Lake Laberge MLA Brad Cathers, who resigned from the Yukon Party caucus on Aug. 28, told CBC News Thursday that he would like Premier Dennis Fentie to apologize to Yukoners, and possibly even resign, for his actions as leader. (CBC)

Former Yukon cabinet minister Brad Cathers, who quit the governing party's caucus last month, said he will work with the now-minority government but still wants the premier to step down.

Cathers, who is now an Independent MLA, said he resigned from the Yukon Party caucus on Aug. 28 because he could no longer work with Premier Dennis Fentie. The move put Fentie's government into a minority position.

In an interview Thursday, Cathers told CBC News he will give the Yukon Party government a chance to work as a minority. But he added that Fentie still owes Yukoners a full apology, and possibly even his resignation, for behaviour Cathers has described as dishonest and confrontational.

"I would like to see him do that, to correct the record fully and to apologize to Yukon citizens for saying things that he knew not to be true," Cathers said.

"But at this point, I'd encourage the premier to consider his future and ask himself the question not of whether he can fight through to the bitter end, but whether he should."

Cathers, who was energy, mines and resources minister and government house leader before his departure from caucus, cited Fentie's handling of recent controversies such as his secret talks over merging Yukon Energy Corp. with ATCO, a private corporation.

Those talks only became public recently, when former Yukon Energy board members leaked documents from the meetings to the media.

Earlier this week, Fentie conceded that he "screwed up" the handling of the ATCO controversy, but said Cathers's departure from caucus will not make him trigger an early election.

No-confidence vote expected

But Liberal Opposition Leader Arthur Mitchell said he will still try to bring down the government with a no-confidence vote when the assembly resumes sitting this fall.

"It appears he's only remorseful now because he's been caught lying to the public," Mitchell said earlier this week.

"From what I'm hearing, Yukoners are not buying the premier's deathbed repentance. They no longer trust him, and neither do I."

Fentie has not yet announced when the fall session will begin, but would only say the session will take place.

Outgoing NDP Leader Todd Hardy said he looks forward to the fall session, in which he will demand more answers from Fentie.

"We will have a chance to question Mr. Fentie very closely with regards to this, and hopefully we'll get more on the story and actually find out exactly where he is planning to go with this," Hardy said Wednesday.

"It's still dangling out there. We don't know what he's planning. He's talking about talking with his caucus and talking with his executive. Well, I'd like to get him to talk with the people."

Hardy said the NDP caucus would likely support a no-confidence motion if it is brought before the house this fall.

Speaker change claims denied

Fentie has denied rumours that he may recruit Independent MLA John Edzerza to take over the Speaker's chair from Yukon Party MLA Ted Staffen, in a bid to regain a majority government.

Cathers said he would oppose such a move, if it were to happen.

"That would effectively hand the premier back the balance of power and the ability to hammer things through the legislature," he said.

"I believe that John is a decent man ... I believe he will not be enticed by the extra salary and perks of the Speaker's chair, but will do the right thing."

Mitchell conceded that the balance of power rests with Cathers and Edzerza. Mitchell said he has not spoken to either about how they would vote when the house resumes sitting.