Latest news with #YukonLiberalParty
Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Ted Laking seeks nomination to run for Yukon Party in Porter Creek
Ted Laking has announced he'll be running for the Yukon Party nomination in Porter Creek Centre. The riding includes 'communities on the west side of the Alaska Highway north of Sumanik Drive' per the electoral boundaries commission final report. The riding used to include Whistle Bend, which is set to be represented by its own two electoral ridings, in the upcoming election. The riding was previously represented by MLA Yvonne Clarke of the Yukon Party — who is now running in Whistle Bend North — and Paolo Gallina, formerly of the Yukon Liberal Party, who now sits on Whitehorse city council. Laking, a former Whitehorse city councillor himself, had initially planned to run in the federal election under the Conservative Party banner , but then pivoted to seeking a spot in territorial politics ahead of the territorial elections, which must occur on or by Nov. 3 of this year. Laking was joined at a press conference by former councillor Jocelyn Curteanu and current city Coun. Dan Boyd, both of whom voiced support for Laking's run. 'I can't think of a more qualified person to represent Porter Creek Centre,' Boyd said. Laking said he went to high school in the Porter Creek Centre riding, and the riding is one-minute away from where he currently lives. Laking is also the past president of the Association of Yukon Communities. He highlighted his experience in that role regarding the inaugural Mayors and Chiefs Forum, and said that First Nations and non-First Nations governments need to work together to address issues they are facing. He said he was encouraged by Yukon Party Leader Currie Dixon indicating he'd initiate a 'national conversation on the future of communities in the country.' Laking said there's been a lack of engagement across the board on the provincial and territorial level regarding funding for municipal infrastructure, operations and maintenance. Municipal governments need to be at the table for discussions regarding housing and economic growth, Laking said. Contact Talar Stockton at
CBC
12-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Former Kwanlin Dün chief Doris Bill seeks Yukon Liberal leadership
Doris Bill, the former chief of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation, is running to become the next leader of the Yukon Liberal Party. She is the first candidate to publicly declare her intentions to replace Premier Ranj Pillai, who announced last week that he plans to step down once the party chooses its new leader. Bill, who does not hold a seat in the Yukon Legislative Assembly, kicked off her leadership campaign at the McBride Museum in Whitehorse on Monday morning. "Now it's the time to come together … I envision a place where every voice is genuinely heard," Bill said, standing alongside a large campaign banner reading, "let's move forward." Bill is a former three-term chief of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation. She was first elected chief in 2014 and served for nine years before being ousted by Sean Smith in 2023. Before she was chief, Bill was a CBC News journalist. She was also the co-chair of the Yukon Advisory Committee on MMIWG2S+ and vice chair of the Yukon Residential School Missing Children Project. Bill is also a member of the health transformation advisory committee, a group formed to guide the territorial government's work to establish a health authority. In 2023, she was appointed to a three-year term as chair of the Yukon Housing Corporation board of directors. In a statement on her leadership campaign website, Bill said the territory is facing "uncertain times" amid economic concerns and global challenges that are "weighing heavily on us." She said the territory's Liberal government — first elected in 2016 under former premier Sandy Silver — has "risen to the challenge with a strong economy, improved social investments, expanded education services and has made considerable infrastructure investments." The deadline for leadership candidate nominations is May 29. Each candidate will have to pay a non-refundable nomination fee of $7,000 to the Yukon Liberal Party. On June 19, the party will hold its leadership convention in Whitehorse, where members will choose their next leader by ranked preferential ballot.
CBC
10-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Yukon Liberals to pick new leader on June 19
Social Sharing The Yukon Liberal Party will select its next leader — and therefore the territory's next premier — on June 19 in Whitehorse. The party announced the date of its upcoming leadership convention on Thursday. It follows Premier Ranj Pillai's surprise announcement earlier this week that he would step down once a new leader is chosen, and will not run in the upcoming territorial election. Pillai has been premier since January 2023, when he took on the role after former premier Sandy Silver decided to give up the party leadership. Pillai ran unopposed for the leadership. Nobody has yet declared their intention to seek the party leadership this time around. The deadline to submit a nomination is May 29. Party members will be able to vote in person at the event in Whitehorse, or by proxy. If there are several candidates, voting will be done by a ranked preferential ballot, which means there may be several rounds of voting before a winner is declared. The new leader does not automatically become premier, but it would likely happen within days, according to Floyd McCormick, a retired clerk of the Legislative Assembly who still closely watches Yukon politics. McCormick says the territory's commissioner would need to issue an order making the new Liberal leader the premier. Whether or not that person already has a seat in the Legislative Assembly is of little consequence in the short term, McCormick says. They'll still have all the powers and responsibilities of the premiership until the next election. "Constitutionally speaking, that authority is always there to deal with anything that comes up," he said. McCormick points to parallels with the federal Liberals, who chose Mark Carney as their leader before he had a seat in Parliament. It's also happened before in the Yukon, McCormick points out. In 1985, Chris Pearson resigned after seven years as government leader, or premier, and Willard Phelps was chosen to succeed him, though Phelps didn't have a seat in the legislature. An election was called almost immediately and Phelps's Progressive Conservatives were ousted by Tony Penikett's NDP. Phelps had been premier for 10 weeks. Then in 2011, Darrell Pasloski was chosen to succeed Dennis Fentie as Yukon Party leader though Pasloski was not then a sitting MLA. Pasloski, as premier, also called an election soon after, winning himself a seat and his party another majority government. Election unlikely before fall, McCormick says The next premier also won't have much time before they have to face voters. The territorial election must happen by Nov. 3 — after a minimum 31-day campaign — but could be called sooner. McCormick, however, thinks it's unlikely that Yukoners will be going to the polls before fall. He said he doesn't see any advantage for the governing party to call it anytime sooner. "I don't think a summer election is something that anybody would be interested in," McCormick said. He said the party may need more time to line up its candidates for the upcoming campaign, a process which may be influenced by who the new leader is. McCormick also suggested that the new premier might want at least a bit of time in the role before facing voters. He compares it to how Carney became prime minister in March and then waited some days before calling the federal election. "So it's kind of like an audition for the position. And so, you know, the more you can act like a premier before the election, then maybe that'll convince a few people that you can be continue as premier after the election," McCormick said. He also doesn't expect the Legislative Assembly to sit again before the writ is dropped, unless "there's some sort of emergency situation."
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Indo-Canadian premier of Canada's Yukon province, Ranj Pillai, resigns
Toronto: Ranj Pillai, just the second person of Indian-origin to become the leader of a Canadian province or territory, has announced his intention to resign from the post. Ranj Pillai (fourth from left) at the Western Canada-India Leaders Summit organised by the Canada India Business Council in Vancouver this April. (Credit: Indian consulate in Vancouver/X) Pillai made the announcement during the course of a press conference in Whitehorse, capital of the territory of Yukon, which he has led as its Premier (equivalent of a Chief Minister) since January 2023. The 51-year-old Pillai, who has roots in Kerala, will also step aside as leader of the ruling territorial Liberal Party. He will continue as Premier and leader till his successor is chosen by the party. He will not seek re-election. The territorial election is scheduled to be held by November 3. In a statement issued by the Yukon government on Wednesday, Pillai said, 'Serving as Premier of the Yukon has been the greatest honour of my life. Today, however, I am announcing my intention to step aside as Premier of the Yukon and Yukon Liberal Party Leader. This will trigger a leadership race, which will select the next Yukon Liberal Party Leader and Premier of the Yukon. I will continue to serve as a cabinet minister at the pleasure of the next Premier and will serve for the remainder of my term as MLA for Porter Creek South.' Pillai, who was born in the province of Nova Scotia, started his political career 16 years ago as a Whitehorse city councillor, before being elected MLA for Porter Creek South in 2016, later being appointed Cabinet Minister before finally assuming charge as Premier. Pillai became just the second Indian-origin Premier in Canadian history, following Ujjal Dosanjh who held that post in the province of British Columbia between 2000 and 2001. He worked towards strengthening the territory's ties with India. In April this year, he participated in the Western Canada-India Leaders Summit organised by the Canada India Business Council in Vancouver. 'I want to thank my wife and our sons for their support – I can't wait to spend more time with you all. I look forward to stepping back from public life, spending more time with my friends and family and enjoying all that our incredible territory has to offer,' Pillai said.
