The legislative assembly will sit for an extended period this fall to make up for last spring’s early adjournment.

The Yukon’s MLAs voted to extend the fall sitting to 45 days on Wednesday afternoon. A regular sitting is 30 days.

Don Hutton, the Liberal MLA for Mayo-Tatchun, was the only MLA to vote against the extended sitting.

A cabinet spokesperson told reporters that Hutton won’t face consequences for voting against his party’s motion.

The extension leaves 38 days remaining in this legislative sitting, with adjournment now scheduled for Dec. 22.

Scott Kent, the official Opposition house leader, rose to speak in support of the extended sitting but noted that his party preferred a longer extension.

“Of course, our preference would have been to sit for the normal 60 days in this calendar year,” Kent said.

“With the pandemic-shortened spring sitting and the legislature not continuing this summer, that full 60 days was not possible.”

With the extension, the number of sitting days this calendar year will total 54.

The spring sitting adjourned early, on March 19, due to COVID-19 concerns, sitting for only nine days. 

NDP Leader Kate White noted that the number of sitting days was decided upon collaboratively.

“This is an example of how different parties can work together toward a common goal; it wasn’t easy, but here we are with a final number,” White said.