John Ostashek

John Ostashek (May 10, 1936 – June 10, 2007) was a 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]

John Ostashek
4th Premier of Yukon
In office
November 7, 1992 – October 19, 1996
CommissionerJohn Kenneth McKinnon
Judy Gingell
Preceded byTony Penikett
Succeeded byPiers McDonald
MLA for Porter Creek North
In office
October 19, 1992 – April 17, 2000
Preceded byfirst member
Succeeded byDon Roberts
Personal details
BornMay 10, 1936
High Prairie, Alberta[1]
DiedJune 10, 2007(2007-06-10) (aged 71)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Political partyYukon Party
ResidenceWhitehorse, Yukon
Occupationentrepreneur

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 from cancer in Vancouver, after having been medevaced from Whitehorse the week before.[4][5][6]

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