Willard Phelps
Encyclopedia
Willard Leroy Phelps is a former Yukon
politician.
in 1974 but did not run in the first election with political party participation in 1978. However, with the resignation of Chris Pearson as Government Leader in 1985 the Progressive Conservatives
chose Phelps as its new leader and he was accordingly the second Government Leader from March 20, 1985 until May 29, 1985 when the Yukon NDP
took office after winning the spring election. Phelps was leader of the opposition from 1985 until 1991.
When the Progressive Conservatives became the Yukon Party Phelps became an Independent Alliance
MLA but sat in the new party's caucus
.
When John Ostashek
's Yukon Party
took power in 1992 with a minority government
, Phelps lent his support and became minister of justice, health and social services. In 1994 he dropped the justice portfolio and picked up responsibility for education. In his responsibilities for social services, Phelps instituted welfare reform
hiring private investigators to look into welfare recipients. He also argued for the privatization
of the government owned energy concern. Phelps resigned his cabinet
positions in March 1996. Phelps ran for re-election but lost his seat in the fall election.
Phelps formed the United Citizens Party of Yukon in 2009 to oppose the government of Dennis Fentie
. He resigned as the party leader on May 9, 2011 due to health reasons and waning interest.
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.
Political career
Phelps was first elected to the territorial legislatureLegislature
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...
in 1974 but did not run in the first election with political party participation in 1978. However, with the resignation of Chris Pearson as Government Leader in 1985 the Progressive Conservatives
Yukon Progressive Conservative Party
The Yukon Progressive Conservative Party was a conservative political party in the Yukon Territory of Canada. It is now known as the Yukon Party.-History:...
chose Phelps as its new leader and he was accordingly the second Government Leader from March 20, 1985 until May 29, 1985 when 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...
took office after winning the spring election. Phelps was leader of the opposition from 1985 until 1991.
When the Progressive Conservatives became the Yukon Party Phelps became an Independent Alliance
Independent Alliance
The Independent Alliance Party was a break-away Canadian political party formed in June 1991. The two original members were Bea Firth and Alan Nordling, both former members of the Yukon Party . Both members were elected in the 1992 election, but the alliance quickly crumbled as Nordling rejoined...
MLA but sat in the new party's caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
.
When John Ostashek
John Ostashek
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....
's 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:...
took power in 1992 with a 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...
, Phelps lent his support and became minister of justice, health and social services. In 1994 he dropped the justice portfolio and picked up responsibility for education. In his responsibilities for social services, Phelps 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...
hiring private investigators to look into welfare recipients. He also argued for the privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
of the government owned energy concern. Phelps resigned his cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
positions in March 1996. Phelps ran for re-election but lost his seat in the fall election.
Phelps formed the United Citizens Party of Yukon in 2009 to oppose the government of Dennis Fentie
Dennis Fentie
Dennis G. Fentie, MLA is a Canadian politician. He was the seventh Premier of Yukon and leader of the Yukon Party, serving from 2002 to 2011, as well as the MLA for Watson Lake.-Background:...
. He resigned as the party leader on May 9, 2011 due to health reasons and waning interest.