Yukon Liberal Leader Sandy Silver says his party is ready to get to work diversifying the economy, building better relationships with other governments and balancing economic and environmental interests.

“We are ready to hit the ground running the day after the election,” Silver told reporters and party supporters who gathered this morning at the Liberal headquarters for the Nov. 7 election, at the Yukon Centre Mall.

Inside the headquarters, signs for each candidate were stacked and lined up against the walls, ready to make their way to the campaign trail.

Silver – and Liberal candidates who stood behind him – was responding to the territorial election call issued this morning.

As the candidates streamed into the press conference, cheers and applause erupted among supporters. Silver paused to get a picture of the other candidates running under the Liberal banner before he headed for the podium.

“This team will engage openly and honestly with all Yukoners. It’s a strong, strong group of people,” said the Klondike MLA, citing the extensive experience of the Liberal team.

The lineup includes those who have worked in management, operated businesses, have an understanding of social issues, and more.

The Liberal party plans to run a campaign that’s positive, inclusive and responsive to Yukoners.

A territorial Liberal government would make positive changes for the territory, including restoring the relationship the territory has with other governments.

“It’s time to honour the treaties,” he said.

He stressed the need for the Yukon government, First Nations, businesses, non-governmental organizations and others to work together to improve the territory.

“We need to grow the economy,” he said, as he stressed the need for both environmental stewardship and good jobs in the territory.

Throughout his comments this morning, he was clear he believes the interests of the environment and the economy can be balanced.

The Liberals will reveal more details of their platform in the coming weeks. Silver is promising a plan that would diversify the economy and keep Yukon dollars in the territory.

“We don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket,” he later noted on diversifying the economy.

In the lead-up to the election call, the Liberals have already revealed some pieces of their platform. Those include plans to eliminate the small business corporate tax and bring the general corporate tax down to 12 per cent from the current 15 per cent. The party argues that would help businesses grow and lead to new jobs.

It also outlined plans for a federal carbon tax, noting a Liberal government would push for any money collected through the tax to make its way back into Yukoners’ pockets.

While the Yukon Party has pledged to fight any sort of federal carbon tax, the Liberals argue the territory has little influence over whether a federal tax is instituted.

There is, however, room for discussion on how the tax will work, and it is there that the Liberals will pursue seeing the funds returned to Yukoners, Silver stated in announcing the plans.

The former school teacher argued this morning the approach the Yukon Party is taking to fight with Ottawa is “antiquated,” and a move the government has taken on other matters with other governments.

The territory, he said, needs to have a plan in place to deal with issues and work with other governments on matters.

The Liberals, he said, are embracing a new, inclusive approach.

“No party has a monopoly on good ideas,” he said.

He later added it’s time to put behind the conflicts and start pulling together again for a territory where everyone can meet their potential.

“We are the change Yukon needs,” Silver said.