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Yukon Party MLA Patti McLeod and Yukon Party MLA Scott Kent

Yukon Party candidates confirmed in two ridings

Two seasoned Yukon Party MLAs have secured the nominations in their respective ridings to represent the party in the pending territorial election.

By Whitehorse Star on February 16, 2021

Two seasoned Yukon Party MLAs have secured the nominations in their respective ridings to represent the party in the pending territorial election.

Patti McLeod, the MLA for Watson Lake, will see her name on the ballot whenever the election is called.

“First elected in 2011, and re-elected in 2016, McLeod is a dedicated and authentic voice for the recognition of rural issues in the Yukon Legislative Assembly,” the party said Tuesday.

The first and only female Speaker of the assembly, McLeod advocated for an increase to the territory’s medical travel subsidy, which kicked in last month.

“She is committed to pandemic recovery, creating jobs, improving housing opportunities and supporting families and seniors in Watson Lake and throughout the Yukon,” the party added.

“I extend my sincere appreciation to the constituents of Watson Lake for their support in the past,” McLeod said from her home in the town. “I would be honoured to represent them for another term in the legislative assembly.”

Scott Kent has served as the MLA for the Whitehorse country residential riding of Copperbelt South since late 2016.

He was first elected to represent Yukoners in the assembly in 2000 as a Liberal MLA, and again in 2011 and 2016, representing the Yukon Party.

Kent, who began his career in his brother’s business, plans to push for a successful pandemic economic and education recovery.

“I’ve been honoured to engage with and advocate for residents, community leaders, and business owners of Copperbelt South over the past four years,” Kent said Tuesday.

“I will continue to fulfil my commitments to my constituents if elected for another term.”

“It was a privilege to work directly and effectively with Patti and Scott at the caucus table from 2011 to 2016,” said Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon, who was a cabinet minister between those years.

“With their knowledge and experience on the team, we continue to build a strong foundation as we work together on behalf of Yukoners to become the territory’s next government.”

Party nominations for the riding of Mayo-Tatchun also closed, revealing the Yukon Party’s first contested nomination.

Village of Carmacks councillor Lorraine Graham and Peter Grundmanis, a teacher who grew up in Elsa, are seeking the candidacy.

More details will be forthcoming on the contested nomination in Mayo-Tatchun.

The riding is represented by Don Hutton, who is the sole Liberal MLA not seeking re-election.

Comments (18)

Up 4 Down 1

Meh on Feb 22, 2021 at 4:45 pm

Meh. What has Ms McLeod done of note? Absolutely nothing that I can recall. Time for some new blood.

Up 7 Down 0

Groucho d'North on Feb 21, 2021 at 9:57 am

@ Norbert
My grandmother taught my siblings and I, "You have two ears and one mouth, so you should be listening twice as much as you talk."

Your turn

Up 5 Down 2

Norbert on Feb 20, 2021 at 10:08 am

re: Groucho "Liberals listen with two ears then speak with one tongue." Chief Danny Joe, Little Salmon first nation.

Up 10 Down 11

Lense on Feb 19, 2021 at 5:02 pm

Kent the perennial opportunist and resident turncoat.

No thanks.

Up 11 Down 5

Groucho d'North on Feb 19, 2021 at 10:58 am

@Norbert
A number of MLAs have 'crossed the floor' in their political career and each has their own reasons for doing so. I like to think it is about principles rather than political opportunity.
“Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others their principles for the sake of their party.” Winston Churchill

Up 7 Down 13

Woodcutter on Feb 18, 2021 at 4:02 pm

@wilf. I am not too concerned about the next election. The cons attract all the garbage from the extreme right and those folks are generally a great repellent to attracting swing voters like myself. There are some folks that should be invisible, for the good of the cause.

Up 10 Down 10

Norbert on Feb 18, 2021 at 4:13 am

@groucho - Then the light went out for Kent as it does for all traitors. Maybe that's all right where you come from. What kind of conservatives are out there? It seems that they're more "friends of the government" types than any other principle they could be dwelling on. Scheesch they have squatters, former unionists, confused first nation people they wouldn't stand in say Alberta.

Up 22 Down 7

Lynx on Feb 17, 2021 at 8:36 pm

@Sourdough You are definitely a party person and not a candidate person. No normal person talks like that about a politician with such love and affection. I dare say you are a staff member or Yukon Party volunteer.

Anyways I won't consider voting Yukon Party until their leader Currie Dixon pays back the EXTRA severance package he gave himself just days before leaving office last time as one of Pasloski's ministers. Now he is back for more at the trough after supposedly leaving politics (and the money!) in 2016.

Up 24 Down 9

Groucho d'North on Feb 17, 2021 at 12:12 pm

@ Adam Smith
You are aware that Mr. Kent was originally elected as a Liberal in the Pat Duncan government? Then he saw the light and realised the error of his ways.

Up 34 Down 13

Yukon Sourdough on Feb 16, 2021 at 7:56 pm

I have lived in many Ridings and dealt with many politicians over my years. After retiring I made my home in Whitehorse Copper and can honestly say I have never dealt with a politician like Scott. He is there, helping his people with anything and everything. He doesn’t help only those he knows will vote for him. He will do anything he can. He’s dealt with the City and the government and I know a range of other folks over the years. I know he used to represent Riverdale and they liked him as well. We are lucky to have him out here and I will absolutely vote for him again. I am not a party person. I am a people person. And Scott is good people.

Up 9 Down 26

Adam Smith on Feb 16, 2021 at 7:31 pm

I'm surprised Scott and Patti are trying to stick around and be a part of Currie's new Progressive Yukon Party. I always thought they were actual conservatives. I guess power is more important to them then principles and morals. Too bad, I used to have respect for them.

Up 23 Down 17

Wilf Carter on Feb 16, 2021 at 5:16 pm

I can't believe how scared Liberals are of losing the next election to Yukon Party.

Up 3 Down 10

Wes on Feb 16, 2021 at 4:14 pm

Dealt with both of them, give it a rest Wilf.

Up 15 Down 12

Curious observer on Feb 16, 2021 at 4:09 pm

Do I detect the odor of decay?

Up 40 Down 26

NeilAlexGeddy on Feb 16, 2021 at 3:06 pm

Hope Lorraine takes it for Mayo Tatchun.
Need someone who will show up to the communities on a regular basis.
Don Hutton. Who is this man? Never seen him in my life. Rivals Sasquatch as the hide and seek champion of central Yukon.

Up 67 Down 33

Matt on Feb 16, 2021 at 2:53 pm

Good, Scott Kent is a very good rep.

Up 49 Down 66

Danno on Feb 16, 2021 at 2:42 pm

I don't think I can take another 4 years of Kent's incessant whining.

Up 91 Down 38

Dealt with both of them on Feb 16, 2021 at 2:11 pm

Some of the last people that actually care about the Yukon. At least they represent the local experience. I've dealt with most of the Liberals in Whitehorse. They represent politicians. No genuine sentiment towards the difficulties they've put on regular people. They got rich hiding behind an emergency measures act. Completely disconnected from what they've done. I really don't like any of the parties, however, I will vote YP because of how poor the liberals are doing for us.

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