Photo by Vince Fedoroff
DIGESTING THE NEWS - Liberal Leader Arther Mitchell, left, comments on the resignation of Brad Cathers from the Yukon Party cabinet and caucus this morning in the Liberal offices. Looking on are Liberal MLAs Gary McRobb, centre, and Don Inverarity.
Leaders of both opposition parties renewed their calls today that Premier Dennis Fentie must resign
Leaders of both opposition parties renewed their calls today that Premier Dennis Fentie must resign following the defection of Fentie's right-hand man, now former energy, mines and resources minister Brad Cathers.
"The premier has betrayed Yukoners, acted in bad faith and frankly, has lied to them, and now we have the energy minister saying that he believes that as well," Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell said after learning of Cathers' resignation.
While Cathers, the MLA for Lake Laberge, will now sit as an independent, Cathers did not indicate which way he would go in the event of a non-confidence motion, something Mitchell vowed to move on when the legislature reconvenes in the fall.
If such a non-confidence motion succeeds, the official Opposition leader is anxious to put the matter to the Yukon public in a snap election.
"This (resignation) confirms what me and my colleagues have been saying, that Fentie has been lying to Yukoners about the ATCO negotiations, beginning with his own government," said Mitchell.
"We need an election because Yukoners need a chance to elect a government they can trust."
Todd Hardy, the NDP leader, called the matter a crisis that the territory does not need to deal with at the moment, and also said the premier needs to be shown the door.
"It really comes right down to leadership, and a crisis within the Yukon Party and Yukon Party government," said Hardy.
"I can see an election on the horizon... or else the premier will be forced to resign, which I think he should."
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Comments (2)
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name whitheld on Aug 29, 2009 at 9:15 am
This is the opportunity the opposition has had fall into their lap. They must now carefully execute a non-confidence motion which would force an immediate election call. In order to do this, they must raise the pressure on sitting yukon party members by encouraging constituents in those ridings to insist those members cross the floor as a personal statement of where they stand on fentie's chronic lying, bullying, and dictatorial tactics. Anyone left standing with fentie will have clearly communicated their complicity in this whole sordid scandal, and will be duly dealt with at the polls. Even if they do all cross the floor, it doesn't necessarily mean they will be forgiven at the polls, but from a yukon party perspective, that is the last and best strategy available to avoid being wiped out in the coming election. fentie could also become vindictive and call for a snap election himself...he has the authority to do so. This would be a poison pill approach and would decimate the yukon party on his timetable. If the yukon party is thinking clearly it will immediately call for a leadership review to defuse things a little, and have fentie step down....that would be the point at which or before which fentie could become vindictive. The best political survival strategy for any yukon party mla or minister would be to cross the floor.
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Joseph Campbell on Aug 28, 2009 at 11:02 am
What a gaggle of amateurs - all three parties. The Yukon needs some trained politicians. Constant bickering among themselves, no wonder nothing can get done. Lets go back to a Commissioner government and let the Feds work it out. None of the guys deserve the pay they get.