Securing more land is one of the most critical issues for Yukon College, according to both the school's incoming and outgoing chair.

Last week, the college announced Paul Flaherty, president of Northwestel Inc., has been named chair of the college's board of governors. Flaherty replaces Clarence Timmons, who held the position for five years.

Timmons told the Star last week he thought he would have been able to resolve the land issue before he left.

As it stands, the city has reserved land for the college in its official community plan.

But nothing has been finalized by either the city or the Yukon government.

"We need as much land as possible set aside for the college,” said Timmons.

Flaherty said the first step is to gain possession of the designated college land.

During last month's short fall legislative sitting, Education Minister Scott Kent agreed that the current college campus, which opened in 1988, is "bursting at the seams.”

He said the government is committed to providing land for a new students' residence and a new building for the planned new school of mining, if it's necessary.

Discussions between the government and the college are ongoing, Kent said.

In December, the college's chancellor, local businessman Rolf Hougen, told the media he wants the planned Porter Creek D subdivision area set aside for the school's expansion rather than a new subdivision.

He said the new subdivision area is the only land to erect structures on, as most of the surrounding area is hilly and can't be built on.

"If we block it off now, we have nowhere for the university to go,” he told the Star. Hougen made it clear he was not speaking on behalf of the college.

Flaherty said he doesn't agree with Hougen.

"I'm not ready to say that,” said Flaherty. "Although it would be nice, I realize we're coming to the table a little late.”

City council voted to proceed with planning and design of the subdivision at its Dec. 12 meeting.

During the past fall's election campaign, Premier Darrell Pasloski promised the Yukon Party would turn the college into a northern university should it form a third straight government.

But Pasloski didn't say how long this might take, nor where new buildings would go.

Both Flaherty and Timmons said the college needs to figure out what a northern university would look like before jumping into anything.

"The college has to consult with Yukoners as to what they're looking for,” said Timmons. "I think if you ask what a university would look like to 10 different people, you would get 10 different answers.”

Timmons knows he doesn't want to lose the idea, which happens to be the college's slogan, of "Start here and go anywhere.”

"People are uncertain what a university means,” said Flaherty. "Does it mean there's no college? What happens to trades? It's almost too early to talk about it.”

The outgoing chair said he considers the improvements to community campuses, including the completion of schools in Dawson City and Pelly, to be some of the greatest accomplishments during the five years he spent in the position.

He considers Flaherty a "good choice” for a new chair.

Flaherty is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont., and holds a Bachelor of Engineering Science degree.

Since moving to the North, he has coached minor hockey, and been a member of the Yukon Arts Centre and Canada Winter Games boards of directors.

He has been on the college board for three years.

The role of the chair is to work closely with board members and chair the meetings.

Flaherty will also be working closely with Karen Barnes, the college's president, in between meetings to set the board's direction.