John Ostashek
Encyclopedia
John Ostashek was a former Yukon
politician. An entrepreneur, he was elected leader of the Yukon Party
in June 1992 and led it to victory in the fall 1992 election in which he also won a seat in the legislature
for the first time.
Ostashek declined to use the title Premier
adopted by his predecessor, Tony Penikett
and preferred to be called Government Leader. Ostashek's minority government
, which was kept in power with the support of right leaning independent MLA
s, was a conservative
one which instituted welfare reform
and a reduction of public services. Soon after coming into power, his government signed land claims
agreements with four First Nations
communities in the Yukon which had been negotiated by the previous government.
Ostashek's Yukon Party lost the 1996 election to the Yukon NDP
though he retained his seat and became leader of the opposition. In the 2000 election however his Yukon Party was again defeated, this time by the Liberals
with Ostashek losing his own seat. He subsequently resigned as Yukon Party leader and retired from politics.
He died on June 10, 2007, aged 71 from cancer
.
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
politician. An entrepreneur, he was elected leader of the Yukon Party
Yukon Party
The Yukon Party , is a conservative political party in the Yukon Territory of Canada. It was previously known as the Yukon Progressive Conservative Party.-Declining fortunes:...
in June 1992 and led it to victory in the fall 1992 election in which he also won a seat in the legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
for the first time.
Ostashek declined to use the title Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
adopted by his predecessor, Tony Penikett
Tony Penikett
Antony David John Penikett is a mediator and negotiator and former politician in Yukon, Canada.-Life and work:An activist with the New Democratic Party , Penikett was campaign manager in 1972 for Wally Firth, the first indigenous northern MP ever elected to the House of Commons...
and preferred to be called Government Leader. Ostashek's minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
, which was kept in power with the support of right leaning independent MLA
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
s, was a conservative
Canadian conservatism
Conservatism in Canada is generally considered to be primarily represented by the Conservative Party of Canada at the federal level, and by various right-wing parties at the provincial level...
one which instituted welfare reform
Welfare reform
Welfare reform refers to the process of reforming the framework of social security and welfare provisions, but what is considered reform is a matter of opinion. The term was used in the United States to support the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act...
and a reduction of public services. Soon after coming into power, his government signed land claims
Yukon Land Claims
The Yukon Land Claims refer to the process of negotiating and settling aboriginal land claims agreements in Yukon, Canada.-History:Unlike other parts of Canada, Yukon First Nations did not conclude any treaties until the 1990s, despite Chief Jim Boss of the Ta'an Kwach'an requesting compensation...
agreements with four First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
communities in the Yukon which had been negotiated by the previous government.
Ostashek's Yukon Party lost the 1996 election to the Yukon NDP
Yukon New Democratic Party
The Yukon New Democratic Party is a social-democratic political party in the Yukon territory of Canada.The Yukon NDP first formed the government of the territory under the leadership of Tony Penikett from 1985 to 1992, and under the leadership of Piers McDonald from 1996 to 2000. The party's...
though he retained his seat and became leader of the opposition. In the 2000 election however his Yukon Party was again defeated, this time by the Liberals
Yukon Liberal Party
The Yukon Liberal Party is a political party in the Yukon Territory in Canada.Arthur Mitchell is the Leader of the Yukon Liberal Party.-History:...
with Ostashek losing his own seat. He subsequently resigned as Yukon Party leader and retired from politics.
He died on June 10, 2007, aged 71 from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.