Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie's cabinet shuffle appears to have rewarded one MLA for loyalty and another for returning to the party fold, but delivered a "slap in the face" to another, says an opposition leader.
The big winner seems to be MLA John Edzerza, who left the Yukon Party in 2006, vowing never to return but then going back last fall with a promise to stay "until my days in politics are over."
The move restored Fentie's majority government after MLA Brad Cathers resigned to protest the premier's attempts to privatize the Yukon Energy Corp.
The shuffle means Edzerza replaces Deputy Premier Elaine Taylor as the environment minister, and gets a $36,000 pay raise.
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Taylor picked up Public Service Commission responsibilities, formerly handled by Education Minister Patrick Rouble.
Rouble, already burdened by an underperforming department auditor general Sheila Fraser slammed in her January 2009 report, now assumes the Yukon's highest-profile portfolio: Energy, Mines and Resources.
When confronted last fall with Cathers' allegations that the premier lied to his caucus and the public about his goals for the energy corporation, Rouble stood by Fentie, calling him a strong leader.
In an interview, Fentie denied the cabinet shuffle reflected his MLAs' effectiveness or were prizes for loyalty and crossing the floor.
"I don't call it awarding anybody," he said. "There's a lot of heavy lifting we must do as a team. And none of these moves have anything to do with performance in any shape or form."
Fentie was dismissive about criticism by the Liberals and the NDP.
"There's always speculation, and when it comes to the opposition parties, they're firing off madly in all directions because they live in a miserable little world of discontent," he said.
But Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell said that's not the way he sees it.
"Ms. Taylor didn't get the job done as environment minister," he said of the minister who continually faced criticism for supporting Fentie's pro-development stance.
"First it was the premier (as environment minister), then Taylor, now it's Mr. Edzerza," Mitchell said. "It's part of protecting her from having any controversy."
"As for Mr. Edzerza, we always knew there was a payoff. And after insulting the premier, he gets this (cabinet position), so no wonder the public gets cynical about politicians," Mitchell said.
Edzerza was Justice and Education minister in Fentie's government until he bowed out over four years ago to sit as an independent.
Edzerza then ran as a New Democrat and was re-elected, but would walk away from the left-leaning party two years later to sit as an independent.
After Cathers' bombshell resignation last August, Edzerza said "things are exactly the way they were when I left them, and I sure as heck wouldn't volunteer to go back in there again."
Cathers — the legislative assembly's sole independent MLA — said Edzerza's hasty rise to cabinet after fewer than four months back inside the Yukon Party, could embitter voters.
"Yukoners will question, as they should, whether there was some back room deal made with regard to John Edzerza to join the Yukon Party caucus and now miraculously being sworn into cabinet," he said.
Edzerza did not respond to requests for an interview.
New Democratic Party Leader Elizabeth Hanson viewed Rouble's promotion to Energy, Mines and Resources as a reward for his devotion, but said the Education Ministry would suffer as a result of his new responsibilities.
"I watch him in the House, and certainly, he's the biggest defender of the premier, so it's a reward for a loyalist," Hanson said.
Other changes include those affecting Klondike MLA and backbencher Steve Nordick, who is now cabinet commissioner for Community Services, Highways and Public Works.
The new job comes without a pay raise, but includes added responsibilities of answering questions in the legislative assembly and from media on behalf of Archie Lang, the minister charged with those portfolios, when Lang is unavailable.
Nordick's promotion does not make him an official cabinet member — he is not allowed to vote on cabinet deliberations — but he is now privy to such discussions and must abide by an oath of confidentiality.
Mitchell ridiculed Nordick's promotion as part of a revival of the cabinet commissioner's position.
"He's almost a cabinet minister," he said. "He's got training wheels now."
However, Hanson said the new position is an insult to both Nordick and his Klondike supporters.
"At first glance it looks like a slap in the face, primarily for the constituents," she said.
"It seems to me after a number of years a member represents those loyal to the party, the constituents would be right to believe their interests would eventually be represented in cabinet." (Whitehorse Star)