A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY AND THE YUKON PUBLIC
NDP leader Todd Hardy says he is thrilled to hear that all talks to merge the assets of the Yukon Energy Corporation with Alberta-based ATCO have been called off by the Fentie government.
"I believe it was a tidal wave of public protest that forced the government to drop the idea that Yukoners would be better served by a utility company that is largely privately owned and operated," Hardy says. "This news is a victory for all Yukon people who joined together with the NDP caucus to oppose this shortsighted and misguided initiative."
He also applauds the four directors who resigned in protest from the board of the YEC when they learned about the secret deal the premier was negotiating with ATCO behind their backs.
As well, he thanks everyone who signed the petition the party circulated or took the time to directly contact their MLA to voice their objections or concerns about the government’s plans for their publicly owned utility company.
"My hat goes off to every single Yukoner who spoke out or stood up against the plan to sell off the YEC," he adds. "Together, we showed the government that it cannot do something as radical as this without first getting our permission. After all, we are the real owners of these valuable assets, and not any temporarily elected government."
The NDP caucus circulated a petition opposing the privatization of the YEC. It also organized a public forum at which the former chair of the Crown corporation, and others, were invited to speak.
"I talked with many people about this issue over the last few months," Hardy says. "And just about everyone was mystified by what the government was doing. They found its secretiveness and evasiveness around its plans for the YEC very disturbing. And I hope the government learned a lesson from all this; the need for transparency and accountability should be paramount.
"And I hope the Yukon public also learned an important lesson, and that is that this government does not always act in their best interests. Therefore, we need to continue to keep a close eye on what this government, or some other government, may do on this issue in the future."