Kate White (politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| image =

| name = Kate White

| honorific-suffix = MLA

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|04|06}}

| birth_place =

| residence =

| office2 = Member of the
Yukon Legislative Assembly
for Takhini-Kopper King

| term_start2 = October 11, 2011

| term_end2 =

| predecessor2 = District created

| successor2 =

| office1 = Leader of the Yukon New Democratic Party

| term_start1 = May 5, 2019

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Elizabeth Hanson

| successor1 =

| party = New Democratic

| religion =

| occupation =

}}

Kate White (born 1977) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to in the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the 2011 election.[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/yukonvotes2011/ridings/015/ Yukon Votes 2011: Takhini-Kopper King]. CBC News, October 11, 2011. She represents the Whitehorse electoral district of Takhini-Kopper King as a member of the Yukon New Democratic Party caucus.

Since May 2019, she has been leader of the Yukon NDP.

Political career

White first entered territorial politics in the 2006 election, when she ran in the riding of Porter Creek Centre for the Yukon New Democratic Party against incumbent Yukon Party Cabinet minister Archie Lang. She finished third.

In 2011, she ran again for the NDP in the newly created riding of Takhini-Kopper King, defeating former Whitehorse City Councillor Samson Hartland to win the riding. She was part of the Official Opposition in the 33rd Legislative Assembly served on the Standing Committee on Appointments to Major Government Boards and Committees.[http://www.legassembly.gov.yk.ca/members/white.html Kate White]. Yukon Legislative Assembly She was re-elected in 2016 election, defeating popular Yukon Olympian and Liberal candidate Jeane Lassen. She was one of just two New Democrat caucus members to be re-elected in that election, which was the party's worst showing since 1978.

Prior to assuming her current role, White was the party's critic for Community Services, Education, Health and Social Services, Environment, the Yukon Housing Corporation, the Women's Directorate, the French Language Services Directorate, the Yukon Development Corporation, the Yukon Energy Corporation, and the Yukon Lottery Commission. She was also the Third Party House Leader and sat on the Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments and the Standing Committee on Appointments to Major Government Boards and Committees.

White is widely regarded as a passionate advocate for the rights of mobile homeowners within her riding, which contains three mobile home parks.

On February 1, 2019, White announced her intent to succeed Liz Hanson as Leader of the Yukon New Democratic Party.[https://www.whitehorsestar.com/News/political-journey-takes-mla-to-leadership-bid Political journey takes MLA to leadership bid]. Whitehorse Star (February 1, 2019)

In May 2019, White was acclaimed as the new party leader, replacing Hanson.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/kate-white-yukon-ndp-leader-speech-1.5123934|publisher=CBC News|title=New Yukon NDP leader wants to 'smash expectations and stereotypes'|date=May 6, 2019|first=Nancy|last=Thomson|accessdate=May 6, 2021 }} In the 2021 election, the Yukon NDP under White won three seats. On April 23, the incumbent Liberals were sworn in with a minority government.{{Cite web|date=April 23, 2021|title=Yukon Liberals set to be sworn-in as party aims to form minority government|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/yukon-liberals-set-to-be-sworn-in-as-party-aims-to-form-minority-government-1.5399214|access-date=April 26, 2021|website=CTVNews|language=en}} On April 29, the Yukon Liberals and NDP announced that they had struck a formal confidence and supply agreement to allow the Liberals to form a minority government.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-28|title=Yukon Liberals, NDP make deal to work together in government|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-liberal-ndp-announcement-government-1.6006387|website=CBC News}}

As of September 29, 2024, aside from serving as the Leader of the Third Party, White serves as the critic for Finance and the Executive Council Office; Education; Community Services; Energy, Mines and Resources; Economic Development; Affaires francophones; the Public Service Commission; and the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board.

Personal life

Before entering politics, White earned a culinary diploma and a Red Seal in baking. She has also worked in the mining industry and as a life skills coach with women within the Yukon's correctional system.

She is bilingual in English and French.