After walking away from his cabinet post and the ruling Yukon Party's government caucus, Lake Laberge MLA Brad Cathers raised hopes among the opposition that his move would spell the end of Premier Dennis Fentie's regime.

Citing irreconcilable differences with the premier over secret negotiations, first to sell, then privatize the territory's public utility, Cathers' Aug. 28 resignation reduced the Yukon Party to a minority government.

However, subsequent promises by the official Opposition to topple the government, repeated this week by Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell, have received lukewarm reviews from the legislature's newest independent MLA.

Cathers maintains his quarrel is with the premier, not the party, and indicated he would likely not support a motion of non-confidence.

He also panned Liberal energy critic Gary McRobb's anti-privatization bill that would prohibit any government from selling public utility assets without a mandate from the electorate.

This week, at least in McRobb's estimation, Cathers went from potential saviour to stooge with his latest gesture, lobbying the three political parties to give independents the ability to call motions and bills for debate.

"He did say he was still a card-carrying member of the Yukon Party, so is he there (in opposition) to hold them accountable or just prop them up?” McRobb asked during an interview today.

"Now he wants his share of private members' days at the expense of the two opposition parties ... this means fewer questions for the two main opposition parties who will hold the government accountable.

"Add it all up and you get reduced opportunities to hold the Fentie government accountable.”

Each Wednesday the assembly sits, members of the two opposition caucuses and the sole private member of the government caucus can call matters or private bills for debate, but independent MLAs cannot.

Cathers, who tried to change the rules when he was sitting in government, called the current state of affairs unfair to both independent MLAs and those they represent.

"Responses to my proposal will show how they think MLAs should be allowed to represent constituents or whether they want party leaders to decide what gets debated on private members' day,” said Cathers.

"The question they will really be answering here is whether the principle of the democratic institution should be respected.”

Steve Cardiff, the NDP member who sits with McRobb and Cathers on the Standing Committee on Rules, Elections and Privileges – one venue where the change Cathers seeks could emanate from – called Cathers' proposal "just a tiny piece” of improving democracy on the floor of the assembly.

"The NDP presented on many occasions over the last seven years, options to improve the legislature,” said Cardiff.

Currently, the NDP's Legislative Renewal Act, which would kick-start the potential overhaul of legislative procedures, remains on the order paper.

Fentie has criticized former NDP leader Todd Hardy's private member's bill as nothing more than "rearranging deck chairs,” and the Yukon Party has never supported it.

Today, that came back to haunt Cathers.

"Mr. Cathers didn't support when he was in government ... so it's interesting that now the shoe is on the other foot, this has become a big issue for him,” Cardiff said.

"It wasn't as big an issue when we presented our bill (and what Cathers wants); it's only a tiny piece of the picture.”

Calls to the Yukon Party's sole private member, Steve Nordick, the cabinet and independent MLA John Edzerza were not returned as of press time this afternoon.