Edzerza rejoins Yukon Party

Whitehorse MLA John Edzerza is returningto the Yukon Party, taking Premier Dennis Fentie's government out of a minority position in time for the fall session.

Edzerza,who was mostrecently anIndependent, confirmed Thursday that he willsit as abackbench YukonParty MLA when thelegislative session begins Oct. 29.

The move saves Fentie's government from being toppled in a no-confidence vote thatthe opposition Liberals promised to introduce during the fall session, potentially triggering a territorialelection.

"I just don't think it's fair to hold all the citizens in the territory as sort of like emotional hostages to, 'Is there going to be an election? Is there not going to be an election? When it's going to happen?'" he told CBC News on Thursday.

Wantspolitical certainty

"I just thought, 'Well, you know, I think I can put certainty to where things are at in the territory right now,'" he added.

Fentie's caucus was put in a minority situation in August when Brad Cathers,then a high-profilecabinet minister,resigned tosit as an Independent.

Cathers said he haslost faith in Fentie's leadership, especiallywith respectto the premier's handling of recent controversies, such as secret governmenttalks over the potential privatization of Yukon Energy Corp. assets.

The departure of Cathers hadreduced the Yukon Party caucus to nine members, with a total nine opposition and Independent MLAs.

With the addition of Edzerza, there are now 10 Yukon Party MLAs, five Liberals, two New Democrats and Cathers as the lone Independent.

3rd political switch

It's the third time Edzerza has switched his political affiliation in the past three years,the second time in the past year alone.

The McIntyre-Tahkini MLA was first elected in 2002 under the banner of the right-leaning Yukon Party, which became the governing party.

He served as minister of justice and education in Fentie's cabinet until August 2006, when he defected from the Yukon Party and was re-elected as a New Democrat in that fall's election.

But Edzerzaleftthe NDP in January, saying his ambitions as MLA were not lining up with those of the party. He had been sitting as an Independent since then.

'Man-to-man talk' with premier

Edzerza criticized the governmentin the years after he left the Yukon Party, most recently telling CBC News last month that he hadquit afterbeing told not to challenge Fentie's judgment.

Edzerza also said last month that he had no interest in rejoiningtheYukon Partycaucus, which at the time hedescribed as a "hornets' nest."

But on Thursday, Edzerza said he and Fentie have put all that behind them.

"I had a man-to-man talk with the premier, and we did have a very good and open frank discussion," he said.

"We both came away with the opinion that we would put our differences aside and work [for] the best interests of the citizens in the Yukon."

Better to be 'inside the tent'

Edzerza said there were no backroom deals involved in his decision to rejoin the Yukon Party, nor does he want a cabinet post or the Speaker's job.

Rather, he said being a member in the governing party would benefit his constituents in McIntyre-Takhini.

"I'm of the opinion that it's better to be inside of the tent instead of peeing on the outside," he said.

"You know, you might was well go in where your voice can be counted and can be heard. Obviously, I know that things are not always going to go my way, but at least I have a voice right inside of the government."