Former Yukon Party MLA accuses premier of bullying

The high-profile resignation of Brad Cathers from the Yukon Party caucus, citing Premier Dennis Fentie's leadership, has prompted another former government MLA to express his issues with the premier.

McIntyre-Takhini MLA John Edzerza said he was not surprised to learn Cathers had quit the governing party caucus on Aug. 28, joininghim on the Independent benches.

Cathers, who was a cabinet minister and government house leader prior to his resignation, has accused the premier of not being completely truthful on issues and having "a tendency towards bullying."

"The only surprise I had is the length of time it took before something like this transpired," Edzerza, who had defected from the Yukon Party near the end of its first term in government, told CBC News in an interview.

"You better start treating your MLAs with respect, because they may just walk out on you," he warned all party leaders.

'I will not accept abuse,' MLA says

Edzerza left the Yukon Party and was re-elected as a New Democrat in 2006, only to leave the NDP earlier this year to sit as an Independent.

Edzerza said he decided to leave the Yukon Party after he questioned Fentie on an issue, only to be told not to challenge the premier's judgment.

"I made a commitment many, many years ago that I will not accept abuse from anyone anymore," said Edzerza, a former residential school student.

"It doesn't matter what kind of abuse, whether it's mental, verbal, emotional, whatever. I just felt that the premier did overstep ... my boundaries."

In announcing his resignation, Cathers called on other Yukon Party MLAs to follow his lead. But Edzerza said while he respects the party's other members, he doubts they will resign.

May take Speaker's post

As for Cathers, Edzerza said having him on the Independent benches may help boost their voice in the legislature.

However, that may not last: Edzerza said he is not ruling out taking the Speaker's seat if it is offered to him.

"I'll wait and see what they come up with in the future here," he said.

If Edzerza does take the Speaker's chair, that could help Fentie maintain control of the legislature, in which the government currently faces the potential to be outvoted by the opposition.

The Yukon Party has nine seats, while the Liberals, NDP and Independents have a total of nine seats. Because current Speaker Ted Staffen, a Yukon Party MLA,does not vote except to break a tie, the government side could be outnumbered when MLAs hold a vote.

Fentie said Friday that he will not call an early election as a result of Cathers' resignation.