Yukon.

• Date: 22 March 2023
• Author: Kolody, Linda

New Premier

On January 14, 2023, Ranj Pillai (Porter Creek South) was sworn in as Yukon's new Premier. When out-going premier Sandy Silver (Klondike) stepped aside from the role, he had been the longest-serving among Canada's current premiers.

As noted in Yukon's previous legislative report, Mr. Silver announced on September 9 that he would step aside as Premier once a Yukon Liberal Party Leader successor was named. A November 26 Liberal party news release announced that the leadership convention date had been set for January 28. At the close of nominations, Mr. Pillai was the sole candidate; the following day (January 8), he was acclaimed by the party's executive as the new party leader.

On January 14, Mr. Pillai was sworn in as Yukon's 10th Premier by Adeline Webber, the Administrator of Yukon, at a public ceremony in Whitehorse. The entire Cabinet was also sworn in during the ceremony, which took place at the Jim Smith Building. While the seven individuals making up Cabinet are the same MLAs who comprised the preceding Cabinet, some portfolios have shifted. Among these changes, the role of Deputy Premier is now held by Jeanie McLean (Mountain view).

Mr. Pillai was first elected in Yukon's November 7, 2016 general election, and was re-elected in the April 12, 2021 general election. During his first term as an MLA, Mr. Pillai was the Deputy Premier, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, the Minister of Economic Development, and the Minister responsible for the Yukon Development...