The Yukon’s NDP leader is calling on the Yukon Liberal government to remove Tamara Goeppel as chair of the Central Yukon Assessment Review Board in light of the former election candidate’s charges under the Yukon Elections Act.

Considering “the political nature of these charges,” Liz Hanson said in a statement Thursday afternoon, “we hope the Liberal government will rescind her political appointment, made on 1 January 2017, as chair of the Central Yukon Assessment Review Board until such time as this matter is resolved.”

Goeppel faces three charges relating to her use of proxy ballots during the 2016 territorial election campaign, while she was running as the Liberal candidate in Whitehorse Centre – Hanson’s riding.

Goeppel is the first person to be charged under the Yukon Elections Act. She told the Star Thursday she will not comment on the allegations against her.

At 4:52 p.m. Thursday, nearly 6 1/2 hours after the RCMP publicized the charges against Goeppel, Premier Sandy Silver released this short statement:

“We are aware that the Whitehorse RCMP has concluded its investigation, and that this matter will now proceed through Yukon Territorial Court.

“This is a very serious matter. It is important that the Yukon Elections Act is upheld and that the rights of voters are protected.”

The Central Yukon Assessment Review Board hears and decides on complaints relating to real estate within its jurisdiction. It also investigates property assessments to ensure they are equitable and in line with the Assessment and Taxation Act.

The chair of the review board is appointed by the cabinet, cabinet spokesperson Lana Selbee said in an email.

No appointments to the assessment review board are being made at this time, she said.

Goeppel was first named to the board in January 2012, and was made chair in January 2014. She was reappointed on Dec. 13, 2016, said Selbee.

All appointments are one year long.

Devin Bailey, the president of the Yukon Liberal Party, said today the party is not barring Goeppel from seeking a Liberal nomination in the next territorial election, expected in 2021.

“Any Yukon Liberal Party member is eligible to put their name forward as a nominee,” he said.

To be sure, Bailey added, potential nominees undergo rigorous vetting.

“Once they put their name forward, they fill out a candidate nomination form which is a fairly indepth document pertaining to all aspects of that individuals affairs, and then it’s is scrutinized by the leader and a committee,” he said.

After allegations of sexual harassment were made last year against former Yukon Party Speaker David Laxton, the party banned him from running on its ticket in the 2016 election.

Bailey said the Liberals are “not taking that firm of a stance” against Goeppel.

“We’ll let our process and our constitution determine our course of action,” he said.

Allegations that Goeppel had misused proxy ballots in her riding surfaced one week before the Nov. 7, 2016 election day.

On Nov. 1, the Liberal party said Goeppel organized 10 proxy votes for “vulnerable people” in her riding.

Proxy votes are reserved for people who have reason to believe they will be absent from the Yukon on election day and advanced polling days. Such people can ask someone else to vote on their behalf.

The 2016 election was the last to have proxy ballots as a voting option, Dave Wilkie, assistant to the Chief Electoral Officer, noted this morning.

They are being replaced by special ballots, which allow Yukoners to vote, by mail or in person, any time after the fourth year of a government’s mandate.

With a special ballot, a person can vote for a candidate or a party.

They are meant for people who will be out of the territory for extended periods of time, such as for a semester in university.

“The legislative assembly felt it was good to have a transitional election when both were in effect,” said Wilkie.

“The right to vote is at the core of our democratic values, and allegations that someone manipulated that right should be taken extremely seriously,” Hanson said Thursday.

“I have the utmost confidence that Yukon’s judicial system will be a fair arbiter of this case.”

In an emailed statement this morning, Marius Curteanu, the Liberal party’s vice-president, said, “The Yukon Liberal Party fully complies with the rules and regulations that are legislated under the Yukon Election Act.... It is important that Yukon Elections Act is upheld and the voter’s rights are protected.”

See editorial in Opinion section.