Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski is wearing his opinion on his sleeve.

“I personally believe that Ryan Leef is our best choice for Yukon’s MP,” Pasloski told the Star Tuesday.

The Conservative candidate for Monday’s federal election, Pasloski said, has “delivered results” during his last four years in the House of Commons.

“To many, this will come as no surprise, given my past political role,” the premier said.

Leef’s economic beliefs go hand-in-hand with those of the Yukon Party government, he added.

For Pasloski, infrastructure investments like the Next Generation Hydro Project are priorities for the territory – and a candidate who supports those investments is favourable.

Over the course of the election campaign, Leef has been at the helm with other Conservative Party members for several Yukon-tailored investments.

Examples are a primary reserve unit for the Canadian Armed Forces, a year-round cadet facility and an expanded Junior Ranger program.

These, Pasloski said, are things that the territory has been pushing toward for a while.

Leef’s allegiance to representing the territory is another aspect that Pasloski believes sets him apart from the other candidates.

While MP, Leef put forth a private member’s bill that would amend the Criminal Code to better treat people affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Most notably for Pasloski, Leef’s defence of the Yukon’s stance on calling a national inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women spoke volumes, as the only Conservative MP to vote in favour of the motion.

Even with the positive aspects in mind, Leef has been the target of criticisms and verbal onslaught at recent forums with other federal candidates for the Yukon from audience members and candidates alike.

While it is within people’s rights to voice their opinions, Pasloski said, “there aren’t many people at such forums who haven’t decided who they’re voting for.”

For New Democratic Party candidate Melissa Atkinson, the premier’s endorsement is not exactly surprising.

“I suppose it’s to be expected,” Atkinson told the Star this morning.

What’s odd, Atkinson said, is the succession of events.

In August, the Yukon Party sent an email to its members, encouraging them to volunteer for the Conservative candidate’s election campaign – with a disclaimer.

“Part of the Yukon Party’s identity is that we are not affiliated with any federal party,” the email stated.

Atkinson noted that when Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Whitehorse last month, Harper put the blame on Pasloski’s shoulders for the controversial amendments that were made to a hot-button piece of legislation, Bill S-6.

“Why is it that the prime minister of our country is so willing to throw Pasloski under the bus?” Atkinson asked.

“And then have (Pasloski) come forward and say, ‘I’m endorsing their candidate.’”

There are, however, distinct ties between the two parties – Pasloski himself ran as the Conservative candidate in the 2008 federal election.

Yukon Senator Dan Lang was previously a Yukon Party politician before being appointed to the Senate in 2009.

The Yukon Party was originally called the Yukon Territorial Progressive Conservative Party when party politics began in the territory in 1978.

“Those correlations can be drawn,” Pasloski said, before adding that similar ties exist in other political parties.

“I am representing myself; this is Darrell speaking. I can’t separate Darrell from ‘premier,’” he said.

Leef, on the other hand, is both pleased and grateful for the premier’s endorsement.

“I think it clearly illustrates the strength of partnership formed between the Yukon government and the Government of Canada,” Leef said.

“We’ve really delivered clear results for the Yukon, particularly in the last four years.”

Another possible area of concern for Leef’s re-election campaign is the result from a recent election poll that surveyed nearly 500 Yukoners.

It had Liberal candidate Larry Bagnell at the top, followed by Atkinson, then Leef.

The poll was sponsored by Leadnow, an organization with aims to dislodge the Conservative government.

“Polls don’t determine elections, people do. I don’t put a lot of credence into that,” Pasloski said.

The territory historically has generally seen good voter turnout, Pasloski noted – and polling results, even at the federal level, change as election day draws nearer and nearer.

Bagnell and Green Party candidate Frank de Jong were not available for comment before press deadline this afternoon.

See election letters.