Dennis Fentie

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 as an NDP MLA.[5][6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9][10] He had received a full pardon for the offence in 1996.[6]

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.[5]

With a minority government, Fentie called the 2006 election for October 10.[11] 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.[6] The Yukon Party under Fentie's leadership won 12 of 18 seats in the legislative assembly.[12][13]

In early 2011, he was featured in an episode of CBC Television's Make the Politician Work.[14]

On April 27, 2011, Fentie announced he was stepping down as premier and would not seek re-election as MLA in the 2011 election.[15]

According to senator Pat Duncan who was defeated by Fentie's yukon party in 2002, "He was a tireless champion of Watson Lake and Southeast Yukon, especially the forestry and mining industry in the Legislature in Piers McDonald's government. His strong advocacy for the Yukon continued in Opposition with the Yukon Party and as premier."[6]

Yukon MP Larry Bagnell stated that Fentie took stands on certain issues independent of the party politics. Serving as the Yukon Party premier, Fentie pursued several leftist socially progressive initiatives, while as an NDP member he had pursued rightist initiatives.[6]

In 2003, Fentie along with two other territorial premiers refused to agree to the Health Accord proposed by Ottawa meant for all provinces and territories in Canada.[6] The three opposing premiers maintained that the deal did not take into consideration the ground realities and cost of delivering services in the northern regions. Fentie had stated that, "An ambulance ride in Ottawa is a plane ride in the territories."[6] Eventually a new funding deal was brought up and agreed upon as a result of which the three territories received greater funding from Ottawa.[6] According to former Yukon Party Southern Lakes MLA Patrick Rouble the healthcare deal was not the sole benefit of the negotiations for the northern territories, the negotiations had led to a new approach for the North.[6]

According to the Yukon Party Leader Stacey Hassard, "He was a down-to-earth, truck-driving type guy."[6] Fentie worked to ensure that problems faced by Yukoners are known to the bureaucrats. Fentie insisted that the officials were available for the annual community tours, when Fentie and MLAs would visit every community. The tours would meet First Nations, mayor and council and school councils. Public meetings with the residents were also organised.[6]

Hassard stated that the hospitals at Watson Lake and Dawson City were credited to efforts by Fentie.[6] While noting down few of Fentie's accomplishments, Watson Lake Mayor Cheryl O’Brien credited Fentie, with the establishment of the hospital, the improvements to the Robert Campbell Highway and increase in the industry in Watson Lake.[6]