Officers petition the court to maintain budgetary independence from government

Thu, Jan 23, 2025

Four independent offices of the Legislative Assembly are petitioning the court to maintain their budgetary independence from government and protect the rights of Yukoners. Annette King, Yukon’s Child and Youth Advocate and Jason Pedlar, Yukon’s Ombudsman, Information and Privacy Commissioner, and Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner have jointly filed a petition to the court regarding Government of Yukon’s recent interference into the legislated budgetary process of all four of these mandates.

“Budgetary independence is an international standard that ensures that public rights are upheld and protected from government interference. We have followed the well established, legislated, and independent budgetary process which does not include a secondary review by the Yukon government, to which they have done. We have requested assurances that the Minister of Finance will table the budget estimates to the Legislative Assembly, unaltered, as he is required to do, and he has refused. We are left with no other option than to petition the court to maintain our independence and protect the rights of Yukoners.”

Jason Pedlar, Ombudsman, Information and Privacy Commissioner, and Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner

“This is interfering with the important work we do for children and youth. We advocate for many who are in crisis, and we are currently working on several systemic reviews. This is not about politics for me, it is about independence. The independence of my office is crucial to effectively represent children and youth.”                                                                                               
Annette King, Yukon Child and Youth Advocate

More information on this issue can be found in the news release issued on January 21^st, and in the following links below.

Helpful links

House Officers petition
News release: Government interference puts Yukoners rights at risk – January 21, 2025
Letter to Finance Minister from Jason Pedlar – January 9, 2025
Finance Minister’s response to Jason Pedlar – January 17, 2025
Letter to Finance Minister from Annette King – January 13, 2025
Finance Minister’s response to Annette King – January 20, 2025

Contacts

Tanis Davey
Communications and Outreach Analyst
Yukon Ombudsman, Information and Privacy Commissioner, and Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner
tanis.davey@yukonombudsman.ca
(867) 332-4555
yukonombudsman.ca

Annette King
Yukon Child and Youth Advocate
Yukon Child and Youth Advocate Office
annette.king@ycao.ca
(867) 456-5575
ycao.ca