'You have an important task ahead,' Yukon Commissioner Geraldine Van Bibber told the three NDP MLAs as they were sworn in at a ceremony early Tuesday afternoon.

Though there are only three, the NDP must represent all Yukoners, said Van Bibber, participate fully in the house and engage in the duties of elected representatives.

'Be firm, honest and truthful,' she advised them, as the three men held a Bible and swore their oaths to take their rightful place in the assembly.

NDP Leader Todd Hardy, Mount Lorne MLA Steve Cardiff and John Edzerza, the former Yukon Party cabinet minister turned NDP MLA for McIntyre-Takhini, were the only candidates to win ridings in the Oct. 10 election.

The Yukon Party again formed a majority government, taking 10 of the 18 seats. The Liberals won five.

'Our job will be to try to steer this government to look at many of the priorities out there,' said Hardy. 'We will hold this government accountable. That's what the NDP does.'

There are still many left-over issues from before the election was called waiting to be addressed, said Hardy. He added the Yukon Party government has yet to prove what direction it intends to take the territory in.

'I didn't see it during the election, I didn't hear it during the election and I do know that there are some major issues going to be facing the territory down the road,' he said.

'You can't stick your head in the sand and pretend everything's rosy if things are starting to change.'

It looks like the government intends to reconvene the house for a short sitting on Nov. 23, said Hardy.

The NDP leader, who is currently battling leukemia, had hoped the assembly would meet on Nov. 16 and present its Speech from the Throne. That time line would have provided him with the opportunity to at least respond to the government's presented vision.

'My colleagues will have to speak on behalf of the NDP for me,' said Hardy.

He is out of the territory today to begin some testing leading up to his pending bone marrow transplant. The actual beginning of treatment is scheduled for Nov. 20, meaning he will miss the sitting.

The leader will be out of the Yukon for approximately three months.

During his absence, Cardiff and Edzerza will split the time as acting leader. Cardiff will take on the duties first.

Hardy has also assigned the critic responsibilities to his MLAs prior to his departure.

Hardy will be taking on the shadow portfolios of the Executive Council Office, Energy, Mines and Resources, Finance, Public Service Commission, Women's Directorate, Yukon Development Corp. and the Yukon Energy Corp.

He will also be sharing the portfolios of Economic Development, Environment and Health and Social Services with the other two MLAs.

The sharing of the departments is not meant to reflect his health or the competence of his MLAs, he said.

'There are some areas I have been working on quite extensively that I will continue to work on,' he said. 'I'm passionate about everything political.'

Hardy will be taking the lead on some issues, but others he just hopes to lend a helping hand.

'We share a lot. We always have. That's historically how the NDP works we back each other up.'

Some areas are just far too large for a single MLA to do everything, he said, pointing to Health and Social Services as an example.

'Health and Social Services is the single most significant portfolio that you can probably give anybody in any government today,' said Hardy.

'It's the largest. It's the most spending. It's the most potential to go sideways. If the federal government decides to pull back on money, it's going to be in that area.'

All three NDP MLAs will be working on the portfolio, he said, but Edzerza will be the individual responsible.

'I felt it was extremely important that whoever gets Health and Social has a lot more time to look into that.

'I didn't want somebody to have Health and Social and a whole pile of other things and not be able to put the attention to that one.'

Edzerza will also be the NDP's critic for Tourism and Culture and Youth Directorate and will share the Environment portfolio with Hardy.

The veteran MLA will also work as the NDP's caucus whip and caucus chair.

Meanwhile, Cardiff will be responsible for Community Services, Education, Highways and Public Works, Justice, Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board, Yukon Housing Corp. and Yukon Liquor Corp.

He will share the critic position in Economic Development with Hardy and will also serve as the NDP's house leader.

Hardy said the most important consideration in assigning the critic positions was to avoid any potential conflicts. Edzerza was not given Justice or Education because he has so recently served as minister in those departments, said Hardy.

'That could make him feel like he was in conflict with himself at times.'

The next consideration was looking at the MLAs' passions, he said.

'What people are passionate about you're going to get tremendous results out of them.'