Pat Duncan

The first Liberal leader of Yukon and its first female premier of Yukon

Pat Duncan was born April 8, 1960, in Edmonton, Alberta. Her father was from Glasgow and her mother was born in America. Pat has four siblings. The family moved to the Yukon in November, 1964.

Pat was a Brownie and a Girl Guide. Upon her return to the Yukon in 1987, she also volunteered with Guiding as Treasurer and Provincial Commissioner from 1991 to 1995 when she was elected to the National Executive.

She graduated from FH Collins High School in Whitehorse and attended Carleton University where she originally studied journalism. (She attributed it to a high school job with CBC radio as a sports reporter and an on-air broadcaster.) Pat graduated with a BA in Political Science from Carleton University in 1983. Other education included course work in a Masters Program in Public Administration from the University of Southeast Alaska, and the Government of Yukon Supervisory Success Program. She also studied the Foundation of Administrative Justice and has a certificate in Tribunal Administrative Justice.

Pat was employed as Special Assistant for Constituency Affairs for the Honorable Erik Nielsen, who was Deputy Prime Minister from 1984-1987. She worked in Office Administration at Total North Communications Ltd. (1987-1990). Pat was also Manager of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce (1990-1994). She did consultancy work including accounting for small business (1994 to 1996). Pat was a Member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly for Porter Creek South (1996-2006) including terms as Leader of the Third Party, Leader of the Official Opposition and Premier. From 2006-2012, Pat was Manager of Registration Claims and Medical Travel Department of Health and Social Services for the Government of Yukon, as well as Manager of Claimant Services for Yukon Workers Compensation Health and Safety Board (2012-2015), and Manager of Yukon Workers Advocate (2015-2019).

Pat was also very involved in her community. She was Notary Public (concluded 2017) and Marriage Commissioner (not current). She was on the Mission Staff for Western Canada Summer Games of 2011 and Arctic Winter Games of 2012. Pat was also a member of the Canada Winter Games Technical Support Staff for Men’s Hockey in 2011. She was a board member of the Whitehorse Glacier Bears Swim Club, including terms as Treasurer and President (2003-2007). Other community involvement included the City of Whitehorse Environmental Health Board (1993), the Lay Member Law Society of Yukon (1994), and a Member of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women 1988-1991).

Pat said there have been enormous changes in the last decade in the Yukon and she played a part in some of them. Those major files included signing the Yukon’s Devolution agreement with the federal government when she was premier and helping negotiate final agreements with First Nations including Ta’an Kwach’an’s.

“To bring some agreements to conclusion, it meant so much to all Yukoners, to have a

self-governing First Nation,” Duncan said. “It’s how we live together. To have an understanding and an appreciation of the land claim agreements is key to our lives as citizens. I think we’ve set an example. We’ve led the way in many ways.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau telephoned Pat in December 2018 to say that he was recommending her to the Senate. She told him it would be an honour and a privilege to assume the role.

As a member of the Senate of Canada, Pat joined the Independent Senators Group. “I understand the need for independence from the government, from the party, and so on,” Duncan stated.

Duncan said her work at the legislative assembly and as a public servant has prepared her to be a senator. We’re there to serve the people and that’s what I like to do.”

Pat is the recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (1992). She is also the recipient of the Golden Jubilee Medal of 2002 commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the Throne.