The news is out: Yukoners will go to the polls on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Premier Darrell Pasloski made the announcement early this afternoon at a Yukon Chamber of Commerce luncheon, held at the Yukon Inn.

"The Yukon Party has the vision and experience to meet the challenges the future holds,” Pasloski told a packed house.

The premier cited the party's successful track record over the last five years and the positive growth on the gross domestic product, including the resurgence of the mining and mineral exploration industry.

"We will continue the legacy of the previous two Yukon Party governments.” ­

Pasloski had to call the election by Oct. 14.

Jo-Ann Waugh, the chief electoral officer, told the Star Thursday afternoon that once the writ is dropped, the election period is 31 days long.

Today is day zero.

Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell said he's "very happy” the premier finally called the election. Liberal signs, he said, will start going up tonight.

"I think Yukoners need to look at the record of the Yukon Party and decide if they should be re-elected,” Mitchell told the Star.

The party leader said former premier Dennis Fentie's involvement in the 2009 scandal over the potential privatization of the Yukon Energy Corp., as well as the party's secrecy over what they will do with Peel Watershed recommendations and their latest public announcements that "only exist in signs”— like the new F.H. Collins Secondary School and new emergency response centre —all point to an irresponsible government.

"The party is going ahead with the school project when the YESAB (Yukon Environmental Socio-economic Assessment Board) process isn't complete, and I think that's disingenuous,” Mitchell said.

"It makes me wonder if they're really going to do do the project, or if they're just going to stick a sign in the ground.”

The public, continued Mitchell, no longer trusts the Yukon Party.

NDP Leader Liz Hanson said today she is upset that so many people are still living in tent city outside the legislature when it was "so bloody cold out” this morning.

"How many times did we hear this issue would be addressed by the end of the summer?” Hanson asked.

The way the Yukon Party has been doing business, she continued, is without integrity or accountibility.

In a statement sent to the media today, Hanson stressed one word: "Enough”.

"After nine years of government that doesn't listen, Yukoners are telling me they've had enough,” said Hanson.

"They've had enough of a government that puts corporate interests before community interests and the environment.

"They've had enough of a government that makes promises but doesn't deliver, and that makes shallow promises again on the eve of an election.”

This election also marks the emergence of two new parties.

The Yukon Green Party launched last March It's the brainchild of two Yukoners who wanted to see the Green philosophy brought to a territorial level.

The pair, Mike Ivens and Kristina Calhoun, are also the two candidates in the upcoming election.

A party must have at least two people running to be keep their official party status.

Another party surfaced earlier this week. Gerald Dickson signed the registration papers on Tuesday to start the Yukon First Nations Party, a party he believes will allow his elders voices to be heard within government.

Ashley Joannou contributed to this story.

By Nadine Sander-Green

Star Reporter