They're All In It Together

03-Sep-2009

Whitehorse – The Official Opposition is challenging the remaining eight Yukon Party caucus members to prove they don’t condone Premier Fentie’s double-speak and evasiveness, by publicly speaking out.

“Each of them has known about the secret plan to sell-out our energy future since last year. They’ve also known about their leader’s misleading statements and attempts to cover-up the truth,” said Liberal House Leader Gary McRobb.

“Unless we hear differently from them, they’re all in it together.”

Yukon Party caucus members learned of the Premier’s secret plan to privatize our energy assets in December, 2008, from the former chair of the Yukon Energy Corporation. At the time, Premier Fentie promised to stop negotiating with ATCO.

When it was revealed in June, 2009, that negotiations had continued under Fentie’s direction, the Chair and three board members of YEC resigned in protest.

Former Energy, Mines & Resources Minister Brad Cathers cited Fentie’s dishonesty, abusiveness and privatization plans to explain his resignation. Each of the other eight remaining caucus members also knew Fentie was hard at work selling-out the Yukon and how he lied to the public after he was caught red-handed.

“Furthermore, at least one member actually adopted Fentie’s tactic of misleading the public,” McRobb said. “Deputy Premier Elaine Taylor followed Fentie’s pattern last month by denying the privatization plans and criticizing the opposition. Taylor was Fentie-like in misleading the public by stating there was no cabinet directive for privatization.

That’s meaningless as it simply was the Yukon Party’s way of keeping it secret.”

In speaking out honestly, Cathers confirmed the privatization plans. He also surmised, ‘this is not about electricity, it’s about integrity.’ Yukoners have known for some time this scandal goes well beyond the cause.

“Yukoners have been provided with revealing insight into the true character of this Yukon Party government,” said McRobb. “The question now is: Will each of the remaining eight members have the integrity to speak out honestly to Yukoners on what has occurred or will they continue to remain silent and be seen as accomplices? We in the Official Opposition challenge each of them: full public disclosure or be judged accordingly.”

For additional information contact: Jason Cunning – 667-8942