Jim Kenyon

Jim Kenyon is a Canadian politician, who represented the electoral district of Porter Creek North in the Yukon Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2011. He is a member of the Yukon Party.[1]

Jim Kenyon
MLA for Porter Creek North
In office November 4, 2002 – October 11, 2011
Preceded by	Don Roberts
Succeeded by	Doug Graham
Minister of Economic Development
In office July 12, 2004 – May 4, 2011
Premier	Dennis Fentie
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Steve Nordick
Minister of the Environment
In office November 30, 2002 – July 12, 2004
Premier	Dennis Fentie
Preceded by	Dale Eftoda
Succeeded by	Peter Jenkins
Personal details
Political party	Yukon Party; Canadian Alliance
Residence	Whitehorse, Yukon
Occupation	Veterinarian

Kenyon was a candidate for the leadership of the Yukon Party in 2011, following the resignation of Dennis Fentie, but lost to Darrell Pasloski.[2]

Yukon Party Leadership Race, 2011

Political career

Jim Kenyon, a former veterinary surgeon, first attempted to enter electoral politics in the 2000 Canadian federal election in the riding of Yukon as a member of the newly formed Canadian Alliance Party. Kenyon was unsuccessful in his attempt to unseat incumbent New Democrat Louise Hardy, though Hardy did lose to Liberal candidate Larry Bagnell.

31st Legislative Assembly

Kenyon ran again, this time at the territorial level, in the 2002 Yukon election on behalf of the Yukon Party in the Whitehorse riding of Porter Creek North. Though long-held by the Yukon Party, Porter Creek North had been lost to the Yukon Liberals in the 2000 election; however, incumbent Liberal Cabinet minister-turned-independent MLA Don Roberts, had opted not to seek re-election. Kenyon won Porter Creek North with nearly half the vote and joined the new Yukon Premier, Dennis Fentie, in defeating the Liberals and forming government.

Fentie appointed Kenyon to Cabinet on November 30, 2002, as the Minister of the Environment. Kenyon held that portfolio until a Cabinet shuffle in 2004 when Fentie appointed him Minister of Economic Development, Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation, and Minister responsible for the Yukon Liquor Corporation. The portfolio had briefly existed under the Liberal government of Pat Duncan and was once again constituted by Fentie.

During his first mandate, Kenyon was subject to a conflict of interest declaration when the Department of Education refused to fund a student seat (at a cost of $25,000 for the territory) at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine for a former student - one of Kenyon's constituents - who wished to opt out of the program. Opposition parties requested an investigation from the Conflicts Commissioner due to concern that Kenyon was acting in his self-interest in the possibility that the student/constituent could later practice at Kenyon's private clinic. Ultimately, no conflict of interest was found.[3]

32nd Legislative Assembly

Kenyon sought re-election in Porter Creek North in the 2006 Yukon general election. He won comfortably and re-assumed his portfolios in the Fentie government. He was also appointed to the positions of Minister responsible for the Yukon Energy Corporation and the Yukon Development Corporation in a 2008 Cabinet shuffle.[4] During his time as Minister of Economic Development, Kenyon received criticism for the number of trade missions he undertook to China, with the Opposition even claiming that Kenyon had fallen victim to Chinese immigration scamming.[5][6]

As Economic Development Minister, Kenyon also oversaw the termination of the Yukon Government's 'Yukon Hire' policy, which granted preferential access to government hiring and contract opportunities to Yukoners.[7]

Kenyon remained in Fentie's Cabinet until May 2011.

Leadership Run

In early 2011, Premier Dennis Fentie announced his decision to retire from politics.[8] Kenyon opted to run in the race to succeed Fentie, competing against local pharmacist and former Conservative candidate Darrell Pasloski and tour operator Rod Taylor. Kenyon ran on his record as minister.

During the race, Kenyon was particularly critical of Fentie’s leadership during the latter’s closeted attempt to sell-off Yukon Energy assets to Alberta-based ATCO Electric. Kenyon, who was the minister responsible for the Yukon Energy Corporation as the controversy over the attempted asset sale erupted, asserted that Fentie had overstepped his authority in the matter.[9]

On May 4, 2011, Dennis Fentie fired Kenyon from Cabinet – officially due to campaign conflicts with his portfolio as minister. Fentie refused to comment on the termination, though Kenyon stated he was fired due to his criticisms of Fentie. Kenyon was replaced in his Cabinet responsibilities by rookie MLA Steve Nordick.[10] Notably, Kenyon also complained that Fentie’s move was a spiteful one targeting, in part, his pension and salary.[11]

Kenyon, who also lacked any endorsements from his caucus colleagues, stayed in the race.[12] However, Pasloski was ultimately victorious in the May 28, 2011 vote. He won 767 votes, defeating Rod Taylor and his 436 votes. Kenyon received just 47 votes.[13]

Pasloski later re-admitted Kenyon to his Cabinet, citing the need for party unity on the eve of the 2011 Yukon election. Kenyon was appointed as Minister responsible for the Yukon Development Corporation and the Yukon Energy Corporation.[14]

Kenyon attempted to seek re-election in the riding of Porter Creek North, but was defeated in his bid for the Yukon Party nomination by Whitehorse City Councillor Doug Graham, who had originally indicated a preference to run for the Yukon Liberal Party. Kenyon lost by what the Yukon Party labelled a 'significant margin'.[15] Graham was subsequently elected MLA for Porter Creek North.

Personal life

Kenyon practiced as a veterinary surgeon for 37 years before entering politics. As a veterinarian, he was instrumental in establishing permanent veterinarian facilities in the Yukon in the 1980s. His clinic, Yukon Veterinary Services Clinic, is the largest veterinarian facility in the Canadian territories.[16]

Kenyon is also a former auxiliary police officer.[17]

Electoral record

Yukon general election, 2006

Porter Creek North[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Yukon Party	Jim Kenyon	311	47.0%	+1.7%
	Liberal	Dale Cheeseman	191	28.9%	+8.7%
	NDP	Dave Hobbis	158	23.9%	+5.7%
Total			661	100.0%	–

Yukon general election, 2002

Porter Creek North[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Yukon Party	Jim Kenyon	331	45.3%	+11.2
	Liberal	Dave Austin	148	20.2%	-33.1%
	NDP	Mark Bowers	135	18.5%	15.4%
	Independent	Roger Rondeau	112	15.3%	+3.2
Total			731	100.0%	–

Canadian federal election, 2000

2000 Canadian federal election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Larry Bagnell	4,293	32.5%	+10.5%	$48,252
	New Democratic	Louise Hardy	4,223	31.9%	+3.0%	$65,576
	Alliance	Jim Kenyon	3,659	27.7%	+2.4%	$31,121
	Progressive Conservative	Don Cox	991	7.5%	-6.5%	$6,316
	No Affiliation	Geoffrey Capp	53	0.4%	-0.6%	$1,044
Total valid votes			13,219	100.0%	–	–
Total rejected ballots			53	0.4%	–	–
Turnout			13,272	63.5%	–	–
	Liberal gain from New Democratic		Swing		+3.8%

• Geoffrey Capp was a Christian Heritage candidate, but the party lacked registered status.
• Canadian Alliance change is based on the former Reform Party.

Notes

1. Yukon Legislative Assembly, Hon. Jim Kenyon: http://www.legassembly.gov.yk.ca/mlas/kenyon.html Archived 2010-10-27 at the Wayback Machine
2. "Yukon Party selects Darrell Pasloski as new leader, Denis Fentie's reign ends". Winnipeg Free Press. May 29, 2011. Archived from the original on 30 May 2011.
3. Recruitment a concern as vet business booms Whitehorse Star (July 212, 2005).
4. Fentie reorganizes cabinet Yukon News (Genesee Keevil), July 5, 2008.
5. Minister may have fallen into a Chinese scam Whitehorse Star (Jason Unrau), March 17, 2011.
6. MLAs debate investment on eve of Kenyon's China trip Whitehorse Star (Jason Unrau), November 6, 2008.
7. Death of Yukon Hire no biggie: Kenyon Yukon News (John Thompson), October 19, 2009.
8. Yukon premier to step down ‘’CBC North", April 27, 2011.
9. Kenyon cut from cabinet ‘’Yukon News" (John Thompson), May 11, 2011.
10. Kenyon cut from cabinet ‘’Yukon News" (John Thompson), May 11, 2011.
11. Pasloski gains endorsement; Nordick in cabinet ‘’Whitehorse Star" (Jason Unrau), May 10, 2011.
12. Fourth MLA climbs aboard Taylor’s candidacy ‘’Whitehorse Star" (Gemma Karstens-Smith), May 20, 2011.
13. Pasloski wins Yukon Party leadership ‘’Yukon News" (John Thompson), May 29, 2011.
14. Premier assigns YDC / YEC minister Yukon Government, June 28, 2011.
15. Councillor topples minister Whitehorse Star (Nadine Sander-Green), August 5, 2011.
16. Recruitment a concern as vet business booms Whitehorse Star (July 212, 2005).
17. Kenyon unhappy but optimistic about fate Whitehorse Star (Nadine Sander-Green), June 14, 2011.
18. Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Yukon on the 2006 General Election (January 15, 2007).
19. Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of the Yukon on the 2002 General Election (March 3, 2003).