Yukon Party MLA Darius Elias has been charged with refusing to give a breath sample to police, but will remain in caucus while he takes time to seek treatment.

"I have a problem with alcohol consumption,” Elias said at a press conference this morning.

"It was very, very difficult for me to admit that this weekend. But this incident has made me realize that I can't deal with this problem alone.

"I recognize that I have some personal issues that I need to work on and I have already begun the process of seeking professional help,” said the 42-year-old, who represents the northern Yukon riding of Vuntut Gwitchin.

Elias was hit with the charge in Whitehorse last Thursday, the final day of the spring legislative sitting. Despite not admitting to the alleged criminal breach, he apologized to his "family and friends, constituents and Yukoners.

"I know I have let a lot of people down and lost some credibility here. I'm going to redeem myself to people who placed their trust in me,” he said at the cabinet offices shortly after 9 a.m.

Elias was also slapped with a $250 ticket — which he will not contest — for using a cell phone while driving last Thursday.

Premier Darrell Pasloski sat beside Elias as he read his statement, offering words of encouragement and putting to rest any speculation the MLA might be suspended from caucus.

"...(O)ur caucus will support him as he works through these serious personal issues and remains a member of the Yukon Party caucus,” Pasloski said.

"He is a strong MLA for his community. We recognize his strengths and his value as an MLA.... This doesn't make him immune to problems. People can and do make mistakes,” the premier added.

"The key thing is Darius is ready to seek help.”

The Canadian Criminal Code states a police officer can demand a breath sample if he or she believes "on reasonable and probable grounds” that a person is operating a vehicle while impaired.

The incident involving Elias occurred as part of the RCMP's amped-up traffic safety enforcement over the long weekend.

"In regard to the ticket, Darius will pay the fine,” said cabinet spokesperson Elaine Schiman.

"As for the charge, he will proceed through the court system as any other individual would.”

She said that because Elias fills a leadership role in his district as well as across the Yukon, "there is a greater degree of public interest in this matter.”

Nonetheless, because the case is before the courts, "we won't be taking questions nor commenting further on the incident itself,” Schiman added.

Elias was one of 10 people charged with impaired driving or refusing roadside screening or breathalyzer tests during the traffic blitz.

Police would not confirm whether it was the cellphone that led to Elias being pulled over in the first place.

The RCMP also declined to specify exactly when or where in Whitehorse the incident occurred.

Chief Joe Linklater of the Vuntut Gwitchin told the Star Tuesday afternoon Elias called him just minutes after the incident occurred last Thursday afternoon in Whitehorse.

"I'm sure he's not feeling too well. I don't think anybody would be,” Linklater said in an interview from Vancouver.

"He's going to handle this, I'm sure, in the most professional manner that he can.”

Linklater added that he expected a strong show of support from Old Crow and the surrounding community.

Police would not confirm exactly when Thursday's incident took place.

That afternoon, the government passed the largest-ever budget bill — $1.3 billion — in the territory's history.

Elias voted in favour of the bill along with the 10 other members of the government caucus at around 5 p.m. on the final day of the legislative session.

The house was adjourned at around 5:15 p.m.

Shortly before, Commissioner Doug Phillips offered words of advice, and perhaps prescience: "I think what is really important to remind you is that, as an MLA in the territory, your role is 24/7.

"I wish you all good health for the summer....”

Official Opposition Leader Liz Hanson responded to Elias's statement today.

"We understand Mr. Elias is getting professional help to address his alcohol problem. This is an important first step and we support him in that,” she said.

"It's also important to remember that no one is above the law. The justice system will address the legal matters that Mr. Elias is facing.”

Yukon Party president Pat McInroy also gave a short response to the incident today: "What it means for the party is that we have an MLA who has taken responsibility for his actions, and we support him in his recovery.”

"I'm not going to make excuses,” Elias confirmed at this morning's press conference. "I take full responsibility for the mistakes I make.”

The father of four children, Elias singled out youth in his remarks.

"I want to say that when you make a mistake, the first step is that you take responsibility for your actions, and then you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, deal with your problem and move on.”

He also asked for "some time and understanding from Yukoners.”

The charge against Elias, now in his second term after having been elected as a Liberal in 2006 and 2011, marks the latest chapter in a blurred history of incidents involving alcohol and MLAs from Vuntut Gwitchin.

Robert Bruce, an NDP MLA who represented the district from 1996 to 2000, stepped down from his role as Speaker of the legislature partway through his term after missing five days of house sittings due to his self-admitted alcoholism.

Old Crow's decision to ban alcohol was reinforced after their former MLA, the Yukon Party's Johnny Abel, and his five-year-old grandson drowned on a canoeing trip in 1995.

Abel had a blood alcohol level of 0.26 per cent.

Grafton Njootli, the Yukon Progressive Conservative Party MLA for Old Crow in the territory's first legislative assembly, was forced to step down from cabinet in 1979 after an RCMP investigation into allegations of assault against a female cab driver while under the influence came to light.

If convicted, Elias would face a minimum penalty of $600 and a maximum of five years in jail.

Members of territorial and provincial legislatures and the House of Parliament face automatic expulsion if they are sentenced to two years in jail or more for a criminal offence.

Elias has not been proved guilty of the charge. He has no criminal record.

Elias is due at Yukon RCMP headquarters on June 30 "for the purposes of the Identification of Criminals Act,” according to his court appearance notice.

He is scheduled to attend court on July 16 at 9:30 a.m.

Elias became the interim leader of the Liberal party after then-leader Authur Mitchell lost his seat in the 2011 election. After a spell of sitting as an independent, he joined the Yukon Party caucus in July 2013.

Liberal Leader Sandy Silver declined to comment about his former seatmate's circumstances.