A town council in Dawson City, Yukon, is in a deadlock after newly elected members, including Mayor-elect Stephen Johnson, refused to swear allegiance to King Charles III as part of their official oath. The council’s decision is in solidarity with Indigenous council member Darwyn Lynn, who raised concerns about the monarchy’s historical relationship with Canada’s Indigenous peoples. Under Yukon law, council members must take the oath within 40 days of their election, or their positions may be nullified. The council has requested an alternative oath, but it remains unclear if this will be granted. The council is unable to make official decisions until the matter is resolved. Dawson City, with a population of 2,400, is situated on the former site of Tr’ochëk, an Indigenous hunting camp. The standoff has sparked mixed reactions from the town’s residents. Similar instances of refusal to take the royal oath have occurred in Canada, including in Quebec, where legislation passed in 2022 removed the requirement for elected officials to swear allegiance to the monarchy.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE