The governing Liberal party has received a pre-election slap in the face from one of its backbenchers – with the territorial election expected to be called at any time.

Don Hutton, the 64-year-old MLA for Mayo-Tatchun, resigned from the Liberal party this morning to sit as an independent.

He’s also endorsing the Yukon NDP and leader Kate White in the upcoming election.

In an interview with the Star early this afternoon, Hutton was harshly critical of the Liberal government.

“It’s one big issue,” he said, his voice breaking. “Alcohol and drugs are wreaking havoc on my community.

“They failed my community,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking.”

Hutton said he has pleaded with the Liberal caucus for four years to do something to help the riding. He said he has been at the point of tears on many occasions as he’s begged for support – and received nothing in return.

“I’m a patient man, but we have to come to an end sometime.”

Hutton said he made his decision making the round trip to Mayo and back over the weekend.

“Making that drive gives me lots of thinking time,” he said.

Hutton also said Premier Sandy Silver failed on one promise he made directly to him.

“He sat at my table in 2016 and promised me every major decision would be discussed at caucus, not just with cabinet,” Hutton said. “It hasn’t happened once.”

In a letter to his constituents, Hutton wrote, “It has been the honour of my life to serve as the elected representative for Mayo-Tatchun. In the nearly five years I’ve served, my sole focus has been to defend the best interests of Mayo-Tatchun.

“I’m sorry to say that the concerns I’ve raised have been repeatedly ignored, dismissed or have gone unanswered.

“This Liberal government that I was elected to be part of has been a deep disappointment to me with their inaction on issues that our communities struggle with, in particular, alcohol abuse and addictions.”

Hutton added in the letter that “I am deeply saddened that I have been pushed to the point that I have lost confidence in the Yukon Liberals and Premier Sandy Silver.

“Our communities deserve better than what they’ve been given by this Liberal government. It’s for this reason that I have resigned from the Liberal caucus and as Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.”

Hutton had already announced that he would not be seeking re-election.

“As many of you know, I am not running again in the upcoming territorial election,” he wrote in the letter.

“When the time comes for you to consider who you might vote for, I encourage a vote for Kate White’s NDP.

“Kate is an honest, genuine representative who cares about people ahead of everything else. This is why I hope to see her elected as the Yukon’s next premier.”

Hutton said he will remain in office until the end of his mandate.

The Star asked the cabinet for a response to today’s dramatic development.

Nothing was received before press time this afternoon.

Speaking to the Star late this morning, White called Hutton “incredibly brave” and said “that took a lot of courage.

“I’ve known Don to be a man of integrity, and I look forward to hearing what he has to say.”

White noted the NDP has a policy of not accepting new members who have resigned from another party into its ranks.

Only MLAs who have run under the NDP banner are eligible to join the caucus.

Dan Cable, the clerk of the legislature, explained to the Star early this afternoon that Speaker Nils Clarke, a Liberal MLA, will now hold the deciding vote on all matters of confidence, such as the budget.

Hutton’s resignation leaves the Liberals with 10 seats, including the Speaker, who is nominally neutral. The opposition now holds nine seats, leaving the Liberals with a razor-thin majority.

After the house convened at 1 p.m. today, Clarke formally notified MLAs of Hutton’s resignation as deputy speaker and chair of the committee of the whole. There were no other remarks on the subject.

“This is a stunning indictment of the Liberals lack of leadership and their inability to get things done,” said Tim Kucharuk, a spokesperson for the Yukon Party said.

“From the lack of a path forward leading the territory out of the pandemic, to no plan to get students back to in-person learning full-time, more and more Yukoners have become dissatisfied with Liberal inaction and broken promises.

“It seems that dissatisfaction also extends to within their own caucus.”

Late last year, Hutton created controversy in the legislature by suggesting liquor sales to be the equivalent of engaging in criminal activities during a private member’s day.

During the debate, Hutton compared the sale of alcohol to dealing drugs.

“The members opposite (Yukon Party MLAs) have made this look like it is a very simple issue; you either support business or you don’t.

“It is not that simple. Keep in mind the businesses that we are talking about here,” Hutton said at the time, quoting his comments from the official record kept by legislature staff.

“Alcohol is a psychoactive, mind-altering drug. My definition of a drug dealer is somebody who sells a psychoactive, mind-altering drug, knowing that it can cause harm to people, for profit. Let’s make it cheaper. Let’s make it more accessible.

“I am happy that the legalization of cannabis provided us with the opportunity to finally talk about alcohol as the drug that it is.

“You know, it is not a beverage,” the backbencher added.

“I didn’t teach my kids that alcohol was a beverage; I taught them that it is a drug. I think that is something that we should all be teaching our children.

“It is the most dangerous drug — not just in Canada but in the entire world.”