Riverdale North MLA Ted Staffen, who also serves as Speaker of the legislative assembly, is saying little about a letter from Liberal house leader Gary McRobb questioning Staffen's impartiality as Speaker.

"I'm the MLA for Riverdale North and proud to be so, and as for the rest of Mr. McRobb's issues, those are his issues,” Staffen told the Star Tuesday. "I represent my constituents to the best of my ability.

"I'm not going to respond to that letter,” Staffen added.

But how Staffen represents his constituents, as well as Staffen's presence in recent Yukon Party literature distributed throughout the territory, is what McRobb takes issue with.

"In one instance, you appear in the recent publication entitled: A Message From the Government Caucus,” writes McRobb.

"In this document, you appear in a group photo as part of the Yukon Party government caucus. In another photo, you appear again attending the opening of the Yukon Cold Climate Innovation Centre, a Yukon Party initiative.”

But Staffen said in previous years, he has appeared in similar literature without any complaints from opposition MLAs or parties.

As is tradition in the Canadian Westminster Parliamentary system, upon which the Yukon's legislature is based, the house Speaker is viewed as the arbiter of debate and as such must stay clear of partisan politics.

Here's how the legislative assembly of Ontario describes the importance of such behaviour:

"The impartiality of the Speaker is a deeply entrenched feature of parliamentary democracy. Although at present in the Ontario Legislative Assembly, the Speaker is not required to give up his or her Party membership, the Speaker remains impartial in the Chair.

"Outside the House, the Speaker refrains from participating in partisan activities, and does not attend Caucus meetings. Inside the Chamber, to underscore the Speaker's nonpartisan position, the Speaker does not participate in debates. For similar reasons, the Speaker does not vote, except in the case of a tie (this is referred to as the Speaker's "casting vote”).”

While McRobb points to Staffen co-hosting a constituency meeting with Riverdale South MLA Glenn Hart where "a number of partisan topics were discussed, in which you participated, including the ATCO scandal,” Staffen insisted this could not be avoided.

"I hold four constituency meetings a year, so some of those are going to conflict with legislative sittings,” said Staffen.

McRobb, who is the MLA for Kluane, could not be reached for comment.