Yukon premier answers for environment minister

Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie fielded questions from the oppositionthis weekabout who is in charge of the territory's Environment Department.

Liberal Opposition Leader Arthur Mitchell askedMonday if Fentie went behind the back of Environment Minister Elaine Taylor when he ordered department officials not to providea reportto the Peel Watershed Planning Commission.

Emails between government officials, which surfaced in local media, indicate the report was gutted after Fentie made an angry phone call to the deputy environment minister. There was no indication that Taylor, who has been environment minister since July 2008, was involved in the discussions.

"He didn't apparently talk to her," Mitchell said during question period. "He gave his irate directions directly to environment officials.

The planning commission has been working on a land-use plan for the Peel River watershed region. A draft released earlier this year sparked controversy because it called for much of the area to be protected from mining and industrial development.

It is not known what the report withheld by the Environment Department said, but officials alter described it as technical and meant for internal use.

Although Fentie, of the Yukon Party,has denied he interfered with the commission process, the opposition continues to question hisrole.

"Could the minister please tell us who runs the Department of the Environment?" Mitchell asked inquestion period. "Is it the environment minister, or is the premier?"

Mitchell asked Taylor if she knew "the premier was interfering in her department."

But instead of letting Taylor respond,Fentie stood up and replied on her behalf.

"I must say that it's another example by the leader of the Official Opposition in a confused interpretation of the events," Fentie told the legislature.

"If the member would like, I'd provide him a copy of roles and responsibilities as it pertains to government that is, the executive council, cabinet, premier's office, ministers and so on. This government follows that guideline."

Yukon NDP Leader Elizabeth Hanson, who has been sitting in the public gallery since becoming leader this fall, said Fentie should not be speaking for his ministers.

"The cabinet ministers have to stand up for themselves, and they have to stand up for the issues, and they have to know the issues well enough to be able to speak to them," Hanson told CBC News.

"Whether or not they don't know them, or they'd rather leave it to the premier, or else he's decreed that that's the way it will be, I don't know."

Hanson said Fentie's move to answer questions on behalf of his ministers reinforces the image of a one-man government.