From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dennis G. Fentie, MLA for Watson Lake (born November 8, 1950 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a Canadian politician who is the current Premier of Yukon and leader of the Yukon Party.
[edit] Background
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. Fentie is the owner and former manager of Francis River Construction Ltd..
[edit] Politics
Fentie is a four-term MLA for the riding of Watson Lake. In 1996, Fentie was elected the MLA for Watson Lake representing the New Democratic Party. In April 2000, Fentie was re-elected as the MLA for Watson Lake as a member of the NDP.
[edit] 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. During the September 2002 Yukon general election Fentie led the Yukon Party to a majority government, defeating incumbent Premier Pat Duncan and the Liberals. Fentie and the Yukon 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. Three Yukon Party MLAs resigned or choose 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 Yukon Party cabinet, resigned in August 2006 to sit as an Independent. John Edzerza would run in the next election as a member of the NDP.
With a minority government, Fentie called a general election for October 6, 2006. 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.
[edit] Election results
[edit] 1996 Yukon General Election
[edit] 2000 Yukon General Election
[edit] 2002 Yukon General Election
[edit] 2006 Yukon General Election
[edit] 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, a fact he had not previously made public since he had received a pardon.[3] [4]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
