Kate White (politician)

Kate White
Leader of the Yukon New Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office May 5, 2019
Preceded by	Elizabeth Hanson
MLA for Takhini-Kopper King
Incumbent
Assumed office October 11, 2011
Preceded by	District created
Personal details
Born	April 6, 1977
Political party	NDP

Kate White is a Canadian politician, who was elected to in the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the 2011 election. 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. 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.

White is the Yukon New Democratic Party caucus critic for the Department of Community Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Social Services, the Department of 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 is also the Third Party House Leader and sits 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 home owners 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.

In May 2019, White was acclaimed as the new party leader, replacing Hanson. 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. On April 28, the NDP announced that they had entered into a formal confidence and supply agreement with the Liberals.

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.

Electoral record

2021 Yukon general election: Takhini-Kopper King
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	New Democratic	Kate White	763	63.31	+17.2%
	Yukon Party	Morgan Yuill	244	20.24	+2.8%
	Liberal	Raj Murugaiyan	198	16.43	-20.0%
Total valid votes			1,205
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
	New Democratic hold		Swing		-23.44
Source(s) "Unofficial Election Results 2021". Elections Yukon. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

2016 general election

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Takhini-Kopper King

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
NDP	Kate White	605	46.1%	+0.2%	Liberal	Jeane Lassen	478	36.4%	+14.0%
	Yukon Party	Vanessa Innes	229	17.5%	-14.2%
Total			1312	100.0%	–

2011 general election

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Takhini-Kopper King

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
NDP	Kate White	458	45.9%	–
	Yukon Party	Samson Hartland	316	31.7%	–	Liberal	Cherish Clarke	224	22.4%	–
Total			998	100.0%	–

2006 general election

Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP/row

Porter Creek Centre

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Yukon Party	Archie Lang	344	47.3%	-4.3%	Liberal	David Laxton	224	30.8%	-9.5%
NDP	Kate White	159	21.9%	+13.8%
Total			727	100.0%	–