Mayo – Tatchun

Candidates

• Eric Fairclough - Liberal
• Jim Tredger - NDP
• Elaine Wyatt - Yukon Party

Current MLA:

Eric Fairclough

District Profile:

Geographically the largest riding in the territory, Mayo –Tatchun begins just north of Braeburn and runs north to the Northwest Territories border, just south of Fort McPherson. It includes the communities of Carmacks (pop. 408), Pelly Crossing (pop. 291) and Mayo (pop. 400) as well as Stewart Crossing, Keno City, Elsa and the vast, but unpopulated Peel River watershed.

Three First Nations — all Northern Tutchone — are within its boundaries. The Selkirk, Little Salmon-Carmacks and Na-cho Nyak Dun all have settled their land claims and are moving ahead to implement them.

Mayo and Tatchun were originally two separate ridings but after the silver mine in near Keno City closed in 1989, the government decided to amalgamate them.

The mine went back into full production in 2011 and the nearby Eagle Gold mine property is advancing to production. The Minto copper mine near Pelly Crossing has been in production since 2007.

The Klondike Highway is a major transportation corridor for all points north and east of Carmacks. Highway travellers and wilderness adventurers contribute to the tourism sector of the economy. There is also some subsistence hunting, fishing and trapping.

Political History:

Liberal incumbent Eric Fairclough was re-elected in 2006 with 53 per cent of the vote. Fairclough was ousted by the NDP in March 2006, along with Kluane MLA Gary McRobb, for considering a party switch. In 1996 Fairclough ran under the NDP banner, replacing Danny Joe, also a New Democrat.

Joe first won the Tatchun riding in a byelection in 1987. The byelection was held to replace Roger Coles, the Yukon Liberal leader who quit after being convicted of trafficking in cocaine. The NDP's Piers McDonald held the Mayo riding from 1982-92, when the riding amalgamation took place. Voter turn out has been reasonably high.

2006 voter turnout:

72% (573 of 797 registered voters)