Cabinet minister Jim Kenyon apologized to the territory's civil service and recanted the statements he made last week in attacking some Department of Education staff.

In a press conference held late this morning, Kenyon, the Economic Development minister, read a prepared statement to all government of Yukon employees, apologizing for his words last week.

'I would like to take this opportunity to offer each one of you my sincerest and unequivocal apology for comments that I have made recently to the media concerning the Department of Education and its officials regarding their role in funding for a seat at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine,' he said.

'I now realize that, in my attempt to explain the facts of this matter, I have broken with accepted protocol and convention in the criticism and was absolutely wrong in attaching motive and blame to the department and its employees.

'I do regret that I've clearly offended individual employees, the department and all members of the Yukon public service with my comments, and I am truly sorry for having done so.

'I wish to retract the statements I've made regarding the Department of Education.'

Premier Dennis Fentie, who was making his first statement since Kenyon's initial comments came out in a press release last Thursday, started off the press conference by indicating he doesn't condone Kenyon's actions.

'The government takes the matter before us very, very seriously. The cabinet, the government and its caucus do not support the comments or the statements that have been made.

'There is an obligation on cabinet, caucus and the public service to conduct themselves in a professional manner in all cases. And when it comes to this particular issue, the elected arm of government did not do so.

'Our job always is to work with our public service constructively to find solutions, not to lay blame when problems arise.'

NDP Leader Todd Hardy indicated today he questions the sincerity of the apology.

'I believe that they were made under duress, that he was threatened with his caucus seat,' said Hardy.

However, Hardy said he was pleased to see Kenyon apologizing for his 'extremely damaging and negative comments.'

Liberal Leader Pat Duncan would not speculate on the sincerity of Kenyon's apology. However, she does believe it is too late.

'The damage is done with respect to the relationship between the Yukon Party and the public service,' she said this afternoon.

Yesterday, Kenyon was asked about whether he was still in the cabinet after a meeting that morning with Fentie and other Yukon Party MLAs.

'Yes, of course, not a problem. We support each other's views 110 per cent. No problem,' he said.

Today, he took back that statement as well.

'The statement that appeared in the Whitehorse Star yesterday stating that the premier and my caucus colleagues supported the criticism of the department and its officials, and that's not completely the case. They do, however, support the apology today.'

The matter that initially came up in November, resurfaced at the beginning of this month when documents the Star obtained through the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act showed that Kenyon had pushed Education Minister John Edzerza in 2004 to pay for a spot at the vet college for an eligible student.

The student is a seasonal employee of Kenyon's veterinary clinic.

The documents also showed that while the government eventually coughed up the $25,000 a year for the spot for the student, another eligible student was not able to attend the school in 2003 because the government refused to buy the seat that year.

In his release last Thursday and in subsequent interviews, he indicated that the Yukon Party cabinet had always wanted the seat to be funded if there was an eligible student.

Kenyon wrote to the Star in an e-mail last week: 'Since the Dept. seems to admit that (the 2003 student) met the Yukon grant criteria, that would indicate that they got seriously screwed by the Dept.'

In an interview, he said the student was 'screwed royally.'

He believed that the decision to not pay for the seat in 2003 was not made by Edzerza.

'I do believe that this decision was made by the Dept. of Education with no input or communication with the minister.'

Last week, Kenyon was asked why, if it was so cut and dried that the money would be put back, that the department did not give it to the 2003 student and initially denied the 2004 student as well.

'I think that's the question of the century, and I can only think of two reasons for that,' he said, pointing the finger at the department.

'One, they weren't made aware of it and it's just simply horrible communication within a department; two, somebody's playing politics. What a great way to make someone look stupid, don't you think?'

When it was pointed out to Kenyon that it's virtually unheard of for a minister to publicly call a department to task, he replied: 'Don't you think they should sometimes?

'If somebody screws the pooch, kids, come on, it's time they be held accountable to it. And if they didn't, stand up and explain it, I'd love to see that. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't know.'

In his letter, Kenyon said he felt Edzerza did nothing wrong, laying all the blame at the feet of the departmental officials.

'His bureaucratic staff led him down the wrong path. Whether they simply don't understand the program, chose to defy political direction to do the right thing for students or are motivated by political gamesmanship may never be known,' Kenyon wrote in Thursday's release.

Hardy said Kenyon is not the only one who attacked the bureaucracy. He said this started with a comment from Edzerza.

'He laid a criticism at his own department. He started that whole ball rolling.'

Hardy was referring to a letter to the editor Edzerza sent out last Tuesday.

Edzerza wrote: 'In March of 2003, departmental officials declined to sponsor a seat for a student that was applying to the college. Unfortunately, this decision was not brought to the attention of the minister's office until this past summer.'

A letter between Edzerza and Kenyon dated March 3, 2004, indicated this very event, proving Edzerza knew about the student before the summer of 2004.

In today's press conference, Edzerza said he supports his department.

'I'm very pleased to be able to have the opportunity to say to the Department of Education that I sincerely appreciate and totally respect all of the hard work that they have done in the two years that I have been minister. I have the utmost respect for all of the staff that I've gotten to know,' he said.

'And throughout this whole ordeal, if I ever said anything that offended any of the staff, I would like to say that I'm sorry if I did. It was unintentional, for certain.'

Edzerza was later asked if his apology covered his statement from last Tuesday, blaming the staff for not telling him about the 2003 student.

He reiterated that he apologized if he offended anyone.

Fentie would not address any questions about the vet college controversy nor allow either of the other ministers to answer any questions about the matter.

The premier said there would be no more questions answered on the matter until after it was dealt with by David Jones, the Yukon's conflicts commissioner.

Kenyon indicated in his statement he will take the matter to the conflicts commissioner to review

While the commissioner had not been contacted this morning, officials said he will be informed soon.

Duncan said Fentie had previously rejected any requests for an investigation. She was glad to see the premier change his tune on that matter.

'He's heeded the call for moral leadership.'