Yukon.

• Author: Kolody, Linda
• Position: Legislative Reports

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 Corporation and the Yukon Energy Corporation.

In his second term in Mr. Silver's administration, Mr. Pillai had served as the Minister of Economic Development and the Minister of Tourism and Culture, as well as the Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation, the Yukon Liquor Corporation, and the Yukon Lottery Commission.

As Premier, Mr. Pillai is also the Minister of the Executive Council Office. Additionally, he has retained the Economic Development and Yukon Housing Corporation portfolios.

Before moving to territorial politics, Mr. Pillai had been the Executive Director of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations government. From 2009-2012, Mr. Pillai served as a Whitehorse City Councillor. Going back further, as a point of interest, Mr. Pillai had attended the same Antigonish, Nova Scotia high school as Mr. Silver.

2022 Fall Sitting

The 2022 Fall Sitting of the First Session of the 35th Yukon Legislative Assembly began on October 6 and...