Yukon NDP withdraws political donation bill for healthcare focus

Yukon NDP Leader Kate White announced on Wednesday that she will not move forward with a bill aimed at tightening political donation rules. The bill, known as Bill 309, was introduced earlier this week but will not be brought to a vote. Bill 309 sought to change the Elections Act in Yukon. It aimed to prohibit donations from outside the territory, businesses, and unions, while capping individual donations at $1,500 per year for each political party. If any party violated this limit, they would have to refund contributions exceeding it. White stated that her main focus will now be a health care bill she is working on with the Yukon Medical Association. She mentioned, "To be perfectly frank, I will be lucky to get one piece through." During the first opposition day of the spring sitting, it became unclear whether debate on Bill 309 would happen. After question period, the Yukon Party revealed that White had planned to adjourn debate on the bill. Leader Currie Dixon criticized the move, suggesting it was a political stunt rather than a serious effort for debate. White confirmed she would adjourn the debate due to errors in the bill. It incorrectly referenced sections of the Elections Act multiple times. She expressed frustration over the situation, saying, "There's a drafting error in the bill...I need to pull it so I can resolve that." Political donations have been a contentious issue in Yukon. Both the Liberals and Yukon Party often face criticism for benefiting from undisclosed sources of donations. In contrast, the NDP has not accepted union donations since 2016 and mostly relies on local contributions. Dixon indicated a willingness to discuss stricter donation rules but preferred doing so in a collaborative setting. He argued that while he supports capping donations, the proposed limit of $1,500 may be too low. White responded by highlighting the need for transparency, recalling a significant donation made by the Yukon Party in a previous election. She asserted that political parties should primarily reflect the views of Yukoners.