Doug Graham criticized for speaking at Whitehorse council meeting

A Whitehorse city councillor says he's perplexed that the territorial minister of education could not schedule a meeting, yet appeared at a council session as a member of the public.

Education Minister Doug Graham approached Whitehorse City Council during a regular meeting on Tuesday.

He didn't speak in his position as a minister, but addressed council on the topic of a skateboard park and lent his support to local youth and fitness groups.

Whitehorse's skateboard park needs to find a new home because the French school board has chosen that site for its new school.

Councillor Dave Stockdale said the public forum was not the right venue for a sitting minister with influence on the file, saying that city council had been requesting a meeting with Graham for two weeks.

"I have a lot of questions here, but this is not the forum in which to ask those kinds of questions," said Stockdale. "So I really, really would like you to come and sit down in a room somewhere with us, and really get into this." 

Councillors asked when the territorial government would consult with the public about the location of the new skate park.

Consultation 'when appropriate'

Graham said sometimes elected officials have to make decisions on their own.

"I'm a great believer in consultation when it's appropriate and when it's necessary," he said.

Mayor Dan Curtis wasn't happy with that response.

"We definitely have to have consultation," Curtis said. "I think we got put in this position to listen to the citizens, to the majority of the citizens of Whitehorse. And that's what I encourage you and your government to do as well, work with us, to help them."

Councillors are still waiting for the government to set a date for a more in-depth meeting.

Spat hits the legislature

Yukon NDP leader Liz Hanson spoke in the legislative assembly Wednesday about Graham's appearance, criticizing his comments about consultation and his decision to appear as a member of the public.

"Why are they trying to make these decisions around the cabinet table instead of in partnership with the city and its residents?" she said. "Where's the respect?" 

Graham says he has no reason to apologize.

"The process last night was out in the open," he said in the legislature. "It's in front of everybody, it's televised, the members were there, two members of the opposition were there. 

"It's completely out in the open. I guess (Hanson) would rather that I sat down with city council behind closed doors."