Brad Cathers
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 by | Pam Buckway |
| Minister of Justice | |
| In office January 16, 2015 – December 3, 2016 | |
| Premier | Darrell Pasloski |
| Preceded by | Doug Graham |
| Succeeded by | Tracy McPhee |
| Minister of Community Services | |
| In office August 5, 2013 – January 16, 2015 | |
| Premier | Darrell Pasloski |
| Preceded by | Elaine Taylor |
| Succeeded by | Currie Dixon |
| Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources | |
| In office November 5, 2011 – August 5, 2013 | |
| Premier | Darrell Pasloski |
| Preceded by | Patrick Rouble |
| Succeeded by | Scott Kent |
| In office July 3, 2008 – August 28, 2009 | |
| Premier | Dennis Fentie |
| Preceded by | Archie Lang |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Rouble |
| Minister of Health and Social Services | |
| In office December 12, 2005 – July 3, 2008 | |
| Premier | Dennis Fentie |
| Preceded by | Peter Jenkins |
| Succeeded by | Glenn Hart |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Yukon Party (2002-2009; 2011-present) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2009-2011) |
| Residence | Lake Laberge, Yukon |
| Occupation | Politician |
Political career
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
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 is now the longest-serving incumbent MLA in the Yukon Legislative Assembly.
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.[10]
Leadership bid
On December 5, 2019, Cathers announced that he would run in the Yukon Party leadership election, which was held on May 23, 2020.[11][12] He lost the election to Currie Dixon, placing second on the second ballot.[13]
Personal life
Until early 2007, Mr. 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.
He is a former member of both the federal Reform Party of Canada and its successor, the Canadian Alliance.
Electoral record
Yukon general election, 2016
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
- yukonvotes2006/riding/004/ Yukon Votes 2006: Lake Laberge. cbc.ca.
- "Yukon minister's resignation threatens to collapse government". The Globe and Mail. August 31, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- "Cathers resigns over ATCO scandal". Yukon News. August 28, 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
- "Cathers Shocker Creates a Minority Government". Whitehorse Star. August 28, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- "Cathers returns to Yukon Party caucus". CBC News. 29 June 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- "2011 Yukon Election Results" (PDF). Elections Yukon.
- "Premier taps experience in crafting cabinet". Whitehorse Star. November 7, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- "Ministers assume new portfolios| Government of Yukon news release". Government of Yukon. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
- "Yukon Premier announces changes to Cabinet". Government of Yukon. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
- Brad Cathers Yukon Legislative Assembly. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- Kennedy, John (6 December 2019). "Yukon Party leadership race gets second candidate". CKRW 96.1FM The Rush. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- "MLA Brad Cathers joins Yukon Party leadership race". CBC News. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- "2020 Yukon Party Leadership Election". Youtube. May 23, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
- John Thompson (August 1, 2011). "Brad Cathers keeps crown". Yukon News.