Ted Laking

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Ted Laking
MLA
Member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly
for Porter Creek Centre
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 3, 2025
Preceded byYvonne Clarke
Personal details
Political partyYukon Party
Residence(s)Whitehorse, Yukon

Ted Laking is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the 2025 Yukon general election. He represents the electoral district of Porter Creek Centre as a member of the Yukon Party.[1]

Laking was previously a member of the Whitehorse City Council, having served from 2021 to 2024.[2]

Pre-political career

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Ted Laking grew up in Dawson City, Yukon.[3][4] From 2010 to 2015, he worked at senior levels in Ottawa under Stephen Harper’s Conservative government, including as Deputy Chief of Staff and Director of Communications to Leona Aglukkaq from 2013 to 2015, managing portfolios in Health, Environment, Parks Canada, and CanNor.[5] Returning to Yukon after the 2015 federal election, he served as Chief of Staff to the Yukon Party Official Opposition from 2016 to 2021, including managing the party's 2021 territorial campaign, which resulted in an 8-seat tie with the Liberals.[6][7]

Political career

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Whitehorse City Council (2021–2024)

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Laking was elected to Whitehorse City Council on October 21, 2021, securing one of six seats in a non-partisan election with a top-six finish[8]. His term ended in October 2024. During his tenure, he opposed a new city hall construction project for going overbudget[9], advocated federal land releases for housing[10], suggested transforming a federal parking lot to housing in 2023[11], advocated for enhanced snow removal[12], and supported taller buildings and broader Crown land use in 2024[13]. He also supported increased police funding and more action to address property crime[14], ridesharing options[15], Grey Mountain Cemetery access improvements[16], and a pedestrian-friendly Main Street pilot[17]. Laking raised concerns with building and permitting delays[18], and opposed a civility policy due to concerns over freedom of speech[19]. Additionally, he brought forward a motion in 2024 to prioritize RCMP resources for property crime[20]. He opposed online voting for municipal elections in April 2024, citing risks of foreign interference, which led to its removal from the bylaw in May 2024[21].

Association of Yukon Communities (2022–2024)

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On May 14, 2022, Laking was elected president of the AYC at its Annual General Meeting, defeating Angie Charlebois in a vote among approximately 150 municipal representatives[22]. He served until May 2024, when he did not seek re-election and was succeeded by Lauren Hanchar[23]. During his term, he co-founded the Chiefs and Mayors Forum with CYFN Grand Chief Peter Johnston in May 2023 to improve collaboration between First Nations and municipalities[24], supported rural land funding and sustainable growth[25], co-signed a budget request with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)[26], and backed rural EMS enhancements[27]. As president, Laking raised concerns about rural health centre closures and staffing shortages, such as those in Pelly Crossing and Faro, calling for territorial government action[28].

Federal and Territorial Politics (2024–Present)

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In June 2024, Laking announced he would not be seeking reelection for another term as City Councillor[29] In July 2024, Laking announced his candidacy for the federal Conservative nomination for Yukon’s MP seat, highlighting rising costs, infrastructure deficits, and housing shortages[30]. He withdrew on November 7, 2024, before voting took place, with no challengers announced at that point[31]. Laking then pursued a territorial candidacy with the Yukon Party in the Porter Creek Centre riding of Whitehorse for the 2025 territorial election, helping author the party's platform[32]. During the 2025 territorial election Laking indicated interest in reforming land development in the territory as a way to reduce housing costs[33].

Electoral record

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2025 Yukon general election: Porter Creek Centre
** Preliminary results — Not yet official **
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon Party Ted Laking 707 67.3
New Democratic Hilary Smith 262 24.9
Liberal Louis Gagnon 82 7.8
Total valid votes 1,051
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Source(s)
"Unofficial Election Results 2025". Elections Yukon. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
2021 Whitehorse municipal election: City Council
Candidate Votes % of Ballots
Mellisa Murray 3,546 58.7%
Michelle Friesen 3,080 51.0%
Dan Boyd 2,950 48.8%
Jocelyn Curteanu 2,857 47.3%
Ted Laking 2,601 43.0%
Kirk Cameron 2,593 42.9%
Doug Graham 2,210 36.6%
Eileen Melnychuk 1,894 31.3%
Michelle Christensen-Toews 1,892 31.3%
Dave Blottner 1,592 26.3%
Robin Reid-Fraser 1,460 24.2%
Janna Swales 1,362 22.5%
Cameron Kos 826 13.7%
Kelsey Hassard-Gammel 662 11.0%
Noah Curtis 615 10.2%
Telek Rogan 534 8.8%
Michelle Stimson 412 6.8%
Total valid ballots 6,042

[34]

Voters could select up to six candidates per ballot so the total number of votes is higher than the number of ballots. The top six candidates were elected. Percentages represent share of ballots cast.

References

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  1. ^ Paul Tukker, "'Change is here': Yukon Party wins majority government, as Liberals implode". CBC North, November 3, 2025.
  2. ^ https://www.yukonparty.ca/ted_laking_will_represent_the_yukon_party_in_porter_creek_centre
  3. ^ "Growth Crisis". tedlaking.ca. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  4. ^ "Meet and Greet Speech". tedlaking.ca. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  5. ^ "Ted Laking to Seek Yukon Party Nomination in Porter Creek Centre". The Yukon Party. November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  6. ^ "Laking Named Chief of Staff". Whitehorse Star. November 23, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  7. ^ "Yukon Party Campaign 2021". Yukon News. January 7, 2025. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  8. ^ Elliot, Jim; Tonin, John (October 21, 2021). "Whitehorse elects two incumbents, four fresh faces to city council". Yukon News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  9. ^ Tobin, Chuck (April 21, 2022). "High bids see city hall project cancelled". Whitehorse Star. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; "Whitehorse city hall renovation to begin this spring, and be done by 2024". CBC News. February 11, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; "Bids to construct Whitehorse's new city hall $10M over budget". Yukon News. April 6, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; "City hall project may need a rethink: Laking". Whitehorse Star. December 7, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  10. ^ Giilck, T.S. (January 4, 2024). "Transform federal land into housing: Laking". Whitehorse Star. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  11. ^ Giilck, T.S. (September 21, 2023). "Councillor wonders if federal lands available for housing". Whitehorse Star. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  12. ^ "Whitehorse city council approves $220k for snow clearance". Yukon News. December 13, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; "Laking to YG: trade the talking points for a shovel". Whitehorse Star. December 13, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  13. ^ Giilck, T.S. (January 12, 2024). "Rise and shine is Laking's message to Whitehorse". Whitehorse Star. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  14. ^ "Whitehorse council look at ways to deal with property crime". Yukon News. November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; "Motion asking for more police funding passes in Whitehorse". Yukon News. September 11, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  15. ^ "Rideshare initiative urged for city". Whitehorse Star. June 16, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  16. ^ Waddell, Stephanie (March 26, 2022). "Delegate calls for improved access to Grey Mountain Cemetery". Yukon News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  17. ^ Tobin, Chuck (January 20, 2023). "Town square idea to get further study". Whitehorse Star. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  18. ^ Elliot, Jim (August 7, 2024). "City of Whitehorse makes progress on building permit backlog". Yukon News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  19. ^ Stockton, Talar (August 8, 2024). "Whitehorse councillor fears proposed civility policy "goes too far"". Yukon News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  20. ^ Todd, Katie (September 11, 2024). "Whitehorse city council wants RCMP to prioritize rising property crime". CBC News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  21. ^ Todd, Katie (April 17, 2024). "Council discusses internet voting system for next Whitehorse election". CBC News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; Elliot, Jim (May 15, 2024). "Whitehorse council drops online voting plan". Yukon News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  22. ^ Giilck, Tim (May 16, 2022). "Councillor elected as AYC's president". Whitehorse Star. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  23. ^ Hatherly, Dana (May 8, 2024). "Association of Yukon Communities president won't seek another term". Yukon News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; "Less support expressed for municipal term lengths (AYC succession mention)". Penticton Herald. May 9, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  24. ^ "Inaugural Yukon First Nations Chiefs and Mayors Forum Held in Whitehorse". Council of Yukon First Nations. October 27, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  25. ^ Prokop, Morris (March 8, 2023). "Cuts to rural land development assailed". Whitehorse Star. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; Todd, Katie (March 7, 2023). "Yukon cuts budget for rural land development in half". CBC News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; "The President of the Association of Yukon Communities Speaks Out on Sustainable Growth in Municipalities". CKRW. August 11, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  26. ^ "AYC, FCM set out requests for coming budget". Whitehorse Star. March 27, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  27. ^ Todd, Katie (September 14, 2023). "Yukon communities need more EMS volunteers to fill service gaps in rural areas". CBC News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  28. ^ Todd, Katie (July 25, 2023). "Association of Yukon Communities decries rural health centre closures, nurse shortage". CBC News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; Hatherly, Dana (September 22, 2023). "Yukon Party slams government's inability to prevent rural health centre closures". Yukon News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  29. ^ "Whitehorse City Councillor Ted Laking says he will not be seeking another term". CKRW. June 3, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  30. ^ "Ted Laking aims to seek Conservative nomination to run for MP of Yukon". CKRW. July 11, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  31. ^ Elliot, Jim (November 8, 2024). "Ted Laking announces MLA bid under Yukon Party, steps back from federal ambitions". Yukon News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  32. ^ Hatherly, Dana (January 8, 2025). "Leader declares candidacy as Yukon Party preps for territorial elections". Yukon News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; "Ted Laking seeks nomination to run for Yukon Party in Porter Creek Centre". CKRW. November 8, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; "Governing is About Priorities". tedlaking.ca. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; "Meet and Greet Speech". tedlaking.ca. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  33. ^ Hatherly, Dana (September 23, 2025). "Where is the Yukon government on its goal to release 1,000 lots in 5 years?". Yukon News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.; Linke, Macklen (September 18, 2025). "Opposition parties blame Liberals' land tender process for driving up housing costs". CKRW. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  34. ^ "Whitehorse elects two incumbents, four fresh faces to city council". Yukon News. October 22, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2025.