John Ostashek

John Ostashek
4th Premier of Yukon
In office
November 7, 1992  October 19, 1996
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
Kim Campbell
Jean Chrétien
Commissioner John Kenneth McKinnon
Judy Gingell
Preceded by Tony Penikett (New Democratic)
Succeeded by Piers McDonald (New Democratic)
MLA for Porter Creek North
In office
October 19, 1992  April 17, 2000
Preceded by first member
Succeeded by Don Roberts
Personal details
Born May 10, 1936
High Prairie, Alberta[1]
Died June 10, 2007(2007-06-10) (aged 71)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Political party Yukon Party
Residence Whitehorse, Yukon
Occupation entrepreneur

John Ostashek (May 10, 1936 – June 10, 2007) 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.[2]

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 MLAs, 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.[3]

He died on June 10, 2007, aged 71 from cancer.[4][5][6]

References

  1. "Mining among key issues in Yukon election". The Northern Miner. November 23, 1992. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  2. "Ostashek steps down". CBC News. April 17, 2000. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  3. "Former Yukon gov't leader John Ostashek dies". CTV News. June 12, 2007. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011.
  4. "Ostashek: What you saw is what you got'". Whitehorse Star. June 10, 2007. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  5. "John Ostashek: 1936–2007". Yukon News. June 14, 2007. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
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