Yukon’s leukemia-stricken Environment minister won’t seek re-election this autumn.
John Edzerza is undergoing chemotherapy in Vancouver. On Wednesday, he announced he would not seek another term, “due to health reasons.”
Edzerza, 62, has served as MLA for McIntyre-Takhini since 2002. He was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this month.
“Our wishes, thoughts and prayers go out to John and his family as he fights for his health,” said Premier Darrell Pasloski in an interview.
On Yukon’s redrawn electoral map, Edzerza’s current riding will be split in two. Part will become Mountainview, which includes the neighbourhoods of McIntyre, Valleyview, Hillcrest and Granger. The other will be Takhini-Copper King.
Pasloski, who became the Yukon Party’s leader last month and has no seat in the legislature, will seek his party’s nomination for Mountainview.
“John is supporting me on that,” said Pasloski.
“My family’s lived in Granger for the past 16 years. We’ve been here a long time. I’ve been part of the Granger Community Association as well.”
Edzerza is the fourth government politician to decline to run in the autumn. The others are former Premier Dennis Fentie, Speaker Ted Staffen and Patrick Rouble, minister of Education and Energy, Mines and Resources.
Contact John Thompson at johnt@yukon-news.com.