Sled Dog Watchdog - Yukon Quest 'politicians'

[Ed. Note: For many years, Yukon politicians (of all political stripes) have been enthusiastic
promoters of the Yukon Quest. Some of their political résumés include connections to the
Quest as past executives, board members or volunteers. In late 2005, one prominent Quest
musher, according to media reports, seriously considered entering an upcoming Yukon
territorial election as a candidate.]

[2006 update] ...and the "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job" award for 2006 goes to the
Yukon Quest, for endangering the lives of half a dozen mushers and eighty-eight dogs on Eagle Summit
in the 2006 Yukon Quest. The Quest organization was awarded $150,000 for its efforts:

Hon. Mr. Fentie: There is also the $118,000 Tourism North marketing consortium partnership with
Alaska, Alberta and British Columbia and there is the $150,000 Yukon Quest marketing program
that supports the Yukon Quest through contributions to specific media coverage and marketing of
Yukon winter tourism...

Last summer Tourism Yukon and Air North gave away three Yukon adventure trips through the "Win
Yukon: Four Friends, Four Days, Four Ways" contest that involved top-ranked radio stations in Vancouver,
Calgary and Edmonton. Lucky winners were allowed to choose three friends to join them for a four-day
adventure, including a choice of four activities from a list that included everything from rafting, canoeing,
biking, golf, fishing, dog sledding and skiing to attending the Sourdough Rendezvous and the Yukon
Quest. The number of entries far exceeded expectations.

(Premier Dennis Fentie, 2006 Yukon Budget speech, Yukon Legislature - March 30, 2006)

Hon. Ms. Taylor: I just wanted to speak about other promotions we have with respect to air access. As I
mentioned earlier, I believe, to the Member for Vuntut Gwitchin, we have been working with
organizations such as the Yukon Quest and Air Canada, and we were able to garner the three-minute
video production that will be showcased on all Air Canada's flights with duration of an hour and a half or
more in North America. It is a tremendous opportunity for the Quest to receive international
recognition.

(Minister of Tourism and Culture Elaine Taylor,Yukon Legislature - December 13, 2005)

Hon. Ms. Taylor: Certainly, tourism is a very important component, and that includes northern sports -
when you talk about dog sledding, of course, that is a very huge component of our winter tourism market
and brings in many individuals from all over the world to participate in northern activities, such as
dogsledding. To that end, I would be really remiss if I didn't mention the Yukon Quest, for example -
otherwise known as the toughest sled dog race in the world. Recently, we were able to work with the
Yukon Quest Board of Directors to secure a marketing initiative in tandem with Air Canada. It's actually
an in-flight film - a three-minute Yukon Quest video - that we expect will play almost 12,000 times
during the month of December, for which the potential audience could very well exceed 1.4 million
travellers. It's a significant opportunity for the Quest and we congratulate those very members who were
instrumental in making this initiative happen. It's a three-minute introduction to the Quest that is going
to be airing during Air Canada's in-flight video presentation on all North American flights, including those
connecting to Canada and the Caribbean. So it is a fantastic opportunity and I just wanted to draw that to
the member opposite's attention because it is but one of many initiatives the Department of Tourism and
Culture continues to work on finding very creative means to attract the attention of a global audience
toward the Yukon…

Hon. Ms. Peter: I just came back from a trip to Montreal and the climate change conference. I did see
the video that the minister referred to on the Yukon Quest. Yes, I was very proud, as a Yukoner, to sit
there and to be able to witness that. The plane that we were travelling on was full, so a lot of people got
to see what the Yukon had to offer.

Hon. Ms. Taylor: The member opposite made reference to the Yukon Quest in-flight film, which is three
minutes and is being aired on all Air Canada's flights that are over an hour and a half within North
America. We're very pleased to be able to partner with Air Canada as well as the Yukon Quest…

(Yukon Legislature - December 8, 2005)

Hon. Mr. Hart: Given the cooperative approach taken to address the issue of dog food for mushers in
the Yukon Quest, which resulted in a mutually satisfactory solution being reached, I am hopeful that we
can also reach a mutually satisfactory solution for this issue. I can think of many events in which Alaskans
and Yukoners share a long and rich friendship. As I mentioned just a few minutes ago, we have worked
together on the Yukon Quest dogsled race for the past 20 years plus. The race has a joint organizing
committee, drawing on both sides of the border, which I believe is one of its great strengths. I question if
this race could be as strong if the competitors, support staff and race officials were each required to
obtain and produce a passport during a race and to go through all of their equipment when they cross the
border, whether they're coming down to the Yukon or going up to Alaska to Fairbanks toward the end of
the race…

(Yukon Legislature - November 2, 2005)

Mr. Hardy: I would hope Economic Development would try to get involved in trying to stimulate the
economy in these surrounding areas. Just off the top of my head, I look at the Film and Sound
Commission: what role can they play? There's funding identified in some of these areas. Is there anything
the film and sound people will be doing to be involved? How's that? That's the broadest way I can put it.

Hon. Mr. Kenyon: That is a good way to put it, but again I have to say that we are involved. We are
involved in working with the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce and the Yukon Chamber of Commerce in
trying to look at all these things. The Film and Sound Commission is certainly a part of this and we'll look
at opportunities, as we have with the Yukon Quest and supporting them for the production of DVDs, et
cetera. We'll look at all these things…

There are a number of different things that can be done with that. The department is also supporting
groups like the Quest on marketing research and economic benefit strategy, and we've had a lot of fun
working with the Quest on this. It will provide a baseline measurement of the on the Yukon economy in
developing a broader range of winter tourism. The department will be working with the Quest to
develop that impact analysis in the 2005 and 2006 events, and then leading right into and involving the
2007 events and the Canada Winter Games. The Quest has been a real icon, and it gives us a lot of
fun to work with this group and watch them come together over the last few years.

(Yukon Legislature - May 3, 2005)

Hon. Ms. Peter: I have to mention the winter events that start mostly in February, I believe. I know that
the marketing branch has been aggressively promoting our winter events and winter festivals that we
have throughout the Yukon - the Yukon Quest being one of the major events that takes place. In my
community of Old Crow, dog mushing was almost extinct. Now it has returned, and there are many
people who have dog teams and we have our own events in our community. They have been travelling to
Dawson to participate in the Percy deWolfe dog race, and they're branching out slowly but surely. A
couple of the dog mushers from my community had plans to enter the Yukon Quest; however, with the
shortage of food and the issue with the salmon and all kinds of other issues that they had to deal with,
they couldn't make it this time. Hopefully, they have a brighter future. There are many young people in
my community now who are participating in dog mushing, and it is very exciting to see that come back.

Hon. Ms. Taylor: When it comes to winter tourism, our department is very active in engaging industry in
helping to develop our winter tourism product on the ground. Whether that means marketing our winter
tourism to the rest of the world, we have a number of signature events that we're very happy to continue
to showcase, including the Yukon Quest, Sourdough Rendezvous, Fulda winter challenge and, of course,
as the member opposite alluded to, working with our film industry…

Ms. Duncan: I didn't hear any specific new initiatives. The stay-another-day program-what used to be
called the golden circle and now it's the scenic drives-is that the only new initiative or is there any kind of
other new program in this marketing line item?

Hon. Ms. Taylor: In this particular line item, its brand Yukon strategy, the additional monies there, and
ongoing initiatives, such as reaching out to niche markets, non-traditional niche markets and so forth.
Yes, primarily in North America it's the gateway cities - Yukon Wild, Yukon Quest and the niche
markets. It's primarily those four areas.

(Yukon Legislature - April 26, 2005)

Hon. Mr. Cathers: I was talking to one of the recruiters for the Department of Defence who was up
here, and he was referring to the fact that they come here annually and set up a recruiting office only
during Sourdough Rendezvous, due to our small numbers, but also due to the fact that they have become
recognized as being part of that and that statistics show that they can catch most of the Yukon population
at that time. That interest is also piqued by the display of the planes at the air show, which has become
an annual part of Rendezvous, and is something I know the organizers put a lot of effort into and many
Yukoners appreciate tremendously. That is usually around the same time as the Yukon Quest
which is, of course, another source of interest for tourists - the use of dog teams as part of
our heritage.

(Yukon Legislature - April 6, 2005)

Mr. Cathers: I remember driving over that highway a number of years ago - probably about 1989 or
1990. I'm thinking about a couple of trips along that highway back when my father and sister were
running in the Yukon Quest…

Some of these ideas include looking at the purchasing policy as far as including Northwest Territories and
Nunavut and giving them a regional preference. If we work together with them, we might look at
developing and presenting culture and events leading up to and including the games. There are areas of
benefit perhaps around maximizing broadcast opportunities to showcase ourselves as a jurisdiction and
the north as a region. There are potential spinoff benefits from sponsorship that may extend to festivals
such as Rendezvous, or sporting events such as the Yukon Quest, or some of the local events - Percy
deWolfe [sled dog race], some of the other events that take place in the Yukon.

(Yukon Legislature - December 8, 2004)

Hon. Ms. Taylor: Mr. Chair, we have also placed additional funds in winter products, whether that be
Fulda, the Extreme Arctic Challenge - an additional $150,000. Also we have renewed our
partnership with the Yukon Quest for an additional two years for $150,000. Again, these
programs help encourage visitors to come during the winter season and, of course, we are working to
that end in becoming or in continuing to be a four-season destination in the Yukon. These additional
products just lend to that very experience…

…I do my utmost best to talk with industry, again whether that be with heritage, the Wilderness Tourism
Association or the First Nations Tourism Association, the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon, the
Gateway Tourism Association, the Klondike Visitors Association, Sourdough Rendezvous or the Yukon
Quest. I take great pride in placing a lot of attention and getting out to these various events, and I
encourage more members to show up to these events to help support our local community, to help
support these various agencies, to show or to instill pride in the Yukon and all that we have to offer.

(Yukon Legislature - April 27, 2004)

Mr. Fentie: I would note that the member is expediting the debate because the hockey game is on
tonight.

Ms. Duncan: There's going to be one on every night for quite awhile, probably until June.

Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)

Ms. Duncan: No, we're not going to pass a unanimous motion to close down for the hockey game. The
Yukon Quest, yes; the hockey game, no.

(Yukon Legislature - April 19, 2004)

Hon. Ms. Taylor: When we talk about product development in the territory, we refer to improvements to
our highway structure, improvements to our wildlife viewing sites, such as the Minister of Environment
will be doing later on this year, improvements to rest stops and improvements to our campgrounds.
There are a whole host of activities. It's about building upon what we do best, and that is to showcase the
Yukon as a great destination to visit, whether that be for the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous, which just
celebrated its 40th anniversary or the Yukon Quest International, the toughest sled dog race in
the world. We are very pleased to extend that contribution agreement of an additional
$150,000.

(Yukon Legislature - April 15, 2004)

Mr. Keenan: I'd like to talk about the Yukon Quest. Now, this government again, again, the Liberal
machine, the Liberal election machine, had every answer, when the New Democrats came up with
$50,000 per year for the Yukon Quest, it wasn't enough. It just wasn't enough. Now, I see that there has
been an answer, a decrease in a commitment to the Yukon Quest of approximately $35,000. Can the
minister please explain to me how that is going to help the Yukon Quest?

Hon. Mr. Eftoda: I do believe that the Quest was given an additional amount for developing a
sponsorship package, and that is not necessary any more.

Mr. Keenan: The minister says it is not necessary any more. I just hope that they have worked
with the Yukon Quest to come to that arrangement and that agreement. Certainly I think that
every one of our tools - and certainly that is a tool that the Yukon Quest does deserve to be able to
enjoy government support. Can I just get a yes from the minister, that the minister would always be
there to provide that type of support in leaner times? At this point in time, the minister is alluding that
they have got sponsorship. I am very concerned that this classic icon of the Yukon will suffer,
and I am certainly hoping that this minister will find ways. If the minister cares to answer that, the
minister can. I could move on.

(Yukon Legislature - May 29, 2002)

Hon. Ms. Edelman: The Yukon Quest is one of Yukon's premier events. It brings international
recognition to the Yukon. Tourism recognizes the contribution of the Quest to tourism and is funding
the Quest for sponsorship packages and to enhance media attention of this event.

(Yukon Legislature - May 7, 2002)

Hon. Mr. McLachlan: The Yukon Quest - our objective in funding the Quest this year reached
$185,000, and that's to create certainty for this kind of important high-profile event. The
Quest this year was a huge success, with international television coverage and a strong
showing by Yukon competitors.

(Yukon Legislature - April 24, 2002)

Mr. Keenan: And for those who aren't here - it's the Member for Klondike that I am referring to and the
people out in radio land that I am referring to, too, sir - again, I would like to talk about the Yukon
Sourdough Rendezvous Society. Now, this government put in $50,000 a year and solidified the
Rendezvous Society - we solidified the Yukon Quest with $50,000 a year. We announced that last
year and the government re-announced it this year. But over and above that, we went out and we enabled
them to hire a full-time employee. And why did we do that? For diversification of the economy, so that
we might put more people in a good mood, where they can feel good about themselves through good
times and hard times. Those are the things we did it for. And did we only do it for that? No, Mr. Speaker.
We did it for the tourism aspect, too.

(Yukon Legislature - March 7, 2001)

Hon. Ms. Duncan: In terms of the budget, how does this budget speak for those who are employed in
the tourism industry? It speaks to support for one particular event that has come to
government year after year for support and is a world-class event - the Yukon Quest. That
has been supported as a line item in the budget. We're working with a new tourism marketing partnership
to ensure that that partnership lives and thrives and, what's more, that it delivers in terms of marketing.
And even the economic outlook says we'll continue to see a modest growth in tourism - modest.

(Yukon Legislature - March 5, 2001)

Hon. Ms. Edelman: The Yukon Quest has a huge following this year, and the banquet, I
understand, was a real sellout. The Fulda Challenge brought in many new people and provided enormous
exposure for the Yukon, with hundreds of millions of Europeans watching. Mr. Speaker, it's my
understanding that the viewing audience for the Fulda Challenge in Europe is 617 million people. That's
an awful lot of money, Mr. Speaker. That's an opportunity for the Yukon. That's great exposure. The Trek
over the Top was a success again and was a big help to Dawson's winter economy. We have become a
real winter destination…

Mr. McRobb: Just this weekend, we have the Silver Sled dog race in Haines Junction, an event that
expected support from the community development fund. Did they get any? The answer is no. There was
no funding. The Yukon Quest gets $185,000; there is nothing for the Silver Sled, Mr. Speaker.
They're on their own.

Hon. Ms. Edelman: Mr. Speaker, the Member for Kluane said that this government left the Silver Sled
dog race in Haines Junction out in the cold, while supporting the Yukon Quest. The Member for Kluane
is conveniently forgetting that his government, the previous NDP government, spent the community
development fund before the Liberal government took over. There was no money left for anyone to apply
for. Haines Junction residents need to know that…

Ms. Buckway: I share that member's appreciation for the Silver Sled. It is a great event, and one that I
have had the privilege of helping out with, but the Member for Kluane is also conveniently forgetting that
the Yukon Quest is an event with the potential to attract a great deal of media attention
and, therefore, a great deal of tourism - winter and summer - to the Yukon. Such attention
and such increased tourism will make it possible for smaller dog races, like the Silver Sled, to gain more
attention from outside the Yukon. The Tourism department is doing the right thing by
supporting the Yukon Quest. The spinoff effects will benefit the whole territory.

(Yukon Legislature - February 27, 2001)

Mr. McLarnon: Now, we talk about a few things. One of the things that I have a personal joy in
seeing is our commitment to the Yukon Quest. We wanted to create an event and a venue for
mushers in the Yukon Territory to participate in a world-class arena, and one of the problems that the
Quest has had is the ability to find a major sponsor. We are going to give them the way to find a major
sponsor. We are going to give them the assistance so that we can produce more Kleendehns [sic.], so we
can produce more Frank Turners, and so we can produce more people in the dog-sledding race and an
industry that surrounds it. My wife's store at the airport has certainly received some benefits from the
Yukon Quest, as all tourism industry stores, shops and service providers have, during this welcome
respite from winter in our tourism industry. I'm pleased to see the Quest, Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous
and Thunder on Ice as priorities and anchors on which we can place our winter tourism campaign.

(Yukon Legislature - February 26, 2001)

Hon. Ms. Duncan: The Minister of Tourism has also identified a $185,000 contribution to the
Yukon Quest in this budget. The increase in funding has been provided to assist the Quest in
securing private sponsors and to become more economically independent. The Yukon Quest has
received a variety of government funding for years. We are creating certainty and reducing red tape by
recognizing the need and the funding required up front. Event organizers can simply get on with
organizing what has become an event we can all be proud of.

(Yukon Legislature - February 22, 2001)

Ms. Buckway: I rise to pay tribute to Aliy Zirkle, the winner of the 2000 Yukon Quest sled dog race.
She crossed the finish line at Takhini Hot Springs in Lake Laberge riding at 10:59 this morning. Yukoner
Thomas Tetz was second in, at 11:29, and Yukoner and past Quest champion Frank Turner is in a
three-way battle for third place, expected to cross the finish line later this afternoon. The Quest is a
shining example of personal perseverance and a tie to a historical mode of transport. I pay
tribute to Aliy Zirkle, the winner, and to all the Quest mushers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. Mr. Keenan: I, too, rise to pay tribute to Aliy Zirkle, the very first woman to win the Yukon
Quest, and it has been around for almost two decades now. I had the chance, not to meet the young
lady, but to read about her and her past history in the newspaper and follow her endeavours over the
Quest. I think Aliy is a true daughter of the Yukon Territory. She may not have been born in
the Yukon Territory, but she's a true daughter of the Yukon Territory. I read with great
enthusiasm and interest when she spoke about skateboards and palm trees and being
dragged around on her skateboard by her dog. Now, here she is, winning the Yukon Quest -
experiencing the mountains, spruce trees and the overflow. It's just phenomenal in my
mind. I like to think that she has gone from skateboards and palm trees to spruce trees and
dog teams. I think of my mother and her experience and the character that has built in my mother
through managing dogs. It has given my mother the strength to raise a family, such as people like me,
and to carry on and be a wonderful, dynamic perk for the Yukon. I do know in my heart that Ms.
Zirkle will be a community leader in the Yukon in the future. So, on behalf of my caucus, I, too,
would like to celebrate her initiative and success in life.

Mr. Phillips: I would like to join as well with the other parties in tribute to the winner of the
Yukon Quest this year. Aliy Zirkle, I understand, is the first woman to win the Yukon Quest and I
have to confess that I was pulling for the two Yukoners who, I believe, were running second and third,
but as my mother said, never underestimate the power of a woman. And in this case, my mother was
dead-on. And congratulations to Aliy, and more so congratulations to her dogs, who pulled her the
thousand miles to get to Whitehorse. And we wish all the other mushers out on the trail Godspeed and
hope they make the finish line. Many of them have worked very hard and trained for many months to get
where they are today, and the Yukon Quest is, as we all know, the toughest dog sled race in the
world and is one that we're all very proud of, and we're very proud of the winners and all
the competitors who have taken part in this year's race.

(Yukon Legislature - February 23, 2001)

[Ed. Note - the current Yukon Party government is commendable in being the first political
party to advance stable funding to the two Yukon humane society affiliates (Humane
Society Yukon receives an annual grant of $75,000 per year, the smaller Humane Society
Dawson receives $15,000 to $20,000) - although the combined total is approximately half of
what the Yukon Quest receives.]

[From the Canadian Senate] Honourable Ione Christensen (Yukon Senator) Speech About
2004 Yukon Quest:

Honourable senators, the toughest sled dog race in the world finished its twenty-first running
at the end of March in Yukon. Each year the Yukon Quest brings together mushers from the Yukon
and Alaska to compete in this gruelling race. This year we also had mushers from Alberta, the Northwest
Territories, and as far away as Switzerland and Germany. The race runs between Whitehorse in the Yukon
and Fairbanks, Alaska, following the Yukon River valley for much of the way. The starts are alternated
between the two cities and this year the race ended in Whitehorse. What makes this race unique,
honourable senators, is the strong emphasis on endurance, not just speed. For over 1,001
miles - 1,600 kilometres - the teams must travel through two mountain ranges with
temperatures ranging from minus 50 to plus 10 degrees Celsius. The weather is always the
deciding factor with the snow, winds and warm Chinooks that sometimes melt the snow and
leave bare ground with river overflows to travel through.

The teams must carry all of their equipment and supplies with only two stops, for handlers can help the
mushers with the care and feeding of the dogs. Along the trail, checkpoints are from 30 to 100 kilometres
apart, and for the mushers there is no guarantee that they will see another team during those long
stretches. At the mid-point in Dawson City, there is a mandatory 38-hour layover that ensures the
mushers and the dogs have at least one good night's sleep during the race. At each checkpoint, vets
monitor the health and the condition of the dogs to ensure they are fit and healthy. Each team starts with
up to 14 dogs and must have at least six dogs when they finish. Sick or injured dogs are carried in the
sled to the next checkpoint where handlers will care for them and take them home.

The most valued pieces of equipment are the booties that the dogs wear. They are made of fleece and
Velcro and protect the dog's paws from the ice and snow. Each musher must leave each checkpoint with
eight pairs of booties for each dog - 14 dogs, with 4 paws each, times eight booties, totals 448 booties.
Add another four pairs of booties per dog in case of loss and wear-out and the total is about 700 booties.
Some mushers use as many as 1,000 booties during the race. Can honourable senators just imagine
putting 56 booties on 14 howling dogs that only want to run? At the end of the race, the 1000-mile trail
looks like a rainbow with all the booties left along the way.

This year, 31 teams entered and 20 teams finished. The winner was Hans Gatt from Atlin, British
Columbia, just south of Whitehorse. He set a new Fairbanks-to-Whitehorse record of 10 days and 48
minutes. He also became the only three-time winner of the Yukon Quest, having won in 2002 and 2003.
Mr. Gatt received U.S. $30,000 and his two lead dogs were given the Golden Harness Award and a steak
dinner in honour of their loyalty, endurance and perseverance throughout the race. Honourable
senators, the Yukon Quest brings out the spirit of the North through its challenges.
Northerners always look forward to the event each year because it helps to perpetuate a
way of life that one can only dream about today, although it was once the only way of
travel in North America's last frontier.

[Ed. Note - Senator Christensen is one of the three northern senators (and one of 23
Liberal-appointed senators) who helped to kill Canada's Bill C-10B, which would have
brought animal protection legislation in Canada out of the nineteenth century and into the
twenty-first. The bill had been passed 'intact' in the Canadian House of Parliament.]