Yukon NDP aims to rebuild after MLA's death

Yukon's New Democrats are working on moving forward after NDP MLA Steve Cardiff waskilled in a highway crash last week.

Cardiff, 54, died after his pickup truck collided with a tractor-trailer on the South Klondike Highway last Wednesday. He had represented the Mount Lorne riding since 2002. The riding includes rural neighbourhoods in and outside of Whitehorse.

At an NDP barbecue held in Cardiff's memory on Monday night, Lois Moorcroft accepted the party's nomination inWhitehorse's new Copperbelt South riding.

"We cannot let grief stop us in our tracks, and Steve would certainly not have wanted to see us doing that," Moorcroft told the audience, which included Cardiff's wife and party supporters.

At the time of his death, Cardiff had been preparing for a territorial election campaign that is widely expected to be called this fall, said Moorcroft.

'Big hole in the team'

"We were so looking forward to being on that team together, and inspired by [NDP Leader] Liz [Hanson] and her leadership, and the people we've been attracting into the party over the last few months," Moorcroft said.

"It's going to be a really big hole in the team."

Moorcroft added that it will take many volunteers to fill the number of hours Cardiff dedicated to the party.

Cardiff's death came just under a year after Todd Hardy, another NDP MLA and the party's former leader,lost his battle with leukemia.

Hanson, the party's current leader, said rebuilding after the losses will be a challenge.

"Steve was certainly a voice of passion on so many of these issues," Hanson said. "We're going to be carrying his passion forward into this election."

A celebration of life service for Cardiff will be held Saturday afternoon at the Yukon Convention Centre in Whitehorse.

Other parties lining up candidates

Yukon's other political parties have also been gearing up for the territorial election in recent weeks, with candidates being announced on an almost-daily basis.

Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell confirmed on Tuesday that he will run in the new Copperbelt North riding. Mitchell's current riding, Copperbelt, is being split into several Whitehorse ridings that include Copperbelt North and South.

Former NDP cabinet minister Dave Sloan, who has since switched to the Liberals, is seeking that party's nomination in Mountainview, another new Whitehorse riding. Dan Curtis is expected to be acclaimed as the Liberal candidatefor Riverdale South on Tuesday.

The governing Yukon Party announced this week that Glenn Hart, the current health and social services minister, will be seeking the party's nomination in his current riding, Riverdale South.

Valerie Boxall isseeking the Yukon Party's nomination in Copperbelt South, while former Liberal cabinet minister Scott Kent has been confirmed as the party's candidate in Riverdale North.

Current Tourism Minister Elaine Taylor is expected to announce on Wednesday whether she will seek re-election. High-profile members that are not running again include Archie Lang, John Edzerza and Ted Staffen, as well asformer premier Dennis Fentie.