Yukon Party calls on premier to seek his own democratic mandate

WHITEHORSE – After governing for over two years with no mandate of his own, the Yukon Party Official Opposition is calling on the premier to finally seek one to govern. Ranj Pillai was sworn in as Yukon’s premier on January 14, 2023, after being acclaimed as Liberal Party leader when no other contenders stepped forward to run. Since then, he has governed without any Yukoner ever casting a ballot for him to be premier.

“This has gone on far too long,” said Currie Dixon, Leader of the Official Opposition. “Not a single Yukoner cast their ballot for Ranj Pillai to be premier, and he has no mandate of his own to negotiate on behalf of Yukoners. This is clearly breaking the long-standing Westminster parliamentary tradition of unelected premiers going to the electorate within a reasonable amount of time.”

The Liberal government recently announced that Pillai would travel to Washington, D.C., to represent Yukoners in meetings with the new Trump Administration, Congress, and business leaders. Early this week, Pillai’s office entertained the idea of the Yukon Government imposing retaliatory measures in response to President Trump’s threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada to the United States. According to the Liberal government, those retaliatory measures could include measures against American-owned outfitting businesses and mining companies.

“Ranj Pillai has absolutely no democratic mandate, let alone a mandate to be contemplating or negotiating retaliatory measures that could hurt Yukoners or the Yukon economy,” said Dixon. “In this time of unprecedented turmoil in Ottawa and the country, Yukon needs the strongest possible negotiating position, which includes clear support for the premier from Yukoners. It is time for an immediate election so Yukoners can provide clear direction before the premier sits at these tables.”

Earlier this week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told the media that he might need to call an early election in his province to seek a mandate to undertake economic measures in response to the trade situation between Canada and the United States. British Columbia Premier David Eby has also raised the possibility of retaliatory measures, including his province banning exports of critical minerals to the United States.

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Contact:
Tim Kucharuk
Media Director
(867) 689-7874

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