Yukon Legislative Assembly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yukon Legislative AssemblyAssemblée législative du Yukon |
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|---|---|
| 34th Yukon Legislative Assembly | |
| Type | |
| Type |
One-house system of the Legislature of Yukon
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| Leadership | |
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Speaker
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Nils Clarke, Liberal
Since 12 January 2017 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 19 |
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Political groups
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Governing Party
Opposition Parties
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| Elections | |
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Last election
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7 November 2016 |
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Next election
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To Be Decided |
| Meeting place | |
 |
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| Legislative Building Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada |
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| Website | |
| legassembly.gov.yk.ca | |
The Yukon Legislative Assembly is like the main meeting place where elected people make laws for Yukon, Canada. It's where important decisions about the territory are made. There are 19 people elected to be members of this assembly. They are chosen by the people of Yukon to represent them.
A person called the Speaker leads the meetings. This person makes sure everyone follows the rules. In Yukon, there are five political parties. Three of these parties have members in the Legislative Assembly. The Yukon Liberal Party currently has the most seats. This means they form the government.
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What is the Legislative Assembly?
The Legislative Assembly is the group of people elected to make laws for Yukon. Think of it as the territory's parliament. Its job is to discuss and vote on new laws. These laws affect everyone living in Yukon.
The assembly also decides how the territory's money is spent. They make sure that the government is working well. This is a very important part of how Yukon is run.
How the Assembly Started
The Yukon Legislative Assembly was officially created in 1977. This happened because of a special law called the Yukon Elections Act. Before this, Yukon had a different way of making decisions.
The very first time members were elected to this new assembly was in 1978. This was a big step for Yukon. It gave the people more say in their own government.
Unique Features of Yukon's Assembly
Yukon's Legislative Assembly is special in Canada. It is the only one among Canada's territories that uses political parties. In other territories like the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, they have a different system.
Those territories use what is called a consensus government. This means that elected members work together without belonging to specific political parties. They try to agree on decisions as a group. Yukon, however, uses the party system, much like Canada's provinces.
Who are the Members?
The Legislative Assembly has 19 members. Each member is elected by people in a specific area of Yukon. These areas are called constituencies or ridings. When you vote in an election, you vote for the person you want to represent your area.
These members bring the ideas and concerns of the people they represent to the assembly. They debate issues, ask questions, and vote on laws. Their goal is to make Yukon a better place for everyone.
Political Parties in the Assembly
Currently, three main political parties have members in the Yukon Legislative Assembly:
- The Yukon Liberal Party: This party has the most members. They form the government and lead the territory.
- The Yukon Party: This is one of the opposition parties. They challenge the government and suggest different ideas.
- The Yukon NDP: This is another opposition party. They also work to hold the government accountable.
These parties represent different ideas about how Yukon should be governed. They work to get their ideas turned into laws.
Where the Assembly Meets
The Yukon Legislative Assembly meets in the Yukon Legislative Building. This building is located in Whitehorse, which is the capital city of Yukon. It's a place where important history is made.
The building is designed for debates and discussions. It has a special room where all the members gather. This is where they hold their official meetings and vote on new laws.
