- Dennis Fentie
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Dennis G. Fentie 
The Hon. Dennis G. Fentie 7th Premier of the Yukon In office
November 2002 – June 10, 2011Preceded by Pat Duncan (Liberal) Succeeded by Darrell Pasloski (Yukon Party) MLA for Watson Lake In office
1996–2011Preceded by John Devries Succeeded by Patti McLeod Personal details Born November 8, 1950
Edmonton, AlbertaPolitical party New Democrat → Yukon Party Spouse(s) Lorraine Nixon Residence Whitehorse, Yukon Dennis G. Fentie, MLA (born November 8, 1950) is a Canadian politician. He was the seventh Premier of Yukon and leader of the Yukon Party, serving from 2002 to 2011, as well as the MLA for Watson Lake.
Contents
Background
Fentie was born in Edmonton, Alberta. In 1962, Fentie moved to Watson Lake.[1] Prior to entering politics, Fentie was involved in a variety of economic activities in and around Watson Lake. These activities include logging, tourism, mining, trucking, and fuel distribution. Fentie has served as director of both the Association of Yukon Forests and the Watson Lake Chamber of Commerce, and the owner and former manager of Francis River Construction.
Politics
NDP
Fentie was first elected MLA for Watson Lake in the 1996 election as a member of Yukon New Democratic Party, succeeding retiring incumbent John Devries. He was re-elected in the 2000 election.
Yukon Party
In May 2002, Fentie left the NDP, crossing the floor to sit with the Yukon Party. One month later, Fentie was selected as the next Yukon Party leader. In the 2002 election, Fentie led the Yukon Party to a majority government, defeating incumbent Premier Pat Duncan and the Liberals. The party won 12 of 18 seats available in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
Fentie's majority government was reduced to minority government status in August 2006, when three Yukon Party MLAs resigned or chose to sit as independents. Copperbelt MLA Haakon Arntzen resigned after facing sexual assault charges and Klondike MLA Peter Jenkins was ousted after refusing to repay a government loan.[2] McIntyre-Takhini MLA John Edzerza, the only First Nations person in Fentie's cabinet, resigned in August 2006 to sit as an Independent. Edzerza would run in the next election as a member of the NDP.
With a minority government, Fentie called the 2006 election for October 6. Fentie was re-elected for a fourth time in the riding of Watson Lake and the Yukon Party was voted to a second straight majority government. The Yukon Party under Fentie's leadership won 10 of 18 seats in the legislative assembly.
Controversy
After the 2002 election, it was revealed he had been convicted and spent time in prison for heroin trafficking in 1974 when he was 24 years old. During the 2002 election campaign, he made it public that he had spent time in jail for a narcotics charge but did not make the fact it was heroin public since he had received a pardon.[3][4]
Election results
Yukon general election, 1996 Party Incumbent Votes New Democratic Party Dennis Fentie 442 Yukon Party Barrie Ravenhill 249 Liberal Dave Kalles 106 Independent Mickey Thomas 40 Yukon general election, 2000 Party Incumbent Votes New Democratic Party Dennis Fentie 434 Liberal Isaac Wood 312 Yukon Party Mickey Thomas 144 Yukon general election, 2002 Party Incumbent Votes Yukon Party Dennis Fentie 521 New Democratic Party Kathy Magun 174 Liberal Tom Cove 130 Yukon general election, 2006 Party Incumbent Votes Yukon Party Dennis Fentie 495 Liberal Rick Harder 196 New Democratic Party Rachael Lewis 45 Independent Dale Robert Worsfold 28 References
- ^ Yukon Legislative Assembly - http://www.legassembly.gov.yk.ca/mlas/fentie.html
- ^ CBC News - http://www.cbc.ca/yukonvotes2006/parties/fentie.html
- ^ "Yukon premier did time for heroin trafficking", cbc.ca, November 23, 2003.
- ^ "Yukon Premier 'Embarrassed' by Edmonton Heroin Conviction", Canadian Press.
External links
Yukon Party (1991–present) 
Categories:- 1950 births
- Living people
- People from Edmonton
- Premiers of Yukon
- Recipients of Canadian royal pardons
- Yukon New Democratic Party MLAs
- Yukon Party MLAs
- Yukon political party leaders
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