkedIn profile.

McPhee said she was motivated to go out for the Liberals because she views Sandy Silver as a leader committed to building a diverse team that will “take a different approach.”

That means one that’s more open, accountable, and that will seek greater input from the communities and First Nations governments, she said.

The territory’s First Nations governments “need to be properly recognized, and properly brought to the table,” she added.

“Government should be fair, efficient, innovative and responsive to community needs,” McPhee said this morning in a release announcing her run.

“No political party has a monopoly on good ideas, and government must be open to input and consultation from citizens, communities and all other governments in the territory,” she said.

Another reason she wants to be an MLA, McPhee said, is because she believes that women bring a different perspective and should have a greater voice in Yukon politics.

It’s not easy to unseat an incumbent, and McPhee concedes that Stick has been “a good MLA.”

Still, she urged voters to think about the big picture, and that if she is elected, it would beef up the Liberal party in the legislature.

In 2007, the legislative assembly appointed McPhee to serve a five-year term as ombudsman and information and privacy commissioner.

Her contract for the half-time position, which paid $107,017 annually, was not renewed in 2012.

McPhee said at the time that she was given no explanation as to why her contract wasn’t renewed.

NDP Leader Liz Hanson said in 2012 that her party was “extremely disappointed” that McPhee wasn’t appointed to serve a second term.

Hanson commended McPhee for supporting “effective whistleblower protection legislation,” and for proposing other changes to legislation that would “strengthen and enhance government oversight and transparency.”

In 2013, Diane McLeod-McKay was made the Yukon’s first full-time ombudsman and information and privacy commissioner.

McPhee remains a believer in open access to information and transparent government.

“My view has always been, and I think the (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy) Act says, that the default position is that the government should provide access to information ... unless there is a reason not to,” she said.

“I have publicly before said that the government’s approach in the past has been the opposite of that, which is to say, don’t disclose unless you absolutely have to,” she said.

Beyond the bar and her role as ombudsman and privacy commissioner, McPhee served on the board of the Whitehorse Food Bank, was co-chair of the F.H. Collins Secondary School Council and vice-chair of the MacBride Museum.

McPhee also has business experience as the owner of Tapestry Custom Events and Fine Linen, an event planning and linen rentals company, and as the owner of a consulting business.

She also served as an adjunct instructor of criminal justice, Canadian law and administrative law at Yukon College.

Wayne Cousins, the owner of 40 Below Food & Snacks, and Danny Macdonald, a former cabinet press secretary, are competing for the Yukon Party nod in the riding.

Comments (7)

Up 25 Down 7

Just Sayin' on Jul 21, 2016 at 9:48 am

Umm, lets face it, lawyers are good at manipulating facts.

Up 18 Down 8

Just Say'in on Jul 20, 2016 at 6:00 pm

@Jack….It is more like they step forward in order to get their nose deeper in the Trough.

Up 20 Down 19

Jack on Jul 20, 2016 at 4:10 pm

@Just Say'in and @steve. Your comments reveal a lot about your state of happiness and satisfaction about your station in life then anything else. Hey, if you don't like lawyers, don't vote for them. Given that a lot of lawyers are dedicated to public service, it does not surprise me to see them step forward in an effort to make a positive contribution.

Up 13 Down 13

steve on Jul 20, 2016 at 12:32 pm

Just Say'in

Really it should be, Oh God, not more Lawyers. It does not matter what party they are in. We should ban lawyers or have quotas from any political position.

Up 24 Down 4

Good News on Jul 19, 2016 at 8:24 pm

Two strong ladies running. Lets hope the Yukon Party doesn't luck into the split vote.

Up 18 Down 7

Kailey on Jul 19, 2016 at 7:29 pm

Best of luck Tracy! I think you would be an excellent MLA.

Up 38 Down 28

Just Say'in on Jul 19, 2016 at 2:52 pm

Oh Good. More Liberal Lawyers. Just what we need.

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.