The MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin has crossed the floor of the legislative assembly, joining the governing Yukon Party after having left the Liberals to sit independently last summer.

"It's an exciting time for me, and it's no secret that I've always tried to do what's best for my constituents,” Darius Elias told reporters late this morning.

"While I believe that I have been able to accomplish much with the limited resources afforded me as an independent member, it is clear to me that working within the government will provide me with the resources and opportunity to do much more.”

The move gives the Yukon Party 12 seats. The NDP has six and the Liberal party one.

Liz Hanson, the leader of the NDP official Opposition, raised concerns that Elias' constituents were not consulted on the shift.

"I'm not sure that the people of Old Crow would be happy to know that they have yet another Yukon Party member, a party that has very seriously disrespected First Nations since 2002 when they were elected, most recently with the Peel and their concerted attempts to overturn what was a very clear land use planning process,” she said following the announcement.

"Now, this tired old government's got another member; did the people of Old Crow have a choice in that?

"I don't think so. I think the people of Old Crow should have a choice.”

The NDP's policy would require a byelection before allowing an MLA to join its caucus, she noted.

Elias defended the decision to make the move without holding a byelection, arguing that "political metamorphosis” happens all the time in the territory.

As well, everyone knows the majority of voters in his riding vote for the individual rather than the party, he added.

"I received a very strong mandate the last election (in 2011). I had full, steadfast support when I moved to be an independent member and I'm going to have the support with this political move as well,” he said.

He is in constant communication with his community, he added.

While Sandy Silver, the interim leader of the Liberal party, said he thinks Elias' decision is the wrong one, he doesn't believe a by-election is necessary.

"I think this is a horrible decision, and I can't see how he's going to walk back into his community with his head up after you take a look at how he presented himself as being a champion for a specific party and also a specific position on that political spectrum,” Silver told the Star.

"That's his to eat from here on in. But you know, people vote for parties, but they also vote for people, and more so in the North, I find.

"You live and die by your decisions in that. He was voted in for a mandate of five years, let him do what he thinks is right in those five years,” he said.

Both Hanson and Silver also voiced significant concern that Elias' move stacks the membership of the select committee on hydraulic fracturing in the government's favour. Four of six members now sitting on the government side.

Silver said both he and Jim Tredger, the NDP committee member, planned to raise the issue at a committee meeting scheduled for this afternoon.

"There's no way that (the Yukon Party) can have a majority on this committee after looking at Hansard and all the times that (they) defended the committee and the way that the vote was going to role out, saying that it was not a majority.

"But now it is, so that has to get dealt with,” Silver said.

Hanson commented that the public may also have a few comments if the committee moves forward with a government majority.

During this morning's announcement, Premier Darrell Pasloski welcomed Elias' experience as an MLA to his caucus.

"I am very pleased that the member for Vuntut Gwitchin will be sitting at this table, at the government table, as we move forward with the challenges that we face ahead, and I am confident that his perspectives will assist us in our efforts to continue to provide the kind of governance that Yukoners have asked for and that they deserve,” he said.

"For the past several months, it's really become very clear that the independent member for Vuntut Gwitchin and the governing caucus really do share very similar perspectives on a number of very important issues.

"The government has benefited from the views and the experiences and certainly the passion that Mr. Elias brings, and this can only benefit the Yukon Party caucus as we move forward.”

Elias agreed that he does indeed share many of the same views as his new colleagues.

However, he added that they will differ, and where they do, he will bring new perspectives for consideration.

Differences already exist, concerning the Peel watershed, for instance.

Elias has previously criticized the government's approach to the land use planning process, but today seemed only mildly concerned that it would be an issue moving forward.

"I've spoken with the premier on this very recently and we've come to the agreement that I'm going to be watching this file very closely.

"What I do understand is that no decisions have been made. I understand that consultations between the parties are ongoing, and I expressed to the premier that it is my hope that when the Peel land use plan is signed that all parties are satisfied,” he said today.

The premier took the opportunity to reiterate that his government has and continues to follow the process outlined in the Umbrella Final Agreement.

The four affected First Nations are currently considering the government's land use vision for the area.

The government must then consider comments from the First Nations before making a final decision to accept, reject, or modify the plan he said.