Dennis Fentie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dennis Fentie
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Fentie in July 2008
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| 7th Premier of the Yukon Minister of Finance |
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| In office November 30, 2002 – June 10, 2011 |
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| Commissioner | Jack Cable Geraldine Van Bibber Doug Phillips |
| Preceded by | Pat Duncan |
| Succeeded by | Darrell Pasloski |
| Minister of the Environment | |
| In office November 28, 2005 – July 3, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Dennis Fentie |
| Succeeded by | Elaine Taylor |
| MLA for Watson Lake | |
| In office September 30, 1996 – October 11, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | John Devries |
| Succeeded by | Patti McLeod |
| Leader of the Yukon Party | |
| In office June 15, 2002 – May 28, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Peter Jenkins |
| Succeeded by | Darrell Pasloski |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 8, 1950 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Died | August 30, 2019 (aged 68) Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada |
| Political party | New Democratic (1996–2002) Yukon Party (2002–2019) |
| Spouse | Lorraine Nixon |
| Residences | Whitehorse, Yukon |
Dennis G. Fentie (November 8, 1950 – August 30, 2019) was an important Canadian politician. He served as the seventh Premier of the Yukon. This is like being the leader of the government for the Yukon territory. He was also the leader of the Yukon Party.
Fentie was the MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) for Watson Lake. He held this position from 1996 until 2011. As Premier, he led the Yukon government from 2002 to 2011.
Before he became a politician, Fentie worked in many different jobs. He was involved in logging, tourism, mining, trucking, and fuel delivery. These jobs were all in and around Watson Lake. He also helped lead local business groups.
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Early Life and Work
Dennis Fentie was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on November 8, 1950. When he was 12 years old, in 1962, his family moved to Watson Lake. This is a community in the Yukon territory.
Before he entered politics, Fentie was very active in the local economy. He worked in various businesses. These included logging, which is cutting down trees for wood. He also worked in tourism, helping visitors to the area. Other jobs included mining, trucking, and delivering fuel.
Fentie was a director for the Association of Yukon Forests. He also served as a director for the Watson Lake Chamber of Commerce. This group helps local businesses. He even owned and managed his own company, Francis River Construction.
Political Career
Dennis Fentie had a long career in politics in the Yukon. He started with one party and later joined another.
Starting in Politics
Fentie first became an MLA for Watson Lake in 1996. An MLA is a person elected to represent their community in the government. He was elected as a member of the Yukon New Democratic Party. He was re-elected for the same party in the year 2000.
Leading the Yukon Party
In May 2002, Fentie decided to leave the New Democratic Party. He then joined the Yukon Party. Just one month later, he was chosen to be the leader of the Yukon Party.
In the 2002 election, Fentie led the Yukon Party to a big win. They formed a "majority government." This means they won more than half of the seats in the Legislative Assembly. This allowed them to make decisions easily. They defeated the current Premier, Pat Duncan, and her party.
In 2006, some members of the Yukon Party left. This changed the government from a majority to a "minority government." With a minority government, it's harder to pass laws. So, Fentie called another election for October 10, 2006.
Fentie was elected for the fourth time as the MLA for Watson Lake. The Yukon Party won another majority government. They won 12 out of 18 seats in the Legislative Assembly.
On April 27, 2011, Dennis Fentie announced that he would be stepping down. He decided not to run for re-election.
Key Accomplishments
Dennis Fentie worked hard for the people of the Yukon. He focused on improving services and supporting local industries.
One of his important actions was in 2003. He and two other leaders from Canada's northern territories disagreed with a health funding plan. This plan was proposed by the federal government in Ottawa. Fentie argued that the plan did not consider the high costs of healthcare in the North. He famously said, "An ambulance ride in Ottawa is a plane ride in the territories." Because of his efforts, the three territories received more funding for healthcare.
Fentie also made sure that government officials understood the problems faced by people in the Yukon. He insisted that officials and MLAs go on annual tours. They would visit every community and hold public meetings. This allowed residents to share their concerns directly.
Many people credit Fentie with important projects in the Yukon. For example, new hospitals were built in Watson Lake and Dawson City. The Robert Campbell Highway was also updated. He also helped increase industry in Watson Lake.
See also
In Spanish: Dennis Fentie para niños
