Todd Hardy (May 17, 1957 – July 28, 2010) was a Canadian carpenter, trade union activist, and politician who served as Leader of the Yukon New Democratic Party. He has also served as Leader of the Opposition in the Yukon Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2006.

Todd Hardy
MLA for Whitehorse Centre
In office
September 30, 1996 – April 17, 2000
Preceded byMargaret Commodore
Succeeded byMike McLarnon
In office
November 4, 2002 – July 28, 2010
Preceded byMike McLarnon
Succeeded byLiz Hanson
Leader of Official Opposition of Yukon
In office
2002 – May 1, 2006
Preceded byEric Fairclough
Succeeded byArthur Mitchell
Leader of the Yukon New Democratic Party
In office
2002 – September 26, 2009
Preceded byEric Fairclough
Succeeded byLiz Hanson
Personal details
BornMay 17, 1957
Murrayville, British Columbia
DiedJuly 28, 2010(2010-07-28) (aged 53)
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
Political partyNew Democrat
SpouseLouise Hardy
ResidenceWhitehorse, Yukon
OccupationCarpenter, Trade Unionist

A carpenter by trade, Hardy was business agent of local 2499 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America before being elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly. He taught karate and also volunteered as a minor hockey coach, coaching one of the Yukon's teams to the Arctic Winter Games and the Canada Winter Games.[1] He was married to Louise Hardy, the Yukon's former federal Member of Parliament.

Political career

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He was first elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly for the riding of Whitehorse Centre in the 1996 Yukon general election and was narrowly defeated in the 2000 election. Hardy was one of the founders of Habitat for Humanity in the Yukon.[2] He became leader of the Yukon NDP in 2002 and won his Whitehorse Centre seat in the general election held that year.

In August 2006, Hardy was sent to Vancouver for leukemia treatment.[3] Hardy fought the 2006, general election from his hospital bed through near daily telephone conferences with local reporters and the NDP candidates. He returned to Whitehorse just a week before the vote and still managed to win his seat. His party, however, though leading in the polls for months going into the election was reduced to three seats and third party status.

Hardy maintained his seat in the legislature and title of leader despite frequent trips out of the territory for continued monitoring and treatment during the spring sitting in 2007. He continued in his duties until the 2010 spring sitting, when his surprised his colleagues by sitting in the legislature despite his illness.

Citing his ongoing health issues, he announced on February 5, 2009, his intent to resign as party leader.[4] This took effect on September 26, 2009, when Elizabeth Hanson was acclaimed as the new leader.[5]

Death

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Todd Hardy died at home after a long battle with leukemia at age 53 surrounded by close family.[6]

Electoral record

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Yukon general election, 2006

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Whitehorse Centre[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  NDP Todd Hardy 357 46.6% +13.4%
  Liberal Bernie Phillips 211 27.5% +3.4%
Yukon Party Jerry Johnson 188 24.8% +5.9%
Total 766 100.0%

Yukon general election, 2002

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Whitehorse Centre[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  NDP Todd Hardy 300 33.2% -0.7%
  Liberal Bernie Phillips 218 24.1% -22.1%
  Independent Mike McLarnon 207 2.9%
Yukon Party Vicki Durrant 171 18.9% +0.3%
Total 904 100.0%

Yukon general election, 2000

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Whitehorse Centre[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  Liberal Mike McLarnon 312 46.2% +23.0%
  NDP Todd Hardy 229 33.9% -11.9%
Yukon Party Vicki Durrant 130 19.2% -11.0%
Total 676 100.0%

Yukon general election, 1996

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Whitehorse Centre[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  NDP Todd Hardy 328 45.8% +8.3%
Yukon Party Linda Dixon 216 30.2% -7.0%
  Liberal Jon Breen 166 23.2% -1.7%
Total 716 100.0%

References

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  1. ^ "Late MLA had rich life outside politics", Whitehorse Star, July 28, 2010.
  2. ^ "Current, ex-NDP leaders reflect on MLA’s legacy", Whitehorse Star, July 30, 2010.
  3. ^ "Yukon NDP leader in hospital for cancer treatment", cbc.ca, August 10, 2006.
  4. ^ "Battling leukemia, Hardy resigns as Yukon NDP leader", cbc.ca, February 5, 2009.
  5. ^ "Hanson named Yukon NDP leader". cbc.ca, September 28, 2009.
  6. ^ "Todd Hardy succumbs to cancer". Yukon News. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  7. ^ Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Yukon on the 2006 General Election Elections Yukon, 2006. Retrieved January 21, 2017
  8. ^ Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Yukon on the 2002 General Election Elections Yukon, 2002. Retrieved January 21, 2017
  9. ^ Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Yukon on the 2000 General Election Elections Yukon, 2000. Retrieved January 21, 2017
  10. ^ Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Yukon on the General Election Held on September 30, 1996 Elections Yukon, 1996. Retrieved January 21, 2017