Latest news with #Whitehorse
CTV News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Mike Pemberton wins Yukon Liberal leadership race, will be next premier
Yukon Liberal Party Leader and premier-designate Mike Pemberton poses in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Yukon Liberal Party (Mandatory Credit) WHITEHORSE — WHITEHORSE -- Mike Pemberton has been named the new leader of the Yukon Liberal Party and will be the territory's 11th premier. A local businessman and longtime party insider, Pemberton won the leadership race by 13 votes over former Kwanlin Dun First Nation Chief Doris Bill. Pemberton told supporters gathered Thursday night at the party's convention in Whitehorse that they have an opportunity to build on eight years of strong leadership and First Nations partnerships. '(It's) an opportunity to grow together, to grow our party, to show our strong track record of economic growth, our commitment to public safety, affordability and the well-being of all communities, big and small,' he said. No date has been set for when Pemberton will be sworn in as premier but he will have little time to make his mark before he is running in the next territorial election. That election must take place on or before Nov. 3 and Pemberton has previously told The Canadian Press that he would likely call it before that deadline. In his acceptance speech Thursday he said there was 'hard work and new challenges ahead.' 'I commit to having genuine conversations with Yukoners across the territory, and building a platform that not only reflects Yukoners' wants and needs, but inspires them as well,' he said. Pemberton is chair of the Yukon branch of the federal Liberal party and was vice-president of the territorial party before stepping aside to run for leader. He will replace outgoing Premier Ranj Pillai who announced earlier this year that he would not be seeking re-election and would step down after his successor was chosen. The party said 873 ballots were cast at the leadership convention, with Pemberton getting 442 votes, 429 people voting for Bill, and two ballots being spoiled. Following the votes being announced, Bill said she was disappointed. 'I really tried to reach out across the Yukon, because I believe that it's Yukoners that should vote for their leader,' she said. Had she won, Bill would have been Yukon's first Indigenous premier and first to be born in the territory. She said she hopes that can still be achieved by someone. 'I hope someday. You know, this may have been the closest we've ever gotten as a people to that particular job,' she said. The Liberals hold a minority government in Yukon with eight of the 19 available seats in the legislature. Opposition Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon congratulated Pemberton on his win and thanked Bill for putting her name forward. 'Making the choice to enter politics is never an easy one. With increased public scrutiny and time away from family, the sacrifices are many, but our democracy requires that dedicated citizens answer the call to serve our communities,' he said in a statement. By Ashley Joannou and Isabel Ruitenbeek This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025
CBC
11 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Mike Pemberton elected new leader of the Yukon Liberal Party
Members of the Yukon Liberal Party have chosen their next leader and the territory's next premier: businessman Mike Pemberton. "We are here tonight as part of a proud, and strong Liberal movement that is rooted in community. Compassion. And the belief that we can work together to build a brighter future for all Yukoners," Pemberton said. Pemberton narrowly won by 14 votes. Out of a total of 873 votes, Pemberton received 442, while fellow candidate Doris Bill received 429. Pemberton has been involved with the federal and territorial Liberals for more than 20 years. He was the spokesperson for Ranj Pillai's campaign when the current premier and party leader ran uncontested for the Yukon Liberal Party leadership. He also previously owned a furniture store in downtown Whitehorse. He's served on the Whitehorse and Yukon chambers of commerce, the Yukon Development Corporation and the board of Yukon Energy. Pemberton is now premier-designate until a swearing-in ceremony. Once sworn in, They will then serve as the territory's 11th premier until the next general election, which must happen before November 3.
CTV News
a day ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Territorial Liberals hold leadership convention to replace Yukon premier
Yukon Liberal Party candidate Doris Bill, left, and Mike Pemberton are shown in this combination handout image. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Yukon Liberal Party *MANDATORY CREDIT* WHITEHORSE — The Yukon Liberal Party will choose its next leader today and he or she will also become the territory's 11th premier. A leadership convention is being held in Whitehorse where more than 1,000 eligible party members can vote for either Doris Bill, a former Kwanlin Dun First Nation chief, or local businessman Mike Pemberton. They are running to replace outgoing Premier Ranj Pillai who announced earlier this year that he would not be seeking re-election and would step down after his successor was chosen. Eligible voters will be using a ranked preferential ballot and the candidate who receives 50 per cent plus one of the total number of votes will be declared the winner. The next territorial election must be held on or before Nov. 3. The Liberals hold a minority government in Yukon with eight of the 19 available seats in the legislature.
CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
Thousands of fish could be killed at Whitehorse dam, new study suggests
Social Sharing Thousands of fish may be killed as they swim downstream through the hydroelectric dam in Whitehorse, a new study suggests — and that's something one environmentalist is calling "unacceptable." Prepared by the B.C.-based environmental consulting firm EcoFish under contract for Yukon Energy, the research is linked to the relicensing process for the dam, now in front of the Yukon Water Board. EcoFish has studied fish mortality associated with the dam before. Its latest research, though, estimates the number of fish that could be killed. The research, based on two years of field work as well as data going back several years, suggests that many fish are being unwittingly sucked into intakes such as the dam's four turbines — a phenomenon called entrainment. An estimated 25,063 resident fish, which include whitefish, grayling and Northern pike, are entrained each year, the study states. More than half of those — about 15,470 — could be killed. Then there are imperilled chinook salmon, with an estimated 43,000 to 203,000 juveniles entering the intakes annually, the study states. Between 13,000 and 62,000 of those will be killed, it says, representing about 30 per cent of all migrating juvenile salmon in the Yukon River. This would mean that if 200,000 juvenile salmon were to move downstream, it's likely that less than one per cent of those would return as adults to the Yukon-Alaska border or the dam because of all the other ways in which salmon could be killed during their lifecycles. Built in 1958, Yukon Energy's dam on the Yukon River is a crucial piece of infrastructure, generating enough power to supply on-grid residents with roughly 80 per cent of their electricity during the summer — equivalent to lighting up roughly one million 40 watt light bulbs. The dam has four turbines, a spillway and, at roughly 366 metres, what the company boasts is the "longest wooden fish ladder in the world." Fish entrained at the Whitehorse dam can be killed in different ways. "Overall, it was found that the greatest mortality risk to fish was due to strikes/collisions … followed by barotrauma, and shear stress," the study states. Barotrauma refers to injuries brought on by sudden changes in air or water pressure. The dam has four turbines, with the last one installed in 1985. The study says nearly 12,000 resident fish enter that route alone, and it's one of the more dangerous. The mortality rate for grayling swimming through the newest turbine is 85 per cent; for Northern pike, it's 99 per cent. Juvenile salmon were studied separately. The research suggests the larger they are, the higher the likelihood they are killed. For wild, one-year-old chinook, the mortality rate is 58 per cent. The study states fish are more likely to be sucked into the dam during spring and summer nights. With that, it recommends considering adjusting flows during sensitive migration periods. The study also suggests more research into fish ecology in Schwatka Lake, the dam's reservoir, and taking a hard look at the turbines. "Fish behaviour can also be influenced to try and guide fish away from potentially harmful passage routes," the study states. "This has been attempted using screens, flow deflectors, lights, electricity, and bubble curtains with some success." Researchers used discharge data between 2013 and 2024. They also took fish samples, hydroacoustic scans and deployed sensors down intakes at the dam, including the turbines and spillway. Researchers employed similar methods in a 2023 study. This time they were expanded. 'It's just insane how many' Sebastian Jones, a wildlife analyst with the Yukon Conservation Society, told CBC News the new research not only shows but confirms how perilous the dam can be for fish. "Some of these turbines are killing almost every freshwater fish that comes through them," he said. "It's just insane how many. That's unacceptable, I think that's a fairly reasonable conclusion." While mortality rates for juvenile chinook salmon are lower compared to freshwater fish like grayling, Jones said it's no surprise salmon upstream of the dam are "winking out." "There's no wonder there's no salmon left in the McClintock River that used to support fish camps." Roughly 88 per cent of the territory's electricity comes from renewable sources, primarily hydroelectricity. The territory has for years been aspiring to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with ministers saying the Yukon is on firm footing already because of its three dams. But Jones said dams aren't "green" — they come with significant environmental impacts. "So when we are contemplating expanding or building new hydro [dams] we need to bear that in mind, you know, are we prepared to wipe out fish runs?" he said. "They're very hard on rivers. "The research is valuable. It is important, and it will help us design a generating system that reduces the number of fish killed."
CBC
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Yukon First Nations graduation turns 50
Social Sharing The parking lot of the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse was full on Friday, and the building surrounded by well-dressed young people and their proud families. Despite the smoky conditions in the city, there was much to celebrate. Over 120 Yukon First Nations students celebrated their high school graduation this week, and participated in the 50th First Nations graduation ceremony on Friday. The graduates were from communities all across the territory, including the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Liard First Nation, Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation, Carcross/Tagish First Nation, Taku River Tlingit First Nation, and others. Graduates at the annual ceremony wear traditional regalia, unique to them and representative of their journeys. Family members often help make the regalia. Graduate Marielle Wenzell is Taku River Tlingit and credits her mother for her outfit as well as the special touch a cedar graduation cap by Michelle Williams brings. She felt proud ahead of the ceremony. Tyler Goodwin-Hall, from Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation, worked on his jacket with his Nona. It was a technical challenge, he said. Elisha Dulac from the Kluane First Nation, whose traditional name is Kama Dzea, wore regalia decorated with weasels and bison, animals she's harvested since childhood. Both her mother and grandmother helped design her regalia. She said on Friday that she was grateful for the small community she's from, and all the support which led her to graduation day. Speaking to CBC News at the ceremony, Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Peter Johnston offered some advice to the graduates. He said showing up is key, as well doing your best, having clear intentions, and not being too hard on yourself.
