John Ostashek is being remembered as a straightforward man who stood by his convictions as a politician.

The former government leader, who served from 1992 to 1996, died in Vancouver on Sunday night following a lengthy illness. He was 71.

The Yukon's elected representatives were informed by Speaker Ted Staffen of his passing when the legislature convened early Monday afternoon. Flags are flying at half mast and the MLAs stood for a minute of silence in Ostashek's honour.

Shock and sadness came with the sudden announcement of his passing, said Premier Dennis Fentie.

'We know Mr. Ostashek was valiantly fighting a difficult health issue and unfortunately this is the news we didn't want.'

Fentie said Ostashek's legacy will remain his tenure in the public's service, both in government and opposition.

'His time spent in the political arena was one where Mr. Ostashek made every effort to ensure that Yukon was advancing,' Fentie said.

Ostashek served in the legislature for eight years. The rookie politician spent his first term in office leading his Yukon Party government before becoming leader of the official Opposition when Piers McDonald's NDP government came to power in 1996.

'He was a straight-talking, blunt-speaking person who says precisely what is on his mind. He's no games player,'McDonald told the Star today.

'He knew what he wanted to achieve and pursued it.'

Ostashek later lost his Porter Creek North seat in the 2000 election when former premier Pat Duncan's Liberals swept up all the capital's ridings. He subsequently resigned as Yukon Party leader and from politics.

Born in High Prairie, Alta. in 1936, Ostashek was a successful big-game outfitter, purchasing and running a business in the Kluane area in the 1970s.

He later sold the business but continued to fly passengers on tours over Kluane National Park while developing a small farm along Kluane Lake.

Ostashek was appointed leader of the Yukon Party before the 1992 election. When Tony Penikett's New Democrats were ousted from office, Ostashek refused to take the title of premier. He instead reverted back to the title of government leader.

'He came in with a great deal of dedication and commitment to this territory and he brought that type of approach with him from the private sector,' Fentie said of Ostashek's leadership in government.

McDonald agreed that the government leader paid careful attention to the financial health of the territory while in office.

Ostashek was one of the key players in the formation of the Yukon Party, said Gordon Steele, a senior advisor to the party and a longtime friend of the late politician.

He helped build the party back up and get the Yukon's conservatives back into office, said Fentie.

Ostashek governed the territory during challenging times, said Steele, and proved himself to be a man of action more than word.

Describing Ostashek as a 'crusty individual with a heart of gold,' Steele said the man set the stage for Yukon prosperity.

'Much of what was accomplished back then may have contributed to where we got to in 2002,' said Fentie.

Ostashek helped bring about economic growth in the private sector, he said.

'A lot of those economic foundations are common to anyone who believes strongly in the fact that a strong economy contributes greatly to the social fabric of the territory.'

Ostashek's time in office focused on welfare reform and a reduction of public services. His government also advanced the devolution of northern affairs programs to the territory.

But the signing of the Umbrella Final Agreement with the first four first nations in 1993 is being pointed to as the crowning achievement of Ostashek by political leaders.

The agreement was negotiated under Penikett's NDP government and the conservative Yukon Party, along with Ostashek, expressed opposition at the time, but after forming government, he recognized its importance to the future of the territory, said NDP Leader Todd Hardy.

'He recognized the importance of it. I believe he recognized the work that had been done,' said Hardy.

Hardy sat on the government side while Ostashek was in opposition.

He said the man repeatedly demonstrated his capacity to learn, grow and debate without ever attacking individuals.

'I never found him a person that took really cheap shots. He'd get angry and he'd get passionate about his own conservative viewpoints but I didn't find him a dirty player,' he said.

Ostashek attacked ideology and policy, said Hardy, not people, and he stood by his principles and beliefs.

'He was a true conservative.'

His command of the issues of the day was tremendous, said Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell, who served as Ostashek's cabinet spokesperson from 1994 to 1996.

'Especially the numbers,' he said. 'As the minister of finance, he probably had a better command than most. He could recite numbers off the top of his head was thoroughly familiar with every item in his budget.'

He was never one to hold himself in great importance or demonstrate an inflated ego, said Mitchell.

'He was certainly there for public service,' he said. 'He was somebody that carried his own bags.'

Ostashek's government may have had its management challenges, but it held it together, said McDonald.

The Yukon Party held seven seats at the time, while the Liberals had one and the NDP six.

Three independents were also elected and Ostashek managed to keep power by winning their support.

'If you want to speak of legacy, that's certainly an ingredient of Mr. Ostashek's legacy here in the territory,' said Fentie.

'His strength of character and his ability to keep a group of people with very diverse views, opinions and interests, keep that kind of group of people together and continue to lead and govern.'