Scott Kent is a Canadian politician, who was elected to in the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the 2000, 2011, 2016 and 2021 Yukon elections. He currently represents the Whitehorse electoral district of Copperbelt South as a member of the Yukon Party caucus.

Scott Kent
Member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly
for Copperbelt South
Assumed office
November 7, 2016
Preceded byLois Moorcroft
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources
In office
August 5, 2013 – December 3, 2016
PremierDarrell Pasloski
Preceded byBrad Cathers
Succeeded byRanj Pillai
In office
April 2, 2002 – November 30, 2002
PremierPat Duncan
Preceded by?
Succeeded byArchie Lang
Minister of Highways and Public Works
In office
January 16, 2015 – December 3, 2016
PremierDarrell Pasloski
Preceded byWade Istchenko
Succeeded byRichard Mostyn
Minister of Education
In office
November 5, 2011 – August 5, 2013
PremierDarrell Pasloski
Preceded byPatrick Rouble
Succeeded byElaine Taylor
Member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly
for Riverdale North
In office
October 11, 2011 – November 7, 2016
Preceded byTed Staffen
Succeeded byNils Clarke
Minister of Economic Development
In office
June 12, 2001 – April 2, 2002
PremierPat Duncan
Preceded byPat Duncan
Succeeded byOffice dissolved
Member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly
for Riverside
In office
April 17, 2000 – November 4, 2002
Preceded byJack Cable
Succeeded byConstituency dissolved
Personal details
Political partyYukon Party (2011-present)
Yukon Liberal Party
(2000-2002)
Residence(s)Whitehorse, Yukon

Political career

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30th Legislative Assembly

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Kent was first elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly as MLA for Riverside on April 17, 2000, for the Yukon Liberal Party as part of the short-lived government of Premier Pat Duncan. Kent served as Deputy Chair of Committee of the Whole from June 5, 2000 to June 12, 2001. He was appointed to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Standing Committee on Rules, Elections and Privileges during the 30th Legislative Assembly.

In June 2001, Kent was appointed to the Executive Council (Cabinet) as Minister of Economic Development. He later acquired responsibility for the Department of Infrastructure, the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, and the Yukon Development Corporation/Yukon Energy Corporation. He was also the Minister responsible for Youth.[1] Kent's riding of Riverside was dissolved prior to the 2002 election, and he opted to run for re-election in the newly created riding of Porter Creek Centre. However, he was defeated by Archie Lang of the Yukon Party.

33rd Legislative Assembly

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Kent re-entered territorial politics in 2011, when he crossed the floor to join the Yukon Party. He was elected in the riding of Riverdale North - which included part of his former riding of Riverside - in that year's election. He was appointed again to Cabinet on November 5, 2011, serving as Minister of Education, Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation, Minister responsible for the Yukon Liquor Corporation (including the Yukon Lottery Commission), Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister responsible for the Yukon Development Corporation and Yukon Energy Corporation, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, and Minister of Highways and Public Works.[2] During his time Minister of Education, his department drew criticism for its handling of the Catholic school system's stance on homosexuality, which came to light in a school document which labeled homosexual urges a "disorder" and homosexual acts an "intrinsic moral evil.".[3] Kent was later moved out of the education portfolio in August 2013.[4]

Kent also served on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Standing Committee on Rules, Elections and Privileges and the Standing Committee on Appointments to Major Government Boards and Committees during the 33rd Legislative Assembly.[5]

34th Legislative Assembly

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Kent once again sought re-election in 2016, but this time in the riding of Copperbelt South. Kent received criticism for moving out of his riding, and then for not seeking re-election in his current riding and then seeking re-election in a riding that was different than the one he was moving to.[6] Nonetheless, although the Yukon Party was defeated in the general election, Kent was elected in Copperbelt South, defeating popular Whitehorse city councillor and Liberal candidate Jocelyn Curteanu by just 24 votes.

He is currently the Yukon Party caucus critic for the Department of Education, the Department of Economic Development, and the Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Division of the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources. He is also the Official Opposition House Leader. Kent is currently a member of the Standing Committee on Rules, Elections and Privileges.[7]

35th Legislative Assembly

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As of September 29, 2024, Kent serves as the Official Opposition House Leader and the critic for Education and for Energy, Mines and Resources.

Personal life

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Outside of politics, Kent has worked in a family-owned business and for a number of organizations, including the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB), the Yukon Chamber of Mines, the Klondike Placer Miners Association, and the Yukon Hospital Foundation.[8]

Electoral record

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2021 general election

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2021 Yukon general election: Copperbelt South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon Party Scott Kent 726 56.98 +20.1
New Democratic Kaori Torigai 289 22.68 -4.5%
Liberal Sheila Robertson 259 20.32 -14.6%
Total valid votes 1,274
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Yukon Party hold Swing +18.33
Source(s)
"Unofficial Election Results 2021". Elections Yukon. Retrieved 24 April 2021.

2016 general election

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Copperbelt South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon Party Scott Kent 449 36.9% -4.8%
  Liberal Jocelyn Curteanu 425 34.9% +18.6%
  NDP Lois Moorcroft 397 27.2% -14.8%
Green Philippe LeBlond 12 1.0% +1.0%
Total 1217 100.0%

2011 general election

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Riverdale North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon Party Scott Kent 366 37.1% -6.9%
New Democratic Peter Lesniak[9] 296 30.0% +12.4%
Liberal Christie Richardson 289 29.3% -9.0%
Green Kristina Calhoun 35 3.5% +3.5%
Total 986 100.0%

2002 general election

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Porter Creek Centre[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Yukon Party Archie Lang 399 51.6%
  Liberal Scott Kent 312 40.3%
  NDP Judi Johnny 63 8.1%
Total 774 100.0%

2000 general election

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Riverside
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  Liberal Scott Kent 359 54.3% +15.4%
  NDP Jasbir Randhawa 202 30.6% -7.2%
  Yukon Party Michael Weinert 100 15.1% -8.2%
Total 661 100.0%

References

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  1. ^ Scott Kent, Yukon Legislative Assembly
  2. ^ Scott Kent, Yukon Legislative Assembly
  3. ^ Vanier's teachings must meet Yukon law: Kent Yukon News (Jesse Winter), March 20, 2013.
  4. ^ Cabinet shuffle doesn't ruffle many feathers. Yukon News (Jesse Winter), August 7, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  5. ^ Scott Kent, Yukon Legislative Assembly
  6. ^ [1] Yukon News (Maura Forrest), April 18, 2016
  7. ^ Scott Kent, Yukon Legislative Assembly
  8. ^ Copperbelt South Riding Profile CBC North, October 19, 2016
  9. ^ "Territorial Election 2011". Yukon NDP. June 17, 2011. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  10. ^ McElheran, Graeme (6 October 2006). "NDP and Libs hope to tilt Porter Creek left". Yukon News. Whitehorse. Retrieved 25 September 2010.