Everything you need to know about the Yukon federal election results

Good morning,

It’s that time of year when the largest migration in the North takes place. Birds? Bears? Bison? Bees? No, I’m talking about the elusive creature, the American RV owner.

A burly beast, steel and plastic, sometimes up to 45 feet in length, they are all similar in shape, but do have distinctive rear ends, adorned with “Georgia,” “Florida,” and “Nevada.” They pass through the Yukon on their visit to Alaska, but you can also find them camping out in parking lots and shopping at the grocery store.

Sadly, they’ve become a little territorial lately, thinking our country is their home turf. Best to approach with caution during this year’s migration!

It finally happened this week. I ran into not one, but two people at the Alpine Club of Canada Yukon AGM who read the Lookout. It’s very gratifying to know people are enjoying reading it.

I’ll be in Haines Junction this weekend. I’d love to connect with any readers, as I’m working on a few stories, especially around things to do in the summer. I’ll have details on that in the next edition of our newsletter.

Let’s get to today’s newsletter!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout founder

Correction: Active Commute Month in Whitehorse is in May, not in June as I said in the last newsletter (it was in June for a week but is now the whole month of May). Thank you to Lynn for spotting the error.

The Yukon Weather Report

GOVERNMENT

Everything you need to know about the Yukon federal election results

Well that was a wild ride! One of the most significant recent elections in memory produced some surprising results. Let’s break it all down.

What happened: The Liberals managed to almost snag a majority government, winning 169 seats to the Conservatives’ 144. The Bloc won 22, the NDP seven and the Greens one. The Liberals increased their vote share from 33 per cent to 43 per cent, while the Conservatives increased theirs from 34 to 41 per cent. 

• NDP vote collapse: The story of the election was the NDP vote collapse, falling from almost 16 per cent with 3 million votes in 2021 to 6 per cent and 1.2 million votes this election.

Vote turnout way up: The other big story was the higher voter turnout. The Liberals and Conservatives both garnered more than 8 million votes each, compared to around 5 million each last time. Voter turnout was up six percentage points, from 62.3 per cent in 2021 to 68.7 per cent.

But what about the Yukon: Don’t worry, I’m getting to that!

It was a big night for the Liberals in Canada, but also in the Yukon. MP Brendan Hanley handily won the race with 50 per cent of the vote and 12,019 votes, to 38.5 per cent and 8,724 votes for Conservative candidate Ryan Leef. 

• Hanley spoke to CBC after his win, noting that even though they won, affordability was something the party didn’t “recognize… as well as we could.” 

Voter turnout up: The Yukon was actually relatively high in terms of voter turnout, with 22,256 eligible voters participating with turnout at 73.4 per cent, which was just under five percentage points higher than the rest of Canada. Well done, everyone!

Conservatives' performance improved: The Conservatives got 8,724 votes, up from 5,096 in the last election, but Hanley essentially doubled his vote total. The NDP vote likely pivoted towards him — their total votes dropped from 4,354 in 2021 to 1,439.

• The one caveat is that former Conservative candidate Jonas Jacot Smith in 2021 garnered 13.6 per cent of the vote that would’ve likely gone to Conservative candidate Barbara Dunlop.

Were there any takeaways from the election? And what does it tell us about things up in the Yukon?

America is the issue: Like the rest of Canada, the American tariffs really were the number one issue. Compared to the rest of Canada, the Yukon is quite closely connected to the United States, with Skagway and Haines being part of the fabric of the North. It may be that our proximity to the country made the issue even more resonate, and that resulted in more people turning out.

• Here at the Lookout, by almost a 2-1 margin, readers have said they plan to skip visiting the U.S. this year because of the tariff threat. It’s an emotionally charged issue for many, and rightfully so.

Territorial election impact?: There will be a territorial election at some point this year. Could these results be indicative of what might happen to the Liberals and NDP? Over in BC, the NDP premier, David Eby, was up seven points in March in the last survey. Does it mean anything? It’s very difficult to say without any polls, but the scale of the federal Liberal win certaintly seems surprising.

Smooth operation: Everything went incredibly smoothly at the polling station where I voted. I had my voter card and even with everyone arriving after work, I waited only five minutes in line to vote. The team manning the polling station at Porter Creek Secondary was professional and courteous.

• …If you had a card, that is: Unfortunately for those who didn’t have their voter card, the line was quite long and moving slowly.  

Disclosure: In the interest of transparency, please note that my partner works for the Yukon government.

YUKON NUMBERS

⛴️ 2029: The year the George Black Ferry in Dawson City will likely be replaced. The ferry has had mechanical issues in the past that have made reliability more of a challenge. [CBC]

💰️ $16.9 million: The amount the Ministry of Education says it spent on Catholic schools in the 2023-24 calendar year. There are three Catholic schools in the territory. [Yukon News]

🏥 22: The number of years that Bev has worked at the Watson Lake Community Hospital, working in the food preparation services. Congrats Bev, on all your hard work! [Yukon Hospitals]

HOME OF THE WEEK

Country residential? Wood building? Barn? Heated shop? 11 acres? An extra dry cabin?

What doesn’t this place have? With three bedrooms, two bathrooms and 2,900 square feet, there’s a lot of space to like about this home. Located in the Robinson subdivision, it’s a little slice of nature and only 30 minutes to Whitehorse. 

The price is not a million, but it will still set you back.

THE AGENDA

🧊 The Klondike region ice breakup is currently underway. The ice has broken up in the city, but Dawson remains under an Ice Advisory, and the ice has remained intact below the open stretch to Fort Mile River. Water levels could rise further in Dawson, but flooding is not expected.

👮 The RCMP is investigating a firearm that was discharged around Selkirk Street in Riverdale on Apr. 27 at 8 pm. They are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the event to contact them. 

💉 There has been an increase in overdoses in the Whitehorse area due to unsafe drug supply. The group that runs the overdose prevention site says no one has died, but an unknown substance was discovered in the drugs. [CBC]

🏒 Whitehorse’s Dylan Cozens scored the second goal in what was a 4-0 win by the Senators against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team is still down 3-2 in the series, but has momentum behind them as they battle back from a 3-0 start. Could the Leafs choke yet again? Let’s hope so (sorry Toronto fans).

💰️ Don’t get caught without a parking permit in downtown Whitehose, because parking fines are set to increase to $40, with a $20 discount if paid by the next business day, after council voted in favour of the plan on Monday. Dropping litter will be a $250 fine and parking on a sidewalk will be $125. [CBC]

🌊 With the spring melt arriving, more water is being released from the Eagle Gold mine. They noted that some water being discharged by the mine’s receiver “may exceed regulatory levels” for sediments and metals, in order to prevent overflow at the water storage ponds. The meltwater has not come into contact with cyanide, according to the government. [Toronto Star]

Other Northern news

🗳️ While the NDP struggled in the rest of Canada, Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout held onto her seat, garnering 2,945 votes, only 77 more than Liberal candidate  Kilikvak Kabloona. And over in N.W.T., Liberal Rebecca Alty, the former Yellowknife mayor, won with 8,580 votes, while the Conservative candidate Kimberly Fairman got 5,284. 

⁉️ Living in the North sometimes poses challenges when it comes to things everyone else takes for granted. One of those may include voting. Residents of five communities in Nunavik were unable to vote on Monday, due to both a lack of polling stations and inaccurate hours. Now the Makivvik Corporation, which represents Inuit in the territory, is asking for Elections Canada to investigate. [APTN News]

🌋 A volcanic eruption in the North? Alaska has been put on notice that Mt. Spurr, only 125 km away from Anchorage, may be about to erupt. There was also a 4.7 magnitude earthquake off the coast. It’s the fifth quake greater than 4.1 in the last 11 days. [Daily Mail]

YUKON TREASURES

Mac’s underground

There’s a feeling that comes over me when I walk through a bookstore. It feels like a world of possibilities opens up, beckoning, hinting at something new.

Bookstores feel like stepping back in time, a period of life when algorithms didn’t decide what we consumed, and where physical space created limits on what we could explore. Without algorithms, bookstore owners shared their tastes and their interests, creating a level of curation which, in my opinion, an algorithm can never match.

I had that feeling this week at Mac’s Fireweed Books. For a city that’s defined by the outdoors, the darkly lit, claustrophobic basement has become one of my favourite areas in the city. I don’t know what brought me there this week. But by the time I checked my watch, 20 minutes had already passed.

What makes the basement space special is that it houses all their books for sale. Most are $10, and the bigger ones are around $20. Some sales have a truly awful selection. Is anyone really interested in another B-list celebrity biography? But in between clunkers, there are many good choices. I’ve picked up a spy novel, a hardcover cookbook on fish butchering and recently a 400-page monolith on everything to do with film that normally costs $100, but was priced at $20.

Summer is almost here. I, and many of you reading this, will spend most of our time outside this summer. But when that sun rises in the morning, as you’re having coffee at Pine Lake or Cogdon Creek campgrounds, there’s nothing better than pulling out a good book, especially one that you got on sale.

Yukon Treasures is a short column devoted to the wonderful, underappreciated parts about living in the Yukon. If you’d like to contribute, reach out anytime.

Last chance to enter to win two $25 gift cards

We’re giving away two $25 gift cards to any Yukon business. All you have to do is refer one person to the Lookout. It’s that simple!

But you’ll have to hurry, the contest ends at midnight tonight. We’ll announce the names in our May 7th newsletter.

Your unique URL: {{subscriber_refer_url}}

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EVENTS

Events outside Whitehorse are highlighted.

Family + Kids

Canadian Children’s Book Week | Mac’s Fireweed Books | Apr. 29-May 4 | Huge discounts on children's and youth books

Fireweed Community Market | Shipyards Pak | Thursdays starting May 8, 3 pm-7 pm | It’s baaaack. Food, music, local produce and goods, and so much more at one of the most popular events of the summer | Free

Mother's Day Brunch – Celebrate and Support | The Sternwheeler Hotel & Conference Centre, 201 Wood St. | May 11, 10 am & 11:30 am | Buffet brunch, live music, and door prizes | Tickets from $28

Yukon Kennel Club’s Annual Dog Show | Takhini Arena | Jun. 13-16, 4 pm | If you love dogs, this is for you, with eight confirmation shows, and more

Augusto! Children’s Festival | St. Elias Convention Centre, Haines Junction | Aug. 8-10 | Art and music festival that celebrates children | Learn more

Arts + Music

Animal Trinket Tray Sculpting | Canada Games Centre, Boardroom | May 3, 3:00 pm | Sculpt clay trays for rings or keepsakes | Tickets $23

A Conversation with Mary Walsh | The Sternwheeler Hotel | May 23, 7-9 pm | A night of wit, wisdom and laughs with This Hour Has 22 Minutes alum Mary Walsh | Tickets $55

Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival | St. Elias Convention Centre, Haines Junction | June 6-8 | Come enjoy bluegrass music all weekend long | Tickets $195

Our Lady Peace Concert | Shipyards Park | June 28, 5 pm | A free concert featuring Our Lady Peace!

2025 Atlin Arts & Music Festival | Tarahne Provincial Park, Atlin | July 11-13 | Come see over 30 bands, visual artists, films and more! | Tickets $186

Dawson City Music Festival | Downtown Dawson City | Jul. 18-20 | Over 25 artists and bands from across Canada | Tickets $195

Outdoors and Sports

Mt. Sima 2nd Annual Sloppet | Mount Sima | May 3, 11 am | Skate, skin and bike event | Registration $30

Recreation Expo 2025 | Canada Games Centre | May 4, 11 am-4 pm | Learn more information from recreation and sporting clubs | Free

Introduction to Bicycle Maintenance | Icycle Sports, 21 Waterfront Place, Whitehorse | May 6, 6:30 pm | Learn bike care basics—cleaning, setup, repairs | Tickets $70

Yukon Brewing Ball Hockey Tournament | Takhini Broomball Area | May 10, 9 am | 3×3 plus goalie games, coed tournament with many games! | $250 per team

Velonorth 2025 Spring Group Rides | Meet at Midnight Sun Coffee/Icycle | Saturdays, May 10-June 7, 10 am | Two-hour road ride with other cyclists | Free

Intro to Yukon Camping & Outdoor Adventures | Yukon University, 500 University Drive, Room C1440 | May 15, 6:00 pm | Family-friendly workshop on camping | Tickets $25

Whitehorse Trail Running Film Festival | Yukon Beringa Interpretive Centre | May 15, 6 pm | Films for running lovers, plus pizza + drinks | Tickets $23

Marsh Lake Madness Triathlon | Jul. 1 | A normal triathlon, but with paddling instead of swimming! | Learn more

Discovery Day Golf Tournament | Dawson City Golf Course, Dawson City | Aug. 14-16, 2:00 pm | 18-hole team scramble with prizes and banquet | Learn more

Other

Winterlong Turns 10 | Winterlong Brewing | May 31, 12 pm-7 pm | Live music, fun and more with their biggest anniversary celebration yet

Kitchen Party 2.0 | Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre | May 3, 6 pm | Eat and dance the night away with music and a silent auction | Tickets $107

2025 Indoor Community Garage Sale | Canada Games Centre | May 10, 11-4:30 | Come by and sell your goods or find some treasures

Jody Wilson-Raybould in Conversation with Ivan Coyote | Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre | May 22, 6 pm | Come meet and hear from The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould as she discusses her new book | Free

Have an event or a community announcement? Submit it here.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Oh tourists… You help our economy and we love sharing this amazing place with you. But the least you can do is learn how to park properly.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

🧊 Congrats to the two winners of the Dawson ice break-up raffle, both from Dawson. The time was 10:56 am on April 26. 

🏊️ The aquatic centre in Whitehorse will be closed this Friday-Sunday for a swimming competition. There are also multiple events at the Canada Games Centre this weekend, including Yukon Judo Championships, the Yukon Fish & Game Association Bird and Bat Building Day and the City’s Reaction Expo.

🔥 The Yukon government has a new newsletter that will provide alerts on wildfires as the season approaches.

👋 The Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Haines Junction is looking for volunteers for June 6-8. Learn more.

🥠 For those in Dawson needing their Chinese food fix, Gold Village Chinese Restaurant reopens May 1, from 11 am-11 pm. I plan on stopping by this summer and sharing a review!

🧒 The Yukon Hospital is hosting a Teddy Bear Clinic on Saturday from 10 am-1 pm, where kids can bring their stuffed animals for a checkup, to help make kids feel more comfortable with healthcare. 

🥧 The Pie Lady is opening up the side entrance of the CIBC Building in Dawson, the former location of Beverly’s Bakeshop. Weekday hours start May 17, but the grand opening is May 2-4.

🍾 The Grade 7 students at the Holy Family Elementary School are hosting a bottle drive for their farewell celebration. You can drop them off at the school from 5:30-8:30 pm on May 2. 

🧁 And the Grade 7 students at the Elijah Smith Elementary School are doing a yard and bake sale on May 17. You can grab a table, and the event goes from 10 am-2 pm. 

☕️ If you’re travelling through Haines Junction this weekend, North of 60 Petro is doing a 10c/L discount and free coffee and slushies on May 2, along with a free burger and dessert from 11 am-1 pm.

🥟 Food trucks are starting to return. Fast and Tasty, with their delicious perogies, is back at the Shipyards Park parking lot from 11 am-4:30 pm.

🎥 Yukon Theatre is closed until May 2, but the good news is they’re getting new seats and carpets!

🧊 The City of Dawson is reminding people to move their vehicles from the lower dyke or near the Klondike during the breakup. 

THE YUKON WORDLE

Think you can guess this week’s Yukon Wordle? It has something to do with the changing weather. Play it here.