‘I hope the premier is considering his future’

Photo by Whitehorse Star

Ex-cabinet minister Brad Cathers wants Premier Dennis Fentie gone, but will not rush to support a non-confidence motion to topple his government.

“I’m preparing to enter the fall sitting and giving it an option to function, but I’m not giving the premier a blank cheque,” Cathers told the Star this morning.

It has been more than two weeks since Cathers’ decision to sit as an independent reduced the ruling Yukon Party to minority government status.

Cathers said he gave up his Energy, Mines and Resources portfolio and quit the caucus Aug. 28 because he could no longer in good conscience serve under a premier who “lied” to his caucus and then to the public about negotiating the sale of Yukon Energy Corp., the territory’s public utility.

On top of that bombshell accusation, Cathers said Fentie showed disdain for other cabinet members’ opinions and resorted to bullying to bring colleagues into line.

Today, the independent MLA for Lake Laberge said it’s time for Fentie to put the party ahead of any attempts to save face.

“I hope the premier is considering his future and considering not whether he can fight through this, but in the interest of the party, that it might be best to bow out with grace,” said Cathers, who promised to return to the Yukon Party fold when Fentie is no longer at its helm.

Arthur Mitchell, the leader of the official Opposition Liberals, vowed to introduce a non-confidence motion when the legislature reconvenes this fall.

But with Cathers’ wait-and-see approach and John Edzerza – the other independent MLA – hinting he would consider accepting the role of House Speaker, Fentie’s minority appears safe for now.

Nevertheless, Cathers warned that Fentie could dangle offers of cabinet postings or the Speaker’s chair to cling to power. Ted Staffen is the current Speaker of the house.

“There may be an attempt by the premier to entice someone to prop up the government by either offering them the Speaker’s chair or a cabinet post and certainly there’s been some discussion as to whether John Edzerza would take that,” Cathers said.

“What I would do if it were offered to me is refuse, as it’s not in the best interests of Yukon to hand the premier back a blank cheque and certainly what I’m hearing from the public is not to hand him a blank cheque.”

The Star’s attempts to contact Edzerza were unsuccessful as of press time this afternoon. However, Cathers has faith in his legislature colleague.

“I believe that John is a decent man, and if and when he comes to that decision, he’ll do the right thing and not be one to be enticed by the perks,” Cathers said.

On the heels of Liberal promises to topple Fentie’s government at the first opportunity, Edzerza was the first to rain on Mitchell’s parade, comparing the Liberals to “ravens waiting for the horse to die” in an interview with the Star.

In a subsequent CBC radio interview, Edzerza said he could be interested in the speaker’s chair, but when local reporters cornered Fentie at a town hall meeting in Carcross on Monday evening, the premier said he was not attempting to recruit Edzerza.

The scandal over Yukon Energy hit Fentie’s government in June after four energy corporation directors resigned to protest what they saw as the premier’s designs to sell the public utility to Calgary-based ATCO.

Negotiations, orchestrated by the premier and done behind the backs of the directors and cabinet, were originally geared toward liquidating energy corporation assets, but then scaled back to a more modest 50/50 privatization scheme.

In the face of allegations from the former directors, led by Willard Phelps, former chair and one-time Progressive Conservative government leader, Fentie continued to deny the government had any such plans.

Only after Cathers walked away from cabinet and caucus, were suspicions confirmed that Fentie came close to selling, then contemplated turning corporate control of the public utility to ATCO.

Cathers said other cabinet members shared his distaste for the premier’s behaviour, opening the door to speculation on other possible defections.

These have yet to transpire.

“I would say it hasn’t played out exactly as I expected,” said Cathers.

“But you never know how people will respond. It wouldn’t surprise me to see someone else walk away or make some public statement on the issue.”

Fentie told reporters in Iqaluit earlier this month he plans to continue governing.