Lois Moorcroft

Lois Moorcroft (born August 21, 1954) is a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral districts of Mount Lorne (1992–2000) and Copperbelt South (2011–2016) in the Yukon Legislative Assembly. She is a member of the Yukon New Democratic Party.

Early career

Moorcroft was born in Oshawa, Ontario, and grew up in Whitby, Ontario. She studied history at Trent University in Peterborough where she earned a bachelor's degree.

Prior to entering territorial politics, Moorcroft served as a librarian at Yukon College's Whitehorse campus. She also served on the Yukon Employment Standards Board and has held positions on the boards of the Yukon College Employees' Union and the Yukon Federation of Labour. In the 1980s, Moorcroft was one of the parents involved in successfully lobbying the territorial government for a new school (Golden Horn Elementary School) to be built for families and children living south of Whitehorse.

Political career

28th Legislative Assembly

Moorcroft was narrowly elected in the 1992 Yukon election as the representative for Mount Lorne for New Democrats. Moorcroft had campaigned on pay equality for women and the importance of the Canadian Human Rights Act.

In that election, however, the government of New Democrat leader Tony Penikett was defeated and reduced to Official Opposition status by a coalition of Yukon Party and Independent MLAs. As an opposition member, Moorcroft served on the Standing Committee on Rules, Elections, and Privileges.

29th Legislative Assembly

Moorcroft was re-elected comfortably in the 1996 Yukon election, defeating Yukon Liberal leader Ken Taylor in her riding of Mount Lorne. The New Democrats, now led by Piers McDonald, formed a majority government. Moorcroft was appointed Minister of Justice, Minister of Education, and Minister responsible for the Women's Directorate in the McDonald government.

Moorcroft joined the New Democrats under leader Liz Hanson in forming Official Opposition during the 33rd Legislative Assembly and served as opposition critic for Justice, Highways and Public Works, and Advanced Education. She was also caucus whip.

During the 33rd Legislative Assembly, Moorcroft took a stance against the Yukon Government's proposal to invest $200 million twinning the Alaska Highway through Whitehorse and opposed any fracking in the territory as a member of the Select Committee on Hydraulic Fracturing. Moorcroft also successfully put forward a motion, adopted unanimously, to make territorial campgrounds more accessible.

Personal life Moorcroft has lived in the Yukon for more than 40 years, with her husband.

Electoral record

2016 general election Liberal Jocelyn Curteanu

NDP Lois Moorcroft

2011 general election NDP Lois Moorcroft

Liberal Colleen Wirth

2000 general election Liberal Cynthia Tucker

NDP Lois Moorcroft

1996 general election NDP Lois Moorcroft

Liberal Ken Taylor

Independent Allen Luheck

1992 general election NDP Lois Moorcroft

Independent Barb Harris

Liberal Roger Moore