Pat Duncan

For other people named Patrick Duncan, see Patrick Duncan (disambiguation).

Hon. Pat Duncan
6th Premier of the Yukon
In office June 5, 2000 – November 5, 2002
Preceded by	Piers McDonald (New Democratic)
Succeeded by	Dennis Fentie (Yukon Party)
MLA for Porter Creek South
In office 1996–2006
Preceded by	Alan Nordling
Succeeded by	Don Inverarity
Personal details
Born	(1960-04-08) April 8, 1960 Edmonton, Alberta
Political party	Yukon Liberal Party
Spouse	Daryl Berube
Residence(s)	Whitehorse, Yukon

Pat Duncan (born April 8, 1960) is a former politician in the Yukon, Canada. Duncan served as leader of the Yukon Liberal Party from 1998 to 2005 and as Premier of Yukon from 2000 until 2002. Duncan was the first Liberal premier of the Yukon and the first female premier in the Yukon, and only the second woman in Canadian history to win the premiership of a province or territory through a general election.

Life before politics

Duncan was born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1960, and moved with her family to Whitehorse, Yukon in 1964. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.

Professional background

Prior to entering politics, Duncan was a small business owner. She also served as executive director of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce. In the mid-1980s, Duncan served as a special assistant to Progressive Conservative Deputy Prime Minister Erik Nielsen. Duncan remained in this position until Nielsen's retirement in 1987.

Yukon politics

Duncan was first elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the 1996 general election. Duncan was elected as a Liberal to represent the Porter Creek South riding, a riding located in Whitehorse. In the 1996 general election, Piers McDonald (New Democratic Party) won a majority government. Duncan was one of three Liberals elected. Liberal leader at the time, Ken Taylor, was unsuccessful in winning his Mount Lorne riding.

In 1998, Duncan was elected leader of the Yukon Liberal Party. From 1998-2000, Duncan served as the Leader of the Official Opposition in the legislature. In the 2000 general election Duncan lead the Yukon Liberal Party to a majority government, defeating New Democratic incumbent Piers McDonald. The Liberals were elected in 10 ridings and received 42.7% of the popular vote. Early in 2002, the Liberal majority was reduced to a minority after the defection of three Liberal Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). The catalyst for the defections was reported to be Duncan's allegedly heavy-handed and secretive leadership style.

On October 4, 2002, only two years into Duncan's five year term, she called a general election for November 4, 2002. The rationale for the election was to achieve certainty in the legislature, however many Yukoners were angered at the quick election. The Yukon Liberals were reduced to only one seat after the election - Duncan's own riding of Porter Creek South. Yukon Party leader Dennis Fentie, a former NDP MLA, lead his new party to victory. The Liberals were reduced to third party status with Duncan as the sole Liberal MLA.

At the 2005 Yukon Liberal Party leadership convention, Duncan was defeated by Arthur Mitchell by a margin of 357 votes to 303. Citing health concerns, she did not seek re-election in the 2006 general election.

Election results

Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal/row

Yukon general election, 2002

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Liberal	Pat Duncan	408	51.71		Yukon Party	Lynn Ogden	301	38.15		NDP	Paul Warner	80	10.14
Total			789	100

Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal/row

Yukon general election, 2000

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Liberal	Pat Duncan	607	64.23		Yukon Party	Larry Carlyle	235	24.87		NDP	Mark Dupuis	103	10.89
Total			945	100

Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal/row

Yukon general election, 1996

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Liberal	Pat Duncan	435	42.94		Yukon Party	Alan Nordling	397	39.19		NDP	Mark Dupuis	181	17.87
Total			1,013	100