NDP announce Katherine McCallum as Yukon candidate in federal election
The NDP announced on Wednesday that Katherine McCallum is the party's candidate for Yukon MP in the upcoming federal election, set for April 28.
McCallum is new to politics, having worked in the Yukon's theatre and arts community for the past two decades. She previously served on the board of the Yukon Arts Centre and now teaches theatre at Yukon University.
"I've been sitting on the sidelines politically for a long time and very involved in my own personal beliefs in the political system," McCallum said. "And with everything that's going on in the world and in North America right now, I just felt like it was time to step up."
The NDP is the last of the major federal parties to confirm a Yukon candidate. Liberal Brendan Hanley is seeking re-election, against the Green Party's Gabrielle Dupont, André Fortin of the People's Party of Canada, and Conservative Ryan Leef.
McCallum says that if she were elected, addressing affordable housing and mental health would be some of her priorities.
"We would definitely need some federal funding to go into various housing initiatives that could ease the crunch and make it easier for people to enter the housing market," she said.
McCallum believes that the "mental health crisis" happening across the country is closely tied the housing crisis.
"I think that we need to really look at mental health supports for people so that people can then move forward in their day and be functional and get a roof over their heads. I think that those two things are very closely linked."
Amid the trade war with the U.S. that has put on a strain on Canada's relationship with its southern neighbour, McCallum says "Canadian sovereignty is a really important issue."
"I'm sad that this is happening…it does feel like a bit of a betrayal," McCallum said. She said she does not yet know exactly how she would address the issue.
With election day just over a month away, McCallum says she's excited to get out and speak to Yukoners.
"That's one of the reasons I want to do this…we live in a small city in a small territory with not a huge population. It can't be that hard to listen to each other and actually just move forward in a positive way."
In the last federal election, the party's candidate Lisa Vollans-Leduc finished third in Yukon with 22.4 per cent of the vote.
The last time Yukon elected an NDP member of Parliament was in the 1990s. Louise Hardy held the seat from 1997 to 2000, succeeding Audrey McLaughlin, who was MP from 1987 to 1997 and was also the federal NDP leader for some of that period.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
31 minutes ago
Carney facing some Liberal pushback over Modi's invitation to G7 summit
Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing some pushback from his caucus over Canada's decision to invite the Indian prime minister to the G7 meeting in Alberta next week, with one Sikh MP saying it's a bad idea. B.C. MP Sukh Dhaliwal told reporters he met with Carney early Wednesday to express what he says are constituents' frustrations with the decision to include Narendra Modi. Canadian police have alleged Indian agents were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (new window) , the Canadian Khalistani separatist who was gunned down in B.C. in 2023. Nijjar and others in that movement have been calling for an independent Sikh homeland in northern India called Khalistan, which Modi's government has vigorously opposed and denounced as a national security threat. The RCMP has clearly stated there's credible evidence Indian agents were involved in the assassination of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil, Dhaliwal said of Nijjar. It's a bad idea to include Modi in this high-profile get-together, he said. WATCH | Modi coming is a 'bad idea,' Dhaliwal says: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Liberal MP says Modi coming to Canada is 'a bad idea' Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, B.C. Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal said he met with Prime Minister Mark Carney Wednesday morning to express concerns he says his constituents have with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi being invited to the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta. Dhaliwal said Carney is alarmed by the Nijjar case and taking seriously what would be an egregious violation of Canadian sovereignty. Canada expelled some Indian diplomats (new window) after the allegations were made public. A police investigation into alleged Indian involvement is ongoing but the government has already said there are linkages between the four Indian nationals arrested and charged (new window) with Nijjar's murder and the Indian government. Dhaliwal said Carney is very strong on the issue and will represent Sikh concerns about Indian interference and transnational crime when speaking to Modi. I'm saying it's not a good idea, but now he's invited. We have to move forward, he said. 'Our government needs to take a firm stand' Another Liberal B.C. MP, Gurbux Saini, said his voters are concerned. What is happening is wrong and our government needs to take a firm stand, he said of India's alleged actions. Beyond the Nijjar killing, the Foreign Interference Commission's final report (new window) also identified India as a top meddler in Canadian affairs. The commission reviewed intelligence suggesting Indian-aligned proxies may have clandestinely provided financial support to various Canadian politicians to try and get more pro-Indian candidates elected. The report also found that India has used disinformation to further its goals in Canada. Liberal MP Karina Gould, a past cabinet minister and leadership contender, said human rights should be on the agenda when Carney meets with Modi and if another controversial G7 invitee, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (new window) , also decides to attend. Bin Salman has been tied to the killing of Saudi dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi. I understand why they were invited. Part of diplomacy is having these conversations — you don't shut the door to them, Gould said. But we're also standing up for values that are important to Canadians. WATCH | MPs asked about India, Saudi Arabia invites : Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Liberal MPs asked about Carney inviting India, Saudi Arabia to G7 in Canada Liberal MPs Yasir Naqvi, Ahmed Hussen, Rob Oliphant and Yvan Baker were asked Wednesday to share their thoughts on Prime Minister Mark Carney inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia to attend the upcoming G7 summit in Alberta. The Modi invite is a sign Carney may be looking to reset relations with India after a particularly fractious period under the last Liberal government, said Fen Hampson, a professor of international affairs at Carleton University. It's sending a positive signal to the Indians that the Carney government wants to begin to turn the page on some of the frictions we saw during the Trudeau government and the difficulties they had with India, Hampson said in an interview with CBC News. And there are signs India may be open to a rapprochement because Modi accepted the invitation immediately, Hampson said, unlike Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum who took days to consider whether to go or not (new window) . India is the world's fifth-largest economy, a major regional actor in the Indo-Pacific and an increasingly important player on the global stage, and bringing Modi here for the G7 is a way for Carney to signal he's taking Canada's foreign policy in a different direction, Hampson said. The fact that this is a multilateral gathering that we're hosting does give the prime minister some cover when it comes to domestic critics who feel Modi shouldn't be invited. It would be very different if it was an invitation for a bilateral heads of government meeting in Ottawa. At least this can be done under the cloak of the G7, he said. The push to diversify the economy is why other Liberal MPs were deferential to Carney and his decision to include Modi. Canada is facing an economic crisis with U.S. relations at a low point, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu said, and Canada needs to collaborate and work out some of the issues with India. I think the G7 is an important avenue for the prime minister to discuss some economic collaboration, Sidhu said. MP Yasir Naqvi, the parliamentary secretary to Sidhu, said there's no excuse for the very serious allegations around extrajudicial killings, but the Carney and Modi face-to-face is a chance for Canada to demand India's co-operation with the ongoing Canadian police investigation and to engage on the larger issue. This only happens if there's a relationship between our governments, Naqvi said. WATCH | Conservative leader on Modi's invitation: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Poilievre says Modi's G7 invitation was 'necessary' 5 days agoDuration0:55'We need to work with India,' Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, said when asked if it's appropriate for the Indian prime minister to come to Canada, as his government's role in a B.C. killing is investigated. And, as Carney looks to lessen Canada's dependence on the U.S., there are opportunities for Canadian businesses in India, Naqvi said. Canada is trying to open the door on relationships and say, 'We need to diversify our trade vastly,' added MP Rob Oliphant, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs. The message to the world is Canada is a vibrant trading partner. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said earlier this week that India is one of the biggest and fastest-growing economies in the world. India is a promising potential market for Canadian liquefied natural gas and nuclear power technology, among other products, Poilievre said, and that sort of trade depends on improving relations. We need to work with India … on trade and security, he said. The invitation is necessary. WATCH | NDP MP slams invitations : Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Modi's invitation to Canada 'deeply alarming,' says NDP MP NDP MP Heather McPherson joined colleagues on Parliament Hill to object to some of the foreign leaders invited to the G7 summit in Alberta, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, over his country's alleged links to the 2023 killing of B.C. Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Meanwhile, NDP MP Heather McPherson said Modi's inclusion is deeply alarming. This government has consistently and very clearly chosen profits and the economy over human rights, over people, she said. Profit over people. That's their mantra. John Paul Tasker (new window) · CBC News
Winnipeg Free Press
32 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
City of Burnaby, B.C., to apologize to Chinese-Canadians for past discrimination
BURNABY – A formal apology is being planned by the City of Burnaby, B.C., for its role in discrimination toward people of Chinese descent who lived and worked in the city between 1892 and 1947. The city says in a news release that the decision was made after a community consultation process that included surveys, dialogue sessions, focus groups and individual interviews. A report by the Community Heritage Commission, which advises council on the city's heritage program, says discriminatory bylaws, trades licenses, and labour regulations were enacted against the Chinese population during that time. The city says the findings 'underscored the importance of the city acknowledging the hardships faced by early Chinese settlers and the lasting impact of historical discrimination.' It noted that more than one-third of Burnaby's current residents are of Chinese descent, including new immigrants as well as fourth- or fifth-generation Chinese Canadians who have deep roots there. The city has scheduled an event for the formal apology on Nov. 15, joining the provincial and federal governments and two other B.C. cities — Vancouver and New Westminster — that have already apologized for discriminatory practices against the community. The Prime Minister of Canada formally apologized in the House of Commons in 2006 for policies including charging a head tax for the Chinese to immigrate. The B.C. government apologized in 2015 for 160 historically racist laws, regulations, and policies that were imposed by past provincial governments that discriminated against people of Chinese descent. The City of New Westminster issued its formal apology in 2010 and the City of Vancouver said it was sorry in April 2018. Burnaby's news release says that in addition to making its own formal apology, it is also committed to increasing the visibility of Chinese-Canadian history, facilitating cultural activities and reducing barriers for inclusion. 'While we cannot right the historic wrongs that were committed in Burnaby, this process has outlined a path toward ensuring Burnaby is a place that is inclusive and welcoming to everyone,' Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said in the release issued Wednesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
Ottawa Citizen
an hour ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Dayforce confirmed as replacement for Phoenix as federal government pay system
The federal government is set to move forward with replacing the plagued Phoenix pay system with Dayforce. Article content Procurement Minister Joël Lightbound announced Wednesday that the government would start the 'final build and testing phase' of the new platform. Article content Article content 'The Government of Canada remains committed to modernizing its HR and pay systems in a responsible and transparent manner,' Lightbound said in a statement. 'By investing in the future of HR and pay, we are taking an important step forward in ensuring an efficient, secure, and sustainable solution for public service employees.' Article content Article content The announcement came as the federal government continued to work to ease the backlog of pay issues. As of April 23, there were 327,000 transactions in the system remaining to be processed. Of that number, 49 per cent were more than a year old. Article content Article content The total of 327,000 represented an improvement on previous months. In late February, the backlog stood at 366,000 transactions and in October 2024 it was 402,000. Article content The Liberal government launched Phoenix in 2016 after the previous Conservative government had initiated the platform. Problems soon arose as public servants struggled to get paid fully and on time. Article content An auditor general report from December 2024 found that 32 per cent of federal government employees reported errors in their basic or acting pay during the 2023–24 fiscal year. That was up from 30 per cent in 2022–23 and 28 per cent in 2021–22. However, it was also a steep decrease from the peak of Phoenix's problems in 2019–20, when 51 per cent of employees had to deal with pay errors. The cost of Phoenix's failure for the government has also ballooned. Since 2017, the federal government has spent at least $3.5 billion on the Phoenix pay system. It has also cost the federal government money in settlements and compensation for public servants. Last November, the government settled a class-action lawsuit brought by non-unionized and casual employees over the payment system fiasco. And in 2020 Canada's largest public-sector union, the Public Service Alliance of Canada, reached an agreement with the government giving 140,000 workers each $2,500 in compensation over the issues with Phoenix. Article content Article content
