Ranj Pillai was sworn in as the 10th premier of the Yukon Territory at a public ceremony in Whitehorse on Saturday afternoon.

Pillai, who has represented Porter Creek South and held several cabinet positions since 2016, took the oath of office along with his new cabinet before Adeline Webber, the administrator of the Yukon, in the Jim Smith Building foyer.

“I’m truly honoured to be standing here this afternoon,” Pillai told the large crowd.

“As premier, I’m dedicated to making sure that the work government does is done with all Yukoners in mind.

“I firmly believe that as our former premier Sandy Silver has said, many times good ideas come from all sides.”

Pillai replaces Silver, who announced in September 2022 he was stepping down from the premiership, after an uneventful Yukon Liberal leadership race.

Pillai was the only candidate when nominations closed Jan. 7, and was acclaimed party leader – and therefore, premier – without a party vote.

Silver will remain as the representative for the Klondike district in the legislative assembly and minister of Finance in Pillai’s cabinet.

Saturday’s ceremony was light on politics, focusing instead on getting the new premier and his cabinet officially into their jobs, but Pillai did speak briefly about his priorities as premier.

“We are partway through our current mandate, and we have made many important changes to improve the lives of Yukoners,” he said.

Although the territory is coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic with one of the fastest-growing economies in the country, he added, Yukoners still face challenges. 

“I have heard from you about where my priorities should be,” he said. He identified safe and affordable housing, a rising cost of living, access to health care and a changing climate as key areas of focus for his government.

The cabinet itself remains relatively unchanged from its most recent formation (in April 2021) under Silver.

Pillai remains responsible for the Yukon Housing Corp. and stays minister of Economic Development.

Silver takes over Pillai’s ministerial responsibilities for the Yukon Liquor Corp. and the Yukon Lottery Commission. John Streicker takes over for Pillai as minister of Tourism and Culture, but hands the Public Service Commission over to Silver.

The other big change: Jeanie McLean, the only cabinet minister to publicly endorse Pillai during his leadership campaign, and once thought a potential candidate for the leadership herself, takes over from Tracy-Anne McPhee as deputy premier.

All other ministerial roles go unchanged.

The crowd at Saturday’s public ceremony included former Yukon MP Larry Bagnell and former Whitehorse mayor, commissioner and senator Ione Christensen, both of whom endorsed Pillai for leader immediately after he announced in late November.

Also there were Senator Pat Duncan, who served as the Liberal premier from 2000 to 2002, and Mayor Laura Cabott.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we would continue along the journey that the City of Whitehorse has been on with the Yukon government on some key initiatives such as housing, reconciliation, climate change infrastructure – I don’t see those priorities as changing,” the mayor said.

“However, I think with any new leader, and a little bit of a shake-up in the cabinet, it may provide some new directions, some new energy, and I think just a continued good working relationship between the City of Whitehorse and this Yukon government.”

In her work with Pillai over the years, Cabott said, she’s found him a hard-working and creative public servant.

She said she’s glad he’s continuing his work as the minister responsible for the housing corporation.

“Together, we can ensure our residents have the services, programs, and infrastructure they need to work, live, and play in Whitehorse,” she added in a statement.

Peter Johnston, the grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations, also took in the ceremony.

He said relations between First Nations governments and the territorial government grew stronger under Silver’s leadership, and he hopes to continue that positive work with Pillai.

He also said he’s happy to see McLean, who is a member of Tahltan First Nation, assume the role of deputy premier.

“I think Jeanie has obviously earned her stripes,” he said.

“She had a long career, not only working with First Nations before she got into government, but she’s tackled and taken on some pretty big issues, especially when it comes to the education file.”

Johnston called Pillai “an excellent candidate to help continue to lead the territory.” 

“But really, at the end of the day,” he said, “I want to see us all lead the territory.”

The leaders of the other two parties represented in the legislative assembly, Currie Dixon of the Yukon Party and Kate White of the territory’s NDP, did not attend Saturday’s swearing-in.

In a release issued last Thursday, Dixon thanked Silver for his service to the territory and congratulated Pillai on his new role. 

White told the Star last week her party will now have to work with the Liberals’ new leadership to renew the April 2021 Confidence and Supply Agreement between the two parties that will expire Jan. 31.

The Liberals hold eight seats in the legislature, the same number held by the Yukon Party.

However, their agreement with the NDP has allowed them to govern without the threat of a vote of no confidence.

In return, the third party has been able to push policies like rent caps – which Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn said in late 2022 will expire soon – and the Yukon Dental Program that rolled out Jan. 4.

See related coverage, pages 4, 5.