For the first time in almost 30 years, the Yukon Legislative Assembly chamber has 25 new chairs for its MLAs and other house officials.

The price tag: $1,375 each, or a total of $34,375 spent on the new furniture.

'The thing about the other chairs,' said Patrick Michael, clerk of the legislative assembly, 'we'd just reached the end of the road.'

The chairs were in the legislative building when it opened in 1976, said Michael, but they may have been in use even prior to that.

The former beige leather seats had become a health and safety hazard over recent years, said Michael, losing wheels, and blowing castors. Many of the MLAs put ObusForme cushions on the backs for additional support.

Patrick Rouble, the MLA for Southern Lakes, told the Star things had reached the point where the fabric had deteriorated so much on the old chairs that some had holes in them.

Often the MLAs would go into the assembly ahead of time and move around the seats that would go unoccupied that day to ensure they had a more comfortable place to sit for their five hours in the chamber, he said.

'They were horrendous,' agreed NDP Leader Todd Hardy. 'The old ones were just brutal for anyone with any kind of physical ailment. Plus, you had a tendency to flip over if you leaned back.'

Sitting in the old chairs has really left an appreciation of how important it is to have a good chair and proper support when having to sit for extended periods of time, said Rouble.

'They were just breaking down,' said Michael. 'It was time (to replace them).'

Previously, chairs from the assembly's committee room, which were transported to Whitehorse when the capital moved from Dawson City in 1953, were given to the MacBride Museum as historical artifacts.

These chairs, though, won't hold the same fate. They will be going to asset control for possible auction off in the future, said Michael.

'I guess I should be a little more sentimental, but, they've worn out their welcome, that's for sure,' he said.

The new green leather executive-style chairs were made in Canada and have a 25-year warranty.

The elevation and inclination of the chairs are controlled by a button panel on one of the arms, as opposed to levers on the bottom of the seat.

Michael said the feature was sought after and the new style was picked after going through a selection process that included having several firms bring in the chairs for testing and having a sample made in the traditional green colour of Canada's assemblies.

The office of the legislative assembly opted out of getting some of the additional features that can be put into the chairs, which included the possibility of a back warmer.

Rouble joked, though, from his position as the deputy speaker of the house, a zapper might have been a good option to include, to deal with members who get out of order.

Some other MLAs speculated such a feature might be good for members snoozing on the job or talking too much.

The MLAs have each been provided with a user manual regarding their new seats, but despite some jokes prior to the start of Monday's question period, there will not be a training course on how to operate the new legislative vehicles.

Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell said the new seats appear to be an improvement, but added the real test will be the next budget speech.

'They were comfortable for the amount of time we were sitting there (Monday),' he said. 'Would they be comfortable for a two-hour and 22-minute budget speech?'

Hardy agreed the chairs appeared to curb the possibility of back pain, but also appeared as though they would be limiting the opportunities to lean back.

Hardy, who said he had once toppled out of the chair, said that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

'I've seen other feet come flying up. Bodies missing.'

It may be a disappointment for Premier Dennis Fentie, who is away in Montreal this week for a Council of the Federation meeting, though, said Hardy.

'I've noticed (Fentie) lays way back and looks at the ceiling a lot.'

Health Minister Brad Cathers already had his chair flipped upside down in the house Monday to examine the bottom of his seat on hands and knees after losing a screw from seat. It's a minor defect that is being fixed today, said Michael.

Highways and Public Works Minister Glenn Hart's chair also had a problem with some of the buttons sticking that will need to be fixed, said Michael.

'For a minister (Cathers) who's responsible for Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board and occupational health and safety, his chair technique and safety procedures leave much to be desired,' joked Mitchell.

Cathers' old chair had previously lost its wheels.

Hardy didn't want to place bets on who he thought might be the first to really break their new piece of expensive furniture, but admitted there are some MLAs who have a greater tendency to put their seats through more abuse than others.

'I don't want to look like I already know who will break their's first. There's one person who has a record of leaving behind chairs that need repairing. He's no longer a colleague of mine, let's put it that way,' he said.

Michael said he would take the responsibility for any criticisms about the cost of the chairs. The purchase was not the MLAs' decision, he said.

But Hardy said the new hardware may prove useful in an election year for recruiting candidates.

'Come down. Sit in a chair. Try them out. You too may want to run,' he said, laughing.

'If you need an incentive to run for office, come see the chairs.'