"I can tell you one thing: the view looks very different from down here,” New Democratic Party Leader Liz Hanson said late this morning, moments after being sworn in as the MLA for Whitehorse Centre on the floor of Yukon's legislative assembly.

No longer will Hanson have to watch political debate from the assembly's gallery after she secured a seat on the opposition benches by winning a landslide byelection victory last Monday.

Hanson garnered 356 votes in the Whitehorse Centre riding she now represents – more than the combined vote tally for challengers Kirk Cameron (Liberal) and Mike Nixon (Yukon Party).

And before upwards of 50 NDP supporters who filled the gallery, the Yukon's newly minted commissioner, Doug Phillips, completed his first official duty by prescribing the oath of allegiance and affirmation of office to Hanson. (See photos of Phillips' swearing-in, p. 4.)

Applause erupted when Hanson completed the oath, which now permits her to sit in the assembly.

Hanson was acclaimed NDP leader in September 2009, but the Whitehorse Centre seat became vacant following the death of former NDP leader Todd Hardy last July 28.

While Hanson's byelection win invigorates a struggling NDP, it does not change the balance of power in the legislature, currently controlled by a majority Yukon Party government.

As Hanson noted in her victory speech after capturing the downtown riding last week, today she reminded party supporters that more hard work lay ahead in the New Year.

Premier Dennis Fentie has until Oct. 14, 2011 to call a general election.

The base salary for a Yukon MLA is $67,891.