The Yukon's deputy clerk of the legislative assembly will be taking over the clerk's office following his selection by a committee of representatives from all three territorial political parties.

Floyd McCormick was appointed last Thursday by an order-in-council issued by cabinet, as the position is equivalent to a departmental deputy minister with an annual salary range of $128,000 to $166,000.

The announcement was made Friday afternoon.

McCormick will begin his duties March 31, following the March 30 retirement of Patrick Michael.

Michael was the first-ever full-time clerk, appointed in 1978 with the upstart of party politics in the Yukon.

The national hiring campaign attracted 31 applications from across the country.

'I studied politics for years at university and I was always interested in the institution, not just the issues of the day or the personalities and things like that,' the 46-year-old McCormick said in an interview this morning.

McCormick moved to the territory in 1995 and earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Alberta in 1997.

He was hired on Aug. 15, 2001 to replace Missy Folwell, who had served as deputy clerk for 22 years.

'I am pleased we have selected somebody from our table who is going to be taking over the position,' Michael said this morning of the selection of his successor.

'I am sure the five years' experience he has are going to serve him well.

'He has proven himself to be very qualified when it comes to his understanding and handling of parliamentary procedure.'

McCormick explained the clerk of the assembly is responsible for providing the elected house with advice on procedure and rules, and ensuring proper records are kept of business conducted.

The office of the clerk provides the administrative services for the elected members, such as looking after their pension plans and such, he said.

'The clerk is supposed to make sure it all gets done in the way it is supposed to get done.'

Up until now, McCormick pointed out, the clerk has also served as the chief electoral officer in the Yukon.

It was decided to separate the responsibilities and create a new returning officer position to coincide with the change in the clerks.

'I think the major challenge for me is the fact that I will have to do this without relying on the experience of Patrick,' McCormick said.

There is, however, an open and direct line of communication with all other legislatures and parliaments across the country, including the House of Commons and the Senate, that is used regularly to discuss questions that arise.

McCormick said just last week the Saskatchewan legislative assembly was canvassing the clerks across the country on the question of how much a Speaker should participate during committee-of-the-whole debates.

In the Yukon, for instance, the Speaker is technically permitted to participate in committee debates when he's not in his chair, McCormick said.

By common practice, he added, Speakers in the Yukon do not participate in debates, as a means of maintaining the position of neutrality expected of them.

Speaker Ted Staffen: 'It is to his credit that he received all-party support for his appointment following a national competition. I am sure that all members look forward to working with him in the years ahead.'

With McCormick's job as deputy speaker now vacated, the clerk's office will be reviewing and altering the job description if need be to ensure the position reflects the changing responsibilities of the clerk's office.

It's expected the job will be filled prior to the annual parliamentary development seminar in August for members of the clerks' offices from across Canada.

McCormick said in the meantime, a clerk of committee from Ontario has agreed to come to the Yukon and serve as the deputy clerk for the spring sitting of the legislature.

Premier Dennis Fentie has not yet announced dates for the spring session.