The NDP is calling for the head of the Economic Development minister, and wants the premier to be the one to deliver it.

NDP Leader Todd Hardy is calling on Premier Dennis Fentie to deal with the situation that has come out of yesterday's revelations about Jim Kenyon's actions in pushing the Education minister and his department to buy a seat at a Saskatchewan vet college so an employee of his clinic could attend.

'Mr. Fentie needs to remove Mr. Kenyon from cabinet,' Hardy said in an interview today.

The official Opposition leader said Kenyon is in a serious situation. Hardy believes Kenyon's actions reflected in the documents 'do not justify this man being a cabinet minister.'

Hardy wants Fentie to bring down the axe on Kenyon's ministerial career because he doesn't believe the minister will remove himself.

Kenyon has been in other controversies in his two years as a minister.

That included a situation last month where the opposition was concerned with the fact a Chinese mining company paid for Kenyon's meals and some of his transportation around China.

But Hardy said the current controversy is the worst situation Kenyon has put himself into.

Information the Star obtained through Access to Information and Protection of Privacy (ATIPP) requests show Kenyon repeatedly lobbied Education Minister John Edzerza and the department to support funding for a qualified student.

The successful applicant worked for his veterinary clinic and is listed on his company's website as an employee.

Kenyon tried to get the government to spend $100,000 over four years so the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan would provide a spot for a Yukon student.

In the documents, Kenyon repeatedly told Edzerza to pay for the seat because he had promised in 2003 to do so if a good candidate came along.

Edzerza said he would not because it was unfair to other students of other programs and because the department determined there is not a huge need for veterinarians in the Yukon.

Those exchanges took place between January and April 2004. By August 2004, the department had reversed its original decision and agreed to pay for the seat. The student is now attending the school.

The documents do not make it clear why the government changed its original decision not to pony up the money for this position.

Hardy said Fentie has to deal with ethical matters within his cabinet.

Fentie was unavailable for comment before deadline today.

Cabinet spokesman Peter Carr was asked if Kenyon and Edzerza would comment today on this situation. He immediately said both ministers would make 'no additional comments.'

When asked why they weren't commenting, he replied: 'Just that no additional comments.'

Hardy said this needs to be addressed because of how the documents show Kenyon acted in this matter.

'(He) far overstepped his boundaries as a minister,' said Hardy.

'It looks like he interfered at a department level.'

The NDP boss was referring to a departmental e-mail which referred to comments from Jeremy Bailey, the associate dean of the veterinary college.

Carole Theriault, of the Department of Education, stated in the e-mail to a colleague that she contacted Bailey, who said Kenyon had told him that Edzerza would make sure the funds to buy the seat would be available.

During that conversation between Bailey and Kenyon, according to Theriault, the university official mentioned a letter from Gordon McDevitt, the head of the department's advanced education branch.

That letter indicated the government would not be able to pony up money again for the program.

'Mr. Kenyon indicated to Dr. Bailey that Gordon McDevitt was just down the hall from him and that he would be talking to him and things will be sorted out,' Theriault wrote.

Hardy said ministers should only deal with deputy ministers. McDevitt is an associate deputy minister.

However, unless Kenyon was the acting Education minister, he should not deal with anybody in the department, said Hardy. That's Edzerza's job.

'Again, it's interfering at a level no minister should,' said Hardy.

Hardy was also critical of Fentie and other ministers, including Edzerza, for not providing a full explanation to the legislature when questioned on this topic in late November.

Hardy points out the documents make it clear that Fentie knew what was going on long before this came up in the house.

The list of documents indicates the student in question, or a representative of the student, wrote a letter to Edzerza which was also sent to the premier.

When the premier was questioned about this on Nov. 23, by Hardy, Fentie did not discuss the issue specifically.

'We on this side of the House have set the highest of ethical standards for any government, and the evidence is clear across the board,' replied Fentie.

'What the problem is for the official Opposition and the third party is they do not have the political will or the fortitude to step outside of this Legislative Assembly and make their accusation.

'Make the accusation in the public so those who are being accused have the right to avail themselves of due process. The accusation requires the burden of proof.'

See related story at left.