Whitehorse real estate agent and former MLA Dan Lang is among 18 Conservative-who's-whos from across Canada to be named to the Senate today.

"It's not something I was expecting (but) it's quite an honour when the prime minister of your country asks if you can serve," Lang said from his home this morning.

Lang, 60, told the Star that Prime Minister Stephen Harper contacted him last week to discuss the appointment and, "consequently, things started to move in that direction."

In an effort to balance the Liberal-dominated upper chamber, Harper made good on his promise to fill all vacancies there before Christmas.

Prior to today's announcement, of the Senate's 87 occupied seats (from a possible 105), 58 are held by Liberals, 20 by the Conservatives, three from the Progressive Conservatives and six are independents.

Lang's appointment comes with a $134,000 annual salary indexed to inflation until he resigns or reaches the mandatory retirement age of 75.

Having served five terms in the Yukon legislature (1974 to 1992), Lang is confident this experience will serve him well as a senator.

"All of us that have been selected are committed to working towards an elected Senate. To take part in this political change and to represent Yukon in those debates is an honour," he added.

Lang, the vice-chair of Yukon College's board of governors, joins a distinguished company of appointees who include well-known TV journalists Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin, Olympic gold-medal skier Nancy Greene and Via Rail director Leo Housakos.

While Lang expressed enthusiasm for working across partisan lines with Yukon MP Larry Bagnell, the territory's Liberal representative in Parliament's Lower House returned the sentiment.

"I've known Danny for years and can work well with him, I think," Bagnell told the Star this morning. "When there's only two of us amidst the voices of over 400 parliamentarians, we'll have to work hard together to make sure the Yukon's voice is heard."

Bagnell said for two years the territory has been in an unenviable position without Senate representation, and Lang's appointment is great news for Yukoners.

"I think it's a pretty exciting that Yukon finally has a senator, as we were the only jurisdiction that didn't have one, and everything was going through there without input from the territory," he said.

"Being the furthest riding from Ottawa, we'll have to speak loud and clear that per capita funding, reflected in programs and services, just doesn't work for us (and) I'm sure Danny will echo that point."

Former Liberal Senator Ione Christensen was the Yukon's last representative in the nation's upper chamber before resigning her post in December 2006.

This morning, Christensen shared Bagnell's optimism.

"It's an interesting appointment. I've worked with Danny when I was Commissioner (of the Yukon, in the late 1970s) and I've known him just about forever," Christensen said.

"He's certainly always been a Yukoner."

While the former senator acknowledged a steep learning curve she experienced serving in the Senate, Christensen is confident Lang's previous service as MLA and territorial cabinet minister will bode well.

Often viewed as a patronage appointment by whichever government holds power in Ottawa, Christensen contradicted that notion.

"It's seen as a place where people go to retire and drop off to sleep, and the reality is so far from that," she said.

"There's a tremendous amount of opportunities (in the Senate) and it's integral to our bicameral system ... the work that Senators do and the opportunities the upper chamber provides to make a difference right across the country."

Today, Lang declined to discuss specifics of what those opportunities might be, but stressed he would follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.

"I think it's important for people to understand that I'm taking this on in the spirit of bipartisanship.

"I'm looking forward to working with Larry Bagnell, members of the legislative assembly and obviously first nations," Lang said. "Like the previous senator, my doors will be open ...(and) I'll be looking for solutions for the Government of Canada."

Born in Dawson Creek, B.C., Lang moved to the Yukon in 1958 after his late father, Hector, obtained work on the construction of the hydroelectric dam in Whitehorse.

He ran for the Whitehorse mayoralty in 1994, losing to Kathy Watson.

Darrell Pasloski, a local businessman and the Yukon's Conservative challenger in last October's federal election, expressed excitement with Lang's appointment today.

"He's served Yukoners for many, many years, not only as an MLA and cabinet minister but his contribution to many community organizations," said Pasloski, adding the Conservative voice in the Senate for Yukoners is great news.

"With a Conservative government, it now gives us a strong voice in Ottawa and a great opportunity to get things done for Yukoners."

Spokespersons for the territorial Liberals and New Democrats could not be reached for comment this morning.

Rounding out the 18 Senate appointees are British Columbia cabinet minister Richard Neufeld, co-founder of the Corean Canadian Coactive society Yonah Martin, Ontario businessman Irving Gerstein, prominent Eaton family member Nicole Eaton, former Quebec MNA Michel Rivard, former Quebec MP and teacher Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis, National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Patrick Brazeau, New Brunswick lawyer John Wallace, New Brunswick MLA and cabinet minister Percy Mockler, Nova Scotia businessman Michael MacDonald, Stephen Greene, former deputy chief of staff to Nova Scotia's premier, Nova Scotia lawyer Fred Dickson and former Newfoundland MP Fabian Manning.