Brad Cathers is a Canadian politician. He represents the electoral district of Lake Laberge in the Yukon Legislative Assembly on behalf of the Yukon Party.[1] He is currently the longest-serving incumbent in the Assembly.

Brad Cathers
Member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly
for Lake Laberge
Assumed office
November 4, 2002
Preceded byPam Buckway
Minister of Justice
In office
January 16, 2015 – December 3, 2016
PremierDarrell Pasloski
Preceded byDoug Graham
Succeeded byTracy McPhee
Minister of Community Services
In office
August 5, 2013 – January 16, 2015
PremierDarrell Pasloski
Preceded byElaine Taylor
Succeeded byCurrie Dixon
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources
In office
November 5, 2011 – August 5, 2013
PremierDarrell Pasloski
Preceded byPatrick Rouble
Succeeded byScott Kent
In office
July 3, 2008 – August 28, 2009
PremierDennis Fentie
Preceded byArchie Lang
Succeeded byPatrick Rouble
Minister of Health and Social Services
In office
December 12, 2005 – July 3, 2008
PremierDennis Fentie
Preceded byPeter Jenkins
Succeeded byGlenn Hart
Personal details
Political partyYukon Party (2002-2009; 2011-present)
Other political
affiliations
Independent (2009-2011)
Residence(s)Lake Laberge, Yukon
OccupationPolitician

Political career edit

Cathers was first elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the general election of November 4, 2002, and re-elected in the general election of October 10, 2006. He served as Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister responsible for Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board from December 12, 2005 to July 3, 2008; as Minister responsible for Yukon Liquor Corporation and Yukon Lottery Commission from July 3, 2008 to July 6, 2009; and as Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources from July 3, 2008 to August 28, 2009. He also served as Government House Leader from December 12, 2005 to August 28, 2009.

On August 28, 2009, Cathers resigned from cabinet and the government caucus to sit as an independent member over issues with then-Premier Dennis Fentie.[2][3][4]

On June 29, 2011, Cathers rejoined the government caucus.[5]

On October 11, 2011, Cathers was re-elected for a third term as MLA for Lake Laberge.[6]

Cathers was sworn into Cabinet again on November 5, 2011 as Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister for Yukon Development Corporation and Yukon Energy Corporation, and Government House Leader.[7] On August 5, 2013, he became Minister of Community Services, and Minister responsible for Yukon Housing Corporation, Yukon Liquor Corporation and the Yukon Lottery Commission.[8]

In a Cabinet shuffle on January 16, 2015, Cathers was made Minister of Justice, Deputy Government House Leader and, for the second time, Minister for Yukon Development Corporation and Yukon Energy.[9]

34th Legislative Assembly edit

Cathers was re-elected in his riding of Lake Laberge in the 2016 Yukon election, despite the Yukon Party being swept from office by the Yukon Liberal Party. Following the defeat of former Yukon Party Deputy Premier Elaine Taylor, Cathers became the longest-serving incumbent MLA in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.[10]

Cathers is currently a member of the Members' Services Board and the Standing Committee on Rules, Elections and Privileges. He is the Yukon Party caucus critic for the Department of Justice, the Department of Finance, the Sustainable Resources Division (agriculture, forestry and land management) of the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, and the Protective Services Division of the Department of Community Services.[11]

Leadership bid edit

On December 5, 2019, Cathers announced that he would run in the Yukon Party leadership election, which was held on May 23, 2020.[12][13] He lost the election to Currie Dixon, placing second on the second ballot.[14]

35th Legislative Assembly edit

Cathers was re-elected in the 2021 territorial election.[15]

Personal life edit

Until early 2007, Cathers was part owner of a wilderness tour company, Cathers Wilderness Adventures. He served as the Wilderness Tourism representative on the Yukon Tourism Education Council from 2000 until his election to the Legislative Assembly in 2002.

Cathers was a member of both the federal Reform Party of Canada and its successor, the Canadian Alliance.

Electoral record edit

2021 Yukon general election: Lake Laberge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon Party Brad Cathers 799 62.56 +15.6%
New Democratic Ian A Angus 259 20.28 -1.7%
Liberal Tracey Jacobs 219 17.14 -10.7%
Total valid votes 1,277
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Yukon Party hold Swing -21.14
Source(s)
"Unofficial Election Results 2021". Elections Yukon. Retrieved April 24, 2021.

Yukon general election, 2016 edit

Lake Laberge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon Party Brad Cathers 558 46.5% -5.4%
  Liberal Alan Young 342 28.5% +12.9%
  NDP Anne Tayler 261 21.8% -10.7%
Green Julie Anne Ames 38 3.2% +3.2%
Total 1,199 100.0%

Yukon general election, 2011 edit

Lake Laberge[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon Party Brad Cathers 528 51.9% -5.4%
  NDP Frank Turner 330 32.5% +17.5%
  Liberal Mike Simon 159 15.6% -12.1%
Total 1,017 100.0%

Yukon general election, 2006 edit

Lake Laberge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon Party Brad Cathers 458 57.3% +1.2%
  Liberal John Breen 221 27.6% +1.5%
  NDP Nina Sutherland 120 15.0% -3.0%
Total 799 100.0%

Yukon general election, 2002 edit

Lake Laberge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon Party Brad Cathers 466 55.9% +21.6%
  Liberal Pam Buckway 218 26.1% -22.4%
  NDP Bill Commins 150 18.0% +0.8%
Total 834 100.0%

References edit

  1. ^ yukonvotes2006/riding/004/ Yukon Votes 2006: Lake Laberge. cbc.ca.
  2. ^ "Yukon minister's resignation threatens to collapse government". The Globe and Mail. August 31, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  3. ^ "Cathers resigns over ATCO scandal". Yukon News. August 28, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
  4. ^ "Cathers Shocker Creates a Minority Government". Whitehorse Star. August 28, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  5. ^ "Cathers returns to Yukon Party caucus". CBC News. June 29, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  6. ^ "2011 Yukon Election Results" (PDF). Elections Yukon.
  7. ^ "Premier taps experience in crafting cabinet". Whitehorse Star. November 7, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  8. ^ "Ministers assume new portfolios| Government of Yukon news release". Government of Yukon. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  9. ^ "Yukon Premier announces changes to Cabinet". Government of Yukon. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  10. ^ Windeyer, Chris (May 17, 2020). "Voting opens in Yukon Party leadership race". CBC News. Archived from the original on June 24, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  11. ^ Brad Cathers Yukon Legislative Assembly. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  12. ^ Kennedy, John (December 6, 2019). "Yukon Party leadership race gets second candidate". CKRW 96.1FM The Rush. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  13. ^ "MLA Brad Cathers joins Yukon Party leadership race". CBC News. December 6, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "2020 Yukon Party Leadership Election". Youtube. May 23, 2020. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  15. ^ Tukker, Paul (April 14, 2021). "By the numbers: Most Yukoners voted for the status quo, but it's not what they'll get". CBC News. Archived from the original on December 22, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  16. ^ John Thompson (August 1, 2011). "Brad Cathers keeps crown". Yukon News.

External links edit