Whitehorse Daily Star

Vancouver executive chosen to head Yukon Energy

Yukon Energy has hired a new president and chief executive officer

By Chuck Tobin on August 14, 2014

Yukon Energy has hired a new president and chief executive officer to replace David Morrison, who is retiring, the corporation announced today.

Andrew Hall has a background in renewable energy related particularly to biogas alternatives.

He served most recently as a vice-president of Vancouver’s BiotoQ Environmental Technologies Inc.

Before that, Hall was vice-president with Xebec Adsorption Inc. in China, where the company “introduced biogas solutions to the renewable energy market in China and Korea,” says this morning’s announcement.

“He has been working for various management positions and in a couple of CEO positions in related fields,” Piers McDonald, chair of the board of directors for Yukon Energy, said in an interview late this morning.

“So we felt that experience and related abilities was something the company needed.”

Morrison announced his retirement early this year.

McDonald said more than 100 individuals applied for the job.

After a number of shortlisting exercises, interviews were conducted with eight candidates from whom three were selected for the final round of detailed interviews.

Of the three finalists, two were from the Yukon, he said.

McDonald said the salary for the position ranges from $200,000 to $250,000.

The employment contract is similar to what one would see with a deputy minister.

Educated as a chemical engineer, Hall is scheduled to begin work next month.

Morrison will stay on to provide a period of transition until his contract expires Dec. 31.

McDonald said the transition will provide Hall with time to bring himself up to speed and will also give Morrison the chance to wrap up a couple of files.

A date for the official transfer of authority still needs to be worked out, the chair explained.

“The board wishes to thank Mr. Morrison for his 10 years of service,” says this morning’s announcement.

“Yukon Energy has been very fortunate to have had someone of Mr. Morrison’s calibre and skill at the helm.”

Morrison was hired soon after the Yukon Party was elected to govern in the fall of 2002 under the leadership of Dennis Fentie.

He was first tasked with unravelling the mess left behind by the short-lived Liberal government relating to the construction of the transmission line between Mayo and Dawson City, which came in over budget and behind schedule.

Morrison leaves as the publicly owned utility has come under substantial criticism from the public regarding its decision to replace aging backup diesel generators with new generators powered by natural gas imported from the B.C. Lower Mainland.

“The decision to use liquefied natural gas for system backup was a decision by the board of directors, not a decision by Mr. Morrison,” McDonald said.

“The board of directors expects staff will do as directed.

“The question of whether LNG is best for the Yukon is a question best asked to the board, and we will tell you we feel it is the best for the Yukon in every aspect, and we have not been persuaded by the critics to take a different approach.”

The new $41-million project is under construction along Robert Service Way, next to the Whitehorse Rapids Dam facility.

By Chuck Tobin Star Reporter

Comments (3)

Up 3 Down 0

Just Say'in on Aug 20, 2014 at 12:00 am

Ok……So Deputy Ministers are over paid as well. That is an atrocious amount of money. There are a lot of self employed people that run businesses and work many more hours for much less. Oh and a lot more risk. And why is it that we never hire the local guys that have come up through the system and know how things work. Maybe because the board wouldn't be able to Buffalo them? hmmm.

Up 6 Down 1

Scott on Aug 16, 2014 at 8:43 am

A couple of thoughts: Nearly a quarter of a million dollars, EACH year, that we have to pay out for this position. So after 10 years they walk off with 2 1/2 million PLUS perks and bonuses. And we the actual 'owners/public' have to pay for this. Says who? Oh, the board and its money man Peirs McD.. Does that make it okay? An equitable wage in the Yukon Territory? I think not. A terrible and good example of how the public is abused by those who feel they have the right to do as they feel fit and to hell with common sense and responsibility to the citizens. Stay tuned, because it will soon be ATCO Energy instead of Yukon Energy with Dennis Fentie, Peirs McDonald, Darryl Pasloski, etc sitting on ATCO's board. Public utiltity and crown (ie public entity)?? Ha!! Not if they can help it.

Up 7 Down 7

Wundering on Aug 14, 2014 at 4:06 pm

Yukon Energy goes outside the Yukon to find a new President, and finds someone who knows all about swamp gas and waste water, our needs power what they do.

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