Yukon who is who

Elizabeth Hanson (b. 1951)

Liz Hanson grew up in Calgary and was involved in social action and justice movements in her youth. She attained degrees in social work and political science at the University of Calgary. After graduation, she was a social worker in Souris, Prince Edward Island and then worked for the Department of Indian and Inuit Affairs in a region that spanned from Old Crow to Good Hope Lake, British Columbia. She was posted with the department in Nanaimo and Ottawa and then came to the Yukon in 1989 to lead a land claims negotiating team. In 2003, she became the regional director of Indian and Northern Affairs in the Yukon and reorganized the regional federal presence to reflect the changes brought about by devolution.¹⁾

Liz retired in 2007, and became the president of the Yukon New Democratic Party (NDP) in 2009 after the resignation of Todd Hardy. Following Hardy’s death, Hanson won a byelection in 2010 and retained her seat (Whitehorse Centre) in 2011 when the NDP became the official opposition. She was again successful in her riding in the 2016 election, but the NDP had the worst electoral showing since 1978 and was reduced to third party standing. Liz announced her resignation as party leader in 2019 and did not run in the next election.²⁾

Yukon Party leader Currie Dixon worked with her on committees and in the Legislative Assembly and recognized that her questions were always well-research and focused on real issues. He described her as continuing a long line of principled leaders, and one who was always clear about where she stood on issues. She worked with a team and always had the interests of her constituents at heart. Hanson led a “protect the Peel” campaign and stopped a conversation about hydraulic fracking in the territory. She thinks that the most important role for any politician is advocacy for issues that matter.³⁾

Liz Hanson has held roles with the Child Development Centre, the Hillcrest Community Association, the Friends of the Gallery Society, and the Ted Harrison Artist Retreat Society.⁴⁾