John Edzerza has resigned from his responsibilities as the Education and Justice Minister, quit the Yukon Party and announced his intention to seek the nomination of the NDP in his McIntyre-Takhini riding for the pending territorial election.

'My resignation is based on solely political reasons,' Edzerza told reporters at a press conference this morning. 'My resignation is based on doubt.'

Edzerza delivered letters to Premier Dennis Fentie, Speaker Ted Staffen and legislature clerk Patrick Michael stating his intentions Wednesday afternoon.

Beyond his resignation from the Yukon Party, he indicated he would be sitting as an independent for the remainder of the 31st Legislative Assembly, Michael told the Star.

NDP Leader Todd Hardy has previously stated it is party policy not to allow an MLA to cross the floor and join the caucus. The member must resign his or her seat and force a byelection or sit as an independent and then seek a nomination in a riding.

Rachael Lewis, a businesswoman who has sought a seat in the legislature on behalf of the NDP in the past, stated Tuesday she will also be seeking the nomination of the party in McIntyre-Takhini.

Hardy said in an interview today it will be up to the riding's party members to decide who they would like to represent them in the election Fentie must call by November. Hardy will not be throwing his support behind either candidate, stating that is not his place.

He, however, added, that both are strong candidates for the NDP and he hopes that whoever does not win the party's nod would consider representing another riding.

Fentie announced to the media late Wednesday afternoon that he had received notification from Edzerza that he would be leaving the Yukon Party.

'It's his choice,' said Fentie. 'I do wish him well and thank him for his service.'

Edzerza was first elected to the legislature in the 2002 election, taking 32 per cent of the vote. It was a narrow victory, with only 18 ballots separating him and NDP candidate Maureen Stephens.

His portfolios in the Yukon Party government demanded a tremendous amount of responsibility, said Fentie.

He added Edzerza was a dedicated minister and played an instrumental role in advancing education reform, the corrections reform and the Safer Communities and Neighbours legislation as well as the Substance Abuse Action Plan.

'At some times it's been difficult and at other times very rewarding,' said Edzerza of his time with the party. 'I appreciate the opportunity I had to serve as a minister and I thoroughly enjoyed the work.'

However, Edzerza said he has been questioning his involvement with the party and has been becoming further disillusioned for the last year and a half.

The slaughter of 56 reindeer from the former Northern Splendor Reindeer Farm in May 2005 was one incident Edzerza cited as raising questions about his involvement in the party.

'I'm a traditional person. I have a very high respect and honour for the animal world. I'm still saddened. I think there could have been a better way to resolve that issue.'

Edzerza said when he left for a scheduled vacation in Germany in May of that year, he understood the government was looking into sending the animals to Finland, only to return and hear the entire herd had been culled.

'That has troubled me greatly spiritually.'

The Yukon Party government then stating a school would be built in Granger during the Copperbelt byelection last November also came as a shock, said Edzerza.

The former Education minister said he was not aware that there were any plans for the new school until after the fact and was concerned about the impacts it would have on Elijah Smith and Takhini Elementary Schools.

'I voiced my concerns but I feel I was not heard then and I doubt I would be heard in the future.'

The straw that broke the camel's back, said Edzerza, though, was the exclusion of the Burwash Landing school from the 2006/2007 budget.

Edzerza said he had reached a 'handshake deal with a witness' that the budget would include $200,000 for a portable school facility and had announced it to the community.

But it was pulled from the budget without his knowledge and he wasn't told until four days after the removal decision was made.

'That was something I was really shocked at,' he said. 'It was kind of embarrassing for me, because I had to phone a lot of people and say, I'm sorry, you won't have a school.''

Edzerza said he considered resigning then and also questioned if he would even run in territorial politics again after the incident.

He decided that it was in the best interests of his riding and Yukoners to continue in the mandate he was elected to serve.

'I am not a quitter. I was elected under the Yukon Party, so the best interests of my constituents came first,' he said.

'I was elected by the constituents and I believe when you are elected by a riding that you have to put your own personal agenda aside and work to the best interests of the riding.

'As a minister of two very important portfolios, I realized that I had a lot of responsibility to every citizen in the territory. That was among my commitments also to do what was best for all people.'

Though Edzerza has previously served as as a member of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation Chief and Council under four administrations, this was the first time he entered territorial politics.

'I soon found out there were a lot of differences between the two, which was very educational for me and I'm very pleased that I did go into it.'

He said he choose to represent the Yukon Party in the last election because he had friends working in the party and had been approached about running.

Over the last several years, though, he said he has realized his political ideals are more in line with the NDP.

'I feel that the social agenda needs to have more attention,' he said. 'I understand full well how important economic development is, but I am also fully aware of how important it is to have healthy people.'

Edzerza said he is deeply concerned about the drug and crime situation in the territory.

If the political will, financial commitment and infrastructure are not provided to deal with the issues, the implications on the Yukon's youth are going to be felt in coming years, he said.

Emphasis needs to be placed on treatment and working with first nation governments to find solutions, he said.

Edzerza said he respected the way Hardy has addressed the social concerns of the territory and added there is a lot of sincerity behind the NDP leader's words, rather than simply political gamesmanship.

'I honestly believe that the territory is going to be in dire need of someone like Todd Hardy to move the social agenda,' he said.

He added he didn't believe the Yukon Party would have ever advanced the Safer Communities legislation and the Substance Abuse Action Plan, if it had not been for the work of Hardy and the NDP.

The former minister cited the individual learning centre and the establishment of a community court as some of the achievements during the last 3 1/2 years he was most proud of.

Hardy said Edzerza's departure from the Yukon Party didn't come as a surprise.

'He's been on the outside of the Yukon Party for several months, philosophically, I believe.'

Edzerza had approached the NDP about joining the caucus previously, but would not be accepted if he simply crossed the floor.

'Our fundamental belief is a member has a responsibility to the constituency,' said Hardy. '(Edzerza) will go through the process any member would go through.'

Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell said today it was common knowledge Edzerza had been 'looking for a home' for some time.

He added that the timing of the departure may be a political game leading up to the election, with the Yukon Party and the NDP trying to put the best public face on the situation.

Edzerza, however, stated the timing had more to do with the possibility of Fentie deciding to table a supplementary budget prior to dropping the writ.

'I'm not prepared to go and start pretending that I'm with the party when I'm not. I felt that if there is going to be a supplementary budget developed, I don't want to involved in its development. It was time to leave now.'

Fentie would not confirm or deny if the government will be sitting again prior to an election call.

He will not be shuffling the cabinet to fill the vacant portfolios, he said. The ministerial alternates will handle the duties from the remainder of the mandate.

'This won't even break our stride,' he said.

Edzerza said he has not spoken to Fentie in at least a month.

Edzerza is the second minister to leave the Yukon Party cabinet. Klondike MLA Peter Jenkins left last November, and now sits as an independent.