Yukon.

• Author: Kolody, Linda
• Position: Legislative Reports

As reported in the previous edition, on April 16th the Yukon Party announced that a leadership election would be held at the request of then-Premier Dennis Fentie (Watson Lake). On May 28% Darrell Pasloski was elected as the new Leader of the Yukon Party. On June 11th, Mr. Pasloski was sworn in as Yukon's 8th Premier by Commissioner Doug Phillips, in a ceremony that took place in the Old Territorial Administration Building in Dawson City. Mr. Pasloski is the first Premier to be sworn in in Dawson City, Yukon's seat of government from the formation of the territory in 1898 until 1953.

Pursuant to the Yukon Act, each Legislative Assembly is limited to a five-year term. As the writs for the previous general election were returned on October 16, 2006, the writs for the next general election must be issued by October 14th. According to the Legislative Assembly Act, a by-election cannot be called in the six months prior to the legal end of an Assembly. As a result, Premier Pasloski will not be able to seek election to the House prior to the general election.

This is the second time that Yukon has had a Premier who was not a Member of the Legislative Assembly. The first instance occurred in March 1985, when Willard Phelps was elected to succeed Chris Pearson as leader of the Yukon Territorial Progressive Conservative Party. A general election occurred two months later. While Mr. Phelps secured a seat in that election, the NDP formed the government.

Cabinet Changes, Caucus Changes

On April 21st, Jim Kenyon, Minister of Economic Development, Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation, and Minister responsible for the Yukon Liquor Corporation entered the Yukon Party leadership race. On May 4th, Commissioner Phillips signed an Order in Council revoking Mr. Kenyon's appointment to Cabinet.

Another OIC dated May 4th assigned Mr. Kenyon's former portfolios to Steve Nordick (Klondike). Until his appointment to Cabinet, Mr. Nordick had been Deputy Speaker, Chair of the Committee of the Whole, and, as the sole Government backbencher, Cabinet Commissioner for the Department of Community Services and the Department of Highways and Public Works.

Installed as Yukon's Premier on June 11th, Premier Pasloski initially assumed the Finance, Executive Council Office, Yukon Development Corporation and Yukon Energy Corporation portfolios.

On June 27th, Premier Pasloski relinquished responsibility for the Yukon Development Corporation and the Yukon Energy...