DAWSON CITY – Saturday was a busy day for Premier Darrell Pasloski.

His installation ceremony at the Old Territorial Administration Building was followed, about 45 minutes later, by a news conference held at the Legion Hall on Third Avenue.

As the newly minted premier, Pasloski was literally in his first hour of actually holding office. No one was expecting greatly detailed responses at that point, and the four reporters (two present, two on a telephone link) did not press him hard.

The 50-year-old premier may someday wish that all his press conferences could be this gentle.

Asked about priorities, Pasloski spoke of a need to get out and meet people: municipal and First Nations councils, and people in general. His travel schedule for the coming summer may well rival that of former Yukon MP Larry Bagnell, who beat Pasloski, then a Conservative candidate, in the 2008 federal election.

The new premier wants to hear what people are thinking and to get the flavour of the territory. He has no plans to make any cabinet changes, aside from his own entry and former premier Dennis Fentie's departure.

"There's nothing planned at this point,” Pasloski said. "I think that we've got a strong team in place and we're moving into the summer months, so there's no plans.”

He doesn't see any change prior to a fall election, which would leave recently promoted Klondike MLA Steve Nordick in the cabinet and exclude the recently demoted Jim Kenyon, the MLA for Porter Creek North who also contested the Yukon Party's leadership.

The new premier also indicated he is not planning to recall the legislature this summer to discuss matters related to the territorial housing shortage and the Yukon's finances. Opposition MLAs had asked him to do just that.

On the matter of the $17.5 million in housing funding that Kenyon had claimed Fentie had been sitting on for several years, Pasloski said he needed to find out if there were conditions or stipulations attached to the funding.

‘This will be a priority, of course, for the government as well, to look at issues that are out there and … as I've heard from people across the territory, housing is an issue; land development is an issue, in Whitehorse and in all of the communities. For everyone I talk to this is an issue, so this'll be front and centre for us.”

Pasloski said his transition from private citizen to Yukon Party leader, and now premier, has been very exciting for him.

He reflected on his experience and feelings during Saturday's swearing-in ceremony.

"It is a short ceremony but it's very meaningful,” he said.

"There was a lot of emotion for me, recognizing the number of distinguished people that were there – past commissioners, my wife (Tammie), of course, my wife's parents and my parents, who are both into their senior years and made it up here from Saskatchewan.

"I had some very good friends of mine that were here, supporters and people in the community.

"So it was it was very meaningful, and you have to draw on the weight of what it's all about. I have to say that, moving forward, I'm excited. We've got a great group of people and I'm looking forward to continuing to build the economy.”

There's been a lot of work in the transition.

"It's involved getting to know people, meeting with caucus and… existing staff within the department, briefings on files and specific issue briefings from departments,” said Pasloski.

"It's really about getting my head around as much as I can in a short period of time.

"We've got a transition team to help facilitate and move everything forward, so we can be hitting the ground running and sweeping.”

He will attende the annual Western Premiers' Conference in Yellowknife from June 20 to 22. He anticipates one of the main topics will be about health sustainability issues.

Asked about the impasse between the City of Dawson and the operator of the Slinky Mine on the Dome Road, Pasloski agreed that the issue is a complex one.

"At this point, I would just comment to say that it's important that the government ensure that the miner follows the regulations that are out there. We certainly will be supportive of the City of Dawson in ensuring compliance with permits that they have in place.”

Asked about Yukon Party support for the provision of a new recreation centre for Dawson, Pasloski declined to comment specifically on the grounds, saying that he had not had time to review that file yet.

Dawson council's decision to forge ahead with site preparation in the tailings across the Dome Road from the soccer pitch and baseball diamond was only taken at noon last Friday.

"I know that recreation is important in all communities,” Pasloski said.

During the remainder of Saturday, the Pasloskis attended the Commissioner's Tea in the afternoon and the Klondike Commissioner's Ball in the evening.

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