Elizabeth Hanson

For the colonial Anglo-American woman, see Elizabeth Hanson (captive of Native Americans).
Elizabeth (Liz) Hanson
Leader of Official Opposition of Yukon
In office
October 11, 2011 – December 3, 2016
Preceded by Arthur Mitchell
Succeeded by TBD
Leader of the Yukon New Democratic Party
Assumed office
September 26, 2009
Preceded by Todd Hardy
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Yukon
Assumed office
December 13, 2010
Preceded by Todd Hardy
Constituency Whitehorse Centre
Personal details
Born 1951
Edmonton, Alberta
Political party New Democrat
Residence Whitehorse, Yukon
Occupation social worker

Elizabeth (Liz) Hanson is a Canadian politician from the Yukon. She has been the leader of the Yukon New Democratic Party since September 26, 2009, and represents the electoral district of Whitehorse Centre in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.[1]

Early life

Prior to attending university, Hanson's resume included involvement with high school student council, youth groups and community social action/justice movements including organizing committee(s) Miles for Millions, Arusha Cross Cultural Centre. Hanson attended the University of Calgary and obtained degrees in political science and social work.

After graduating university, Hanson took a job as a social worker in Souris, Prince Edward Island.

In Yukon, Hanson first worked as a regional social worker for the Department of Indian and Inuit Affairs, with a region that spanned from Old Crow, Yukon to Good Hope Lake, British Columbia. She subsequently worked for INAC in Nanaimo, British Columbia and in Ottawa, returning to Yukon in 1989 to lead a federal self-government negotiations team.

She served as Yukon Director of Land Claims and Indian Government for the federal government until 2003, when she became the regional director general of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada in the Yukon, charged with reorganizing the department's regional presence to reflect the federal presence "post land claims and devolution". She retired from this position in 2007.

Hanson and her family completed a federal interchange to Canberra, Australia, with the Aboriginal and Torres Islander Commission.

Political career

After her retirement from INAC, Hanson became actively involved with the Yukon New Democratic Party and became president of the party.[2]

On September 26, 2009, Hanson was acclaimed as leader of the Yukon NDP.[3] Following the death of Todd Hardy on July 28, 2010, Hanson won the resulting by-election on December 13, 2010 in Whitehorse Centre. She retained her seat in the 2011 election,[4] leading the YNDP from third party status to Official Opposition.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "'Tonight is just the beginning,' victor vows". Whitehorse Star. December 14, 2010. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
  2. ↑ "New hat thrown into NDP race". Yukon News. July 31, 2009. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
  3. ↑ "Hanson named Yukon NDP leader". CBC News. September 28, 2009. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
  4. ↑ "Yukon Party wins third majority". Toronto Sun. October 12, 2011. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
  5. ↑ "Yukon Party wins three-peat". Yukon News. October 12, 2011. Retrieved 2015-05-23.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.