Revised - The leaders of the Yukon Party and the NDP are calling on Premier Sandy Silver to set out clear rules for cabinet ministers planning to seek the Liberal leadership.

But the premier maintains he’s confident any minister seeking his job will conduct himself or herself appropriately.

The two opposition parties said last weekend they want to ensure that cabinet positions and government resources are not being “abused and used to campaign for the leadership.

“It has been three weeks since the premier stepped down,” the YP and NDP said in a statement.

“With the legislature resuming this week, it is concerning that no rules have been established and communicated by the premier. Convention usually dictates that cabinet ministers step down from their cabinet position before seeking leadership.”

Since Silver announced his intention, Dixon told the Star Monday, “they have made no further comment about when the leadership would occur, whether there’ll be rules for sitting ministers to participate in that leadership election and all of that has created a great deal of instability and insecurity.

“There are public servants who don’t know who to look for for leadership right now,” Dixon said

“There are people across the territory wondering who’s in charge, and the simple fact is the current premier has checked out and has made his intentions known that he isn’t interested in taking that role on anymore and that’s fine, but the Liberals need to explain what the process is going forward and unfortunately they haven’t done that.”

NDP Leader Kate White said, “It’s important that the premier publicly communicate clear rules before the sitting starts on Thursday, to ensure that cabinet positions and resources, as well as public funds and resources, are not used to pursue leadership by any MLA.”

Speaking to the Star Tuesday afternoon, White said, “I think first of all it’d be really fantastic if the Yukon Liberal Party announced what the parameters of the leadership race was and the timing for that.

“I think it becomes very complicated when a person who holds a ministerial portfolio is gonna run for leadership in that same breath as they are a minister of departments because – the perception that every announcement that they make as minister is also them running for leadership is, I think, should be problematic for Yukoners.

“I would also think that if a person was a Liberal party member and someone who is not in cabinet because – let’s be honest, everyone in the Liberal party is in cabinet, currently – that it’s an unfair advantage.”

White sees that as a possible conflict of interest.

“Absolutely. It’s not often that the Yukon Party and the NDP do a joint press release, but we just did on this very issue.”

Silver responded to the two parties’ concerns during an interview Tuesday afternoon.

“All ministers are absolutely held to a high standard of conduct by law, including a conflict of interest act, so I’ve decided not to apply any additional rules to ministers,” he told the Star.

“I’m confident that anyone seeking the leadership of the Yukon Liberal Party, including current ministers, will do so with integrity in a way that avoids any conflict of interest.”

His office has spoken to the conflict of interest commissioner, Silver added.

“She doesn’t see any conflicts either, so the Yukon Party can talk about convention as much as they possibly want,” he said.

“My minsters will conduct themselves according to law and according to the Conflict of Interest Act.”

As for whether he expects a minister or two to pursue the leadership, he said, “You’d have to ask those guys. Or girls.”

The Star asked him if anybody has stated anything about the race to him.

“Yeah, no, I’d be pretty excited to see what happens … this is a great opportunity for new folks to come forth,” the premier said.

No one has publicly announced plans to pursue the Liberal leadership, and the party has not set a date for the leadership convention.