The Yukon government has agreed to remove one of its members from the select committee on hydraulic fracturing to restore the balance between government and non-government members.

Opposition leaders raised concern about a government majority on the committee Monday after Darius Elias, the MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin, gave up his independent seat to join the Yukon Party.

The NDP official Opposition will select a second member to join the committee to maintain six members – three opposition and three government representatives.

"Most committees are usually reflective of the proportion within the house, of which we have a majority,” Premier Darrell Pasloski told the Star today.

"If you look at parliamentary committees, they're usually reflective of that, but in this instance, we thought it was important that this was a science-based, fact-finding, unemotional, review of practices and really to review the risks and the benefits and then to come forward with recommendations,” the premier said.

"We thought it was important that the committee reflects what it did in the motion and that is that there'd be three from each side,” he continued.

Both Liz Hanson, the leader of the NDP, and Sandy Silver, the interim leader of the Yukon Liberal Party, are pleased with the government's decision.

"What it's done is restored the sense of balance between government and non-government members on the committee, and we're prepared to work with that as we have indicated since the get go,” said Hanson,.

"It's unfortunate that they created this scenario, and really begs the question: why did they wait?

"When did they know that this was going to happen? When Darius was named as the vice-chair three weeks ago? Or when?”

Silver said, "it's good news, I think. The balance has been restored as far as government to non-government members on that committee.

"There were lots of rumours yesterday as to whether or not Mr. Elias' move over was for this reason or had anything to do with this committee, and today's letter confirmed otherwise.”

Silver noted that both he and Jim Tredger, the NDP's current representative on the committee, pushed the government to re-balance the membership at a committee meeting held Monday, to little resistance.

The NDP will announce its second member shortly, said Hanson.

"In our caucus, we like to make sure that we've had a good discussion and make sure that we're balancing out the work load within the caucus as well,” she explained.

As it stands, the members of the committee are: Patti McLeod, the Yukon Party MLA for Watson Lake, Elias, and Environment Minister Currie Dixon on the government side.

Representing the other side of the house – so far – are Silver and Tredger, the NDP's Energy, Mines and Resources critic.

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