Stacey Hassard
Leader of the Opposition
In office
December 3, 2016  April 12, 2021
Preceded byElizabeth Hanson
Succeeded byCurrie Dixon
Leader of the Yukon Party
Interim
In office
November 17, 2016  May 23, 2020
Preceded byDarrell Pasloski
Succeeded byCurrie Dixon
Yukon Minister of Economic Development
In office
January 16, 2015  December 3, 2016
Preceded byCurrie Dixon
Succeeded byRanj Pillai
Member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly
for Pelly-Nisutlin
Assumed office
October 11, 2011
Preceded byMarian Horne
Personal details
Political partyYukon (territorial)
Conservative (federal)
Residence(s)Teslin, Yukon

Stacey Hassard is a Canadian politician, who was elected to in the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the 2011 election.[1] He represents the electoral district of Pelly-Nisutlin as a member of the Yukon Party caucus. He is a former leader of the Yukon's Official Opposition and the former interim leader of the Yukon Party.

Political career

33rd Legislative Assembly

Hassard entered territorial politics in 2011, defeated incumbent Yukon Party Cabinet minister Marian Horne for the party's nomination.[2] He was elected later that year in the riding of Pelly-Nisutlin.

Hassard was elected Deputy Chair of Committee of the Whole in December 2011 and served in that capacity until his appointment to Cabinet in January 2015. During that time, he served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Appointments to Major Government Boards and Committees and vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. He was also a member of the Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, the Select Committee on Whistle-blower Protection, and the Select Committee Regarding the Risks and Benefits of Hydraulic Fracturing.[3]

Hassard was appointed to Cabinet on January 16, 2015, and served as Minister of Economic Development, the Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation, and the Minister responsible for the Yukon Liquor Corporation (including the Yukon Lottery Commission) during the remainder of the 33rd Legislative Assembly.[4]

During his time as minister, Hassard received criticism for his handling of issues facing the community of Ross River, which is within his riding. Ross River at the time was plagued by semi-feral dogs attacking residents, and in one instance, killing a resident. Community leaders criticized Hassard for not visiting the community and not doing enough in the aftermath of the attacks.[5]

Hassard was also criticized for his decision to award a sole-sourced $1.3-million contract to Whitehorse-based Total North Communications to upgrade internet speeds in Teslin, Carmacks, and Watson Lake. The Yukon Government's procurement support centre had analyzed the contract and recommended that it be put out for competition, but Hassard ignored the recommendation and awarded the contract directly to Total North.[6]

As Minister responsible for the Yukon Liquor Corporation, Hassard also supported opening a liquor store in his home community of Teslin, citing the economic benefits it would bring the community. The proposal drew protest from the Village of Teslin and Teslin Tlingit Council, which presented a petition against the proposal and called for public consultations on the issue. In total, the petition, tabled by New Democrat Kate White on behalf of Teslin, contained 186 names; there are approximately 450 residents of Teslin. Ultimately, no liquor store opened in Teslin before the legislative assembly was dissolved in October 2016.[7]

34th Legislative Assembly

Hassard was re-elected comfortably on November 7, 2016, in his riding of Pelly-Nisutlin, thanks to strong support in Teslin and Faro (though not Ross River). He defeated both Yukon Green Party leader Frank de Jong and former Teslin Tlingit Chief Carl Sidney.

However, the Yukon Party government was defeated in that same election and its leader, Darrell Pasloski, lost his own seat. Hassard was elected as interim leader of the Yukon Party and interim Leader of the Official Opposition on November 17, 2016. In the 34th Legislative Assembly, he is currently the opposition for the Department of Highways and Public Works, the Executive Council Office (other than the Aboriginal relations branch), the French Language Services Directorate, and the Public Service Commission. He is also a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.[8]

Personal life

Hassard has worked in the construction industry and owned a local store and motel in Teslin. He is a former councilor and deputy mayor of the Village of Teslin.[9]

Stacey is the brother of Dean Hassard, who previously represented the same district in the Yukon Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2006.

Hassard lives in Teslin, Yukon.

Electoral record

2021 Yukon general election: Pelly-Nisutlin
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Yukon PartyStacey Hassard36250.77+8.41
New DemocraticGeorge Bahm25435.62+4.31
LiberalKatherine Alexander9713.60-9.39
Total valid votes 713
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Yukon Party hold Swing +2.05
Source(s)
"Unofficial Election Results 2021". Elections Yukon. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

2016 general election

Pelly-Nisutlin
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon PartyStacey Hassard28042.3%-7.1%
  NDP Ken Hodgins 207 31.2% -0.8%
  Liberal Carl Sidney 152 23.0% +9.9%
GreenFrank de Jong223.3%+3.3%
Total 661 100.0%

2011 general election

Pelly-Nisutlin
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon PartyStacey Hassard27549.4%+7.3%
  NDP Carol Geddes 178 32.0% +6.5%
  Liberal Carl Sidney 73 13.1% -12.3%
  Independent Elvis Presley 31 5.5% -1.5%
Total 557 100.0%

References

  1. Yukon Votes 2011: Copperbelt North. CBC News, October 11, 2011.
  2. Yukon MLA feels 'ambushed' by riding association CBC North, August 3, 2011
  3. Stacey Hassard Yukon Legislative Assembly
  4. Stacey Hassard Yukon Legislative Assembly
  5. Ross River man killed by stray dogs: coroner. Whitehorse Star (Pierre Chauvin), May 11, 2016.
  6. Hassard defends decision to sole-source Total North contract Yukon News (Maura Forrest), August 8, 2016
  7. Teslin Tlingit Council distances itself from liquor store pitch Yukon News (Myles Dolphin), May 2, 2016,
  8. Stacey Hassard Yukon Legislative Assembly
  9. Riding Profile: Pelly-Nisutlin CBC North (Nancy Thompson), October 21, 2016
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