Premier Darrell Pasloski issued his cabinet ministers new mandate letters Tuesday– seven months after the cabinet “shuffle” that resulted in almost all ministers taking on new departments.

“Over the last four years, we’ve accomplished many things that we’ve listed on our platform commitment,” Pasloski told the Star yesterday.

The issuing of new letters, Pasloski said, is essentially a “refocus” for the remainder of the cabinet’s term and possibly beyond that. The next election is due in 2016.

Each of the ministers’ letters begins the same way, with an outline of four major goals: making investments in infrastructure, improving the Yukon’s regulatory regime, building partnerships with First Nations and making the territory a place to live, work, play and raise a family.

Underneath the list of lofty goals is a task list, specific to all of the departments the ministers are in charge of.

While some are the same-old goals for each minister’s department, there are some new additions for each minister.

Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor, for example, is newly tasked with hosting a regional discussion on the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women, prior to the National Roundtable discussion in 2016.

Among his tasks, Stacey Hassard, the minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corp., is meant to begin implementing “components” of the recently released housing action plan.

Adhering to timelines and budgets for capital projects such as the detox centre taking over the old Sarah Steele Building, the Salvation Army Centre of Hope and the planned continuing care facility in Whistle Bend are tasks added to Health Minister Mike Nixon’s plate.

He will also be in charge of implementing the new Mental Health and Addictions strategy.

Presenting the letters to the ministers was “not necessarily” because of the cabinet shuffle last January, Pasloski said.

By switching up the ministerial roles, the end result will be “better governance and overall management,” he said.

“What that does, is they bring their experiences from their old portfolio, and it puts a new, fresh lens on a new portfolio.”

The timing of the letters being issued is curious, as the ministers have already had seven months – and a session in the legislative assembly – in their new positions.

Pasloski insists the move was to update the government’s goals, reflecting more recent work such as his suggestion in April’s budget address that the territory create its own education curriculum.

The last mandate letters were issued at the beginning of the cabinet’s term in office.

“No government has ever done that,” Pasloski said.

He described himself as “very proud” of his government’s achievements over the last four years.

“We must continue to build on this momentum,” he said.

“Our vision is to grow Yukon into a region that contributes to the economy of Canada, so that our children will have the same opportunities and advantages that we have.

“I look forward to working with my ministerial colleagues to continue to work towards this shared goal.”