The Yukon NDP communications team said has been notified since someone allegedly spray painted death threats in two spots on Yukon NDP Leader Kate WhiteSA国际影视传媒檚 truck parked outside her home in the Whitehorse neighbourhood of Takhini.
Three of the truckSA国际影视传媒檚 tires were also slashed sometime between the evening of March 7 and the morning of March 8, according to Laurie Tritschler by phone on March 10.
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the second time White's tires have been slashed in recent months, per Tritschler. In December 2024, someone slashed her tires, but there was no message attached to the act.
Police were expected to issue a press release about vandalism in the Takhini subdivision, but police communications couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 confirm if the release about vandalism is related to the vandalism outside WhiteSA国际影视传媒檚 home.
It was around 8:30 a.m. on International WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Day when White found the words scrawled across her vehicle and her tires deflated. She was heading out to the office for an online Association of Yukon Communities meeting.
That meeting was the first place she spoke publicly about what happened. The last time her tires were flattened, she didnSA国际影视传媒檛 go public, but she did feel supported by the community.
White told the News by phone on the evening of March 10 that this isnSA国际影视传媒檛 how Canadians have discussions around politics.
SA国际影视传媒淭his isn't how Yukoners behave. This is like a cowardly act that was done in the cover of darkness by someone who wanted to intimidate me and someone who doesn't want me to do my job,SA国际影视传媒� White said.
SA国际影视传媒淏ut if anything, I'm, you know, I'm more resolute and determined than ever to keep doing the work that I do.SA国际影视传媒�
While MLAs often disagree, they still respect each other as humans, per White.
SA国际影视传媒淭his is politically motivated. This is about my job,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
SA国际影视传媒淭he community is upset by this. The community doesn't think this is acceptable. The community is angry.SA国际影视传媒�
White said she wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be intimidated by the actions.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey are a bully. I have never responded to bullies in the way that they have wanted, and it's not going to start now.SA国际影视传媒�
Yukon communications confirmed by email on March 10 that police are investigating an SA国际影视传媒渙ccurrenceSA国际影视传媒� in the Takhini neighbourhood that is believed to have happened late on the evening of March 7 and into the early morning on March 8.
According to police, on the morning of March 8, Whitehorse got a report about a vehicle that was purposefully damaged by unknown persons.
Police are seeking public assistance to identify the persons.
SA国际影视传媒淧olice are also asking anyone in the area who may have observed something to contact police,SA国际影视传媒� communications said by email.
is requesting that residents and drivers in the area review any security or dash-camera footage for suspicious activity between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. and to contact police should they locate some evidence on their footage.
Yukon politicians quickly responded to the attack on White.
In the legislature on the afternoon of March 10, Premier Ranj Pillai introduced a motion urging the House to denounce SA国际影视传媒渢hreats, personal attacks, vandalism, and acts of violence towards elected officials.SA国际影视传媒�
An email statement to the News from Pillai notes violence, vandalism and threats are SA国际影视传媒渘ever the answerSA国际影视传媒� to disagreements with friends, neighbours or elected representatives.
Pillai, alongside the Yukon Liberal Caucus, condemned the violence and offered support to White, her family and the Yukon NDP caucus.
SA国际影视传媒淎t our core, regardless of our political affiliation, we are all Yukoners striving to build a better future,SA国际影视传媒� reads PillaiSA国际影视传媒檚 statement.
SA国际影视传媒淚 urge all Yukoners to work together to ensure our community remains safe, respectful, and inclusive for everyone, no matter their political views.SA国际影视传媒�
Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon issued a statement condemning the SA国际影视传媒渉einous acts of politically motivated threatsSA国际影视传媒� against White. He called the actions SA国际影视传媒渦nacceptable and despicable.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淏ullying, harassment, threats, or vandalism have no place in our society or political discourse,SA国际影视传媒� Dixon said in the statement.
SA国际影视传媒淚 hope the perpetrator or perpetrators of this disgusting and indefensible behaviour are caught and brought to justice.SA国际影视传媒�
DixonSA国际影视传媒檚 statement calls for expressing disagreement in the appropriate way in an election year: by casting a ballot.
SA国际影视传媒淚 am saddened that this happened to Kate, and this should never happen again to any elected representative in any order of government."
White serves as the MLA for Takhini-Kopper King. She has been MLA since October 2011. The NDP is currently keeping the Yukon Liberal Party in government through a confidence and supply agreement, or CASA.
Liberal Minister John StreickerSA国际影视传媒檚 home was allegedly targeted by vandalism last spring.
In May 2024, StreickerSA国际影视传媒檚 home was marked with COVID-19-related words like SA国际影视传媒渕asksSA国际影视传媒�, SA国际影视传媒渧axSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒淐EMASA国际影视传媒�, an acronym for the law behind emergency measures the territorial government struck during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as profanity and the minister and his wifeSA国际影视传媒檚 names spray painted on their property. At the time, the Official Opposition Yukon Party and the Yukon NDP Caucus issued a joint statement to SA国际影视传媒渦nequivocally denounce the actionsSA国际影视传媒� taken at the governing Yukon Liberal Party ministerSA国际影视传媒檚 house.
Streicker told the News there's no place for this type of behaviour in politics.
While speaking in the legislative assembly on March 10, Streicker closed out the session by calling out the SA国际影视传媒渂rutally inappropriate attack, vandalism and threats levelledSA国际影视传媒� against his NDP colleague.
SA国际影视传媒淚t's just so disheartening to see,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淚t just doesn't feel like the Yukon way.SA国际影视传媒�
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
