With a new permanent minister of Aboriginal Affairs named, the Yukon NDP hopes the federal government has ushered in a more moderate approach to First Nations issues.

Bernard Valcourt, a veteran Conservative MP from New Brunswick, was appointed minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada on Friday.

The former minister, John Duncan, resigned a week earlier over an inappropriate letter he sent to the Tax Court of Canada.

Valcourt previously served as the minister of state for Indian Affairs under then-prime minister Brian Mulroney's Progressive Conservatives, who were in power from 1984 to 1993.

"We had ministers in that era who were moderates and actually tried to do some good work,” Liz Hanson, the leader of the Yukon NDP, said in an interview today.

"The radical right approach to dealing with First Nations issues clearly doesn't work, so hopefully he'll bring a more moderate approach,” she said.

Duncan, she noted, came from the Reform pary tradition and was uncomfortable with the concept of aboriginal self-governance.

"I'm glad that era might be past, and if we're going back to a bit more open, that would be good because there's a real need for it at this juncture.”

Ruth Massie, the Council of Yukon First Nations' grand chief preferred not to comment extensively on the new appointment, noting she has not yet had an opportunity to meet with Valcourt.

She is in Ottawa for the national aboriginal land claim coalition's annual meeting and will be meeting with the new minister this week.

Premier Darrell Pasloski will also be speaking with the new Aboriginal Affairs minister this week.

While the Yukon completed devolution a decade ago, Pasloski noted the federal department is still exceedingly relevant in the territory. He said this morning he looks forward to developing a strong relationship with the new minister.

"Our government has made significant progress in improving outcomes for aboriginal peoples across Canada,” Valcourt, who wasn't granting media interviews, said in a statement Friday.

"We have built new schools, invested in clean drinking water systems, built thousands of new homes, increased funding for services for the most vulnerable members of First Nations communities, and invested in hundreds of projects to link aboriginal people with job training services. But there is more to do.

"This January, the government committed itself to a high-level dialogue on the treaty relationship and comprehensive claims.

"I am firmly of the view that working together is the best way to achieve our shared objective of healthier, more prosperous and self-sufficient aboriginal communities,” he said.

Valcourt concluded his statement saying he looks forward to meeting with aboriginal leaders in the coming months and working with territorial governments on shared priorities.