Honourable senators, I rise today as the senator for the Yukon to provide Yukon’s perspective on this matter.

In 2019, the Government of Yukon commissioned a review of our health and social programs and services. The independent expert panel tasked with the review included the former Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, who also served as the Deputy Minister of Finance.

Many Yukoners contributed to this report, including health care professionals, social services professionals, community organizations, Yukon government staff, non-governmental organizations and First Nations governments. More than 300 Yukoners participated in public meetings with members of the expert panel, and over 700 Yukoners completed an online survey. Based on their input, the panel’s final report, entitled Putting People First, made 76 recommendations.

One of the recommendations in the report was to develop a guaranteed annual income pilot program. The Yukon government subsequently asked the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition, a non-profit organization, to examine this matter, and they released their final report this fall.

A review of the Putting People First report references federal Bill C-233, An Act to eliminate poverty in Canada, and Bill S-233, an earlier version of the bill currently before us. The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition’s report also references the policy and program engagement in other provinces and territories.

The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition’s report clearly identifies the challenges that — quite honestly, drawing upon my experience as a former Finance Minister — I had suspected would be encountered if a program were to be put in place in the Yukon. Not surprisingly, it is more complicated than one might envision.

Honourable senators, between 2015 and 2025, the Yukon population increased by 9,748 people. That is a staggering 26% increase in the territory, and in Whitehorse, the increase is nearly 30%. As of March 31, 2025, the population was 47,170, a new record high for the Yukon.

Of this number, an estimated 22% are First Nations. As you have heard me say many times before, 11 of the 14 Yukon First Nations are self-governing. Regarding the self-governing First Nations, there are significant differences in the delivery of assistance to their citizens, an issue also identified in the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition’s report. On Tuesday morning, our Indigenous Peoples Committee heard from the Council of Yukon First Nations Grand Chief Math’ieya Alatini, who said that self-governing First Nations do not receive adequate funding for delivery of services to citizens whom they consider members, but whom Canada may not consider as “status Indians” — to use the language of the Indian Act.

There are no reserves in the Yukon. Status Indians who are members of non-self-governing First Nations receive income assistance funding through the Government of Canada. As I noted, it’s complicated.

One of my first responsibilities in the Senate was to serve on the National Finance Committee. I repeatedly asked officials from the Department of Indigenous Services about the many line items in the Main Estimates. There are two lines that are germane to this discussion.

In the 2023-24 Main Estimates listing of transfer payments, we find grants to provide income support to on-reserve residents and status Indians in the Yukon Territory at $20 million. Although the Yukon is referenced, that estimate amount is for income support to on-reserve residents and status Indians throughout Canada. In the 2025-26 Main Estimates, it is again $20 million, although the actual expenditures for 2023-24 were $10,206,192.

The second line item, contributions to provide income support to on-reserve residents and status Indians in the Yukon Territory — again this is for all of Canada — in the 2023‑24 Main Estimates was $1.3 billion. In the 2025‑26 Main Estimates, it was $1.227 billion, and the 2023-24 actual expenditures were $1,398,611,442.

Honourable senators will recall the Auditor General’s recent report regarding the delivery of programs and services by the Department of Indigenous Services Canada, the minister’s commitment to do better and the values we hear about regarding this government of inclusion, empathy and compassion.

A key point from the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition’s report is this:

While Basic Income Guarantee has the potential to provide opportunities for reconciliation and cultural preservation, our work within this report focuses on the possible benefits of BIG (Basic Income Guarantee) from a health and social perspective.

More consultation is needed to know if or how BIG administration would align with self-governing principles and practices of Yukon First Nations.

The balance of Yukon citizens receive income assistance from the Yukon government. Several issues with the current social assistance system in the territory were also clearly stated in this report. One of these, voiced by participants in focus groups, is as follows:

. . . the reliance on online information and processes in the social assistance system was identified as a barrier to transparency and communication, as some participants do not know how to use a phone or cannot afford a phone or internet access.

The Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition’s report and the recommendations in Putting People First are now in the hands of the newly elected Yukon government for them to decide the next steps.

Honourable senators, I would like to take a moment to offer my congratulations to Premier-elect Currie Dixon, Leader of the Official Opposition Kate White and, especially, all those who put their names forward to run in the recent territorial election, which, as you are aware, was held on November 3. I would also like to extend my thanks to the members of the Yukon legislature who did not re-offer their services to the people of the Yukon for their work over the past many years.

I offer this information about the Yukon for consideration by my colleagues today in relation to Bill S-206.

If I had a nickel for every time I have said, in this place and elsewhere, that one size does not fit all in this country, I could have made a sizeable contribution to the transfer payments to the provinces. Discussions of a framework for a guaranteed livable income must take into consideration the regional differences throughout Canada and the regional support throughout Canada. I understand that Prince Edward Island has different circumstances in consideration of a guaranteed livable income. I am also of the understanding that there is significant interest, including a unanimously passed motion in their legislative assembly, for that province to put a program in place.

Honourable senators do not need to be reminded that the elected folks are those who are most in touch with Canadians, knocking on their doors and being held directly accountable to them through the votes they receive. So why should Canada put a framework in place? This is a provincial and territorial responsibility. Well, yes and no.

Canada collects the taxes and provides the money, and in some situations, such as with First Nations, directly provides the services. I believe the National Finance Committee — a very busy committee, granted — should give consideration to the work being done in provinces, in territories and by First Nations governments.

When the National Finance Committee studies Bill S-206, I ask you to recognize and give full and fair consideration to the work of our predecessors in this place, the honourable senators Hugh Segal and Art Eggleton. I also hope that the committee will take into account the work done in my territory, most especially, the values statement and understanding of the challenges outlined in the recommendations of Putting People First. I also encourage the committee to hear from and recognize the significant support and work done in discussions with Canada for a program in P.E.I., and that such a program recognize that differences exist throughout Canada and that the framework be guided by one of the values often repeated by our Prime Minister — that of inclusion.

Honourable senators, as I near the end, I want to share a personal story. This spring, I presented a King Charles III Coronation Medal to a woman who has been instrumental in founding, working in and supporting the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society Yukon.

When she was a nurse in the Yukon many years ago, she adopted a baby with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD. While this woman, now elderly, continues to exhaust her personal financial resources supporting her adoptee, who is now an adult, they are also able to receive the additional resources they need to live independently and safely elsewhere in Canada.

In discussing the current Senate work on FASD and Senator Ravalia’s Bill S-234 calling for a national framework on FASD with this woman — again, she was a lifelong advocate for FASD awareness and support for the individuals affected — she said to me, “Pat, we don’t need a framework on FASD. We need a guaranteed livable income to truly support people like the individual I adopted.”

Honourable senators, having served as the Yukon’s finance minister, I had the distinct honour and privilege of discussing with Canada’s finance minister at the time, Paul Martin, to please restore the funds that have been cut from the Canada Health and Social Transfer.

Having finalized land claim agreements, I appreciate the challenge of First Nations governments in managing their finances with Canada and meeting the needs and desires of their citizens to truly create a world of opportunity that is “Together Today for our Children Tomorrow.” Some 25 years later, the premiers are still talking about the fiscal shortfalls in health care and delivery of services to citizens and shortfalls in fiscal transfers from Ottawa.

Talking about a guaranteed livable income for Canadians is not an easy task. I believe Senator Gignac said that if we consulted three economists on the subject, we would get four opinions. Many have quoted the excellent work of our colleague Senator Bellemare.

I am grateful for this discussion and Senator Klyne’s intervention yesterday. All of this emphasizes that this discussion is not complete. This discussion is not easy, colleagues. We are summoned to Ottawa for weighty and arduous affairs. Senators have been well recognized over the years for our ability to investigate and to study.

My request today is that the study of Bill S-206 by the Finance Committee consider that Canada is more than the sum of all its parts, and when a duly elected government of a province or territory or a First Nations government desires a transformative approach to delivery of income support consistent with Canadian values, the request be given full and fair consideration by Canada.

Thank you, colleagues. Shäw níthän. Mahsi’cho. Gùnáłchîsh.

Certainly.

Senator Duncan, the time allocated for your speech has expired. Are you asking for five more minutes?

If the chamber permits, yes.

Is it agreed?

I am delighted to have an opportunity to answer that question, Senator Batters.

It is my understanding — and granted, I haven’t been in the Senate as long as you have — that we can vote at second reading on a bill because we’re voting on the principles of the bill. That does not necessarily mean that we are voting in support of the bill itself.

In terms of the principles of a guaranteed livable income, as reflected by the people of Yukon, they are interested. They would like to do it. They recognize the complications. In terms of my speaking today, I’m speaking as a Yukon senator.

Again, Senator Batters, I’ve indicated that I’m speaking as a senator for the Yukon. I’m interested, as the people of the Yukon are, in the principle of a guaranteed livable income. I’m interested in that principle.

In terms of the details of the bill, my vote will be cast at third reading. Should it come back from the Senate Finance Committee in its existing form, we don’t know. The point I was trying to make today, very clearly, is I’m speaking for the Yukon and representing their views.

I’m also speaking as a senator, having been in this place for some seven plus years, of the importance of listening to all of Canada, all of the regions and the wishes of the people of Canada. I’m asking Canada to do that. In terms of the bill itself, we’ll see when it gets here.