Premier Dennis Fentie's iron grip on his cabinet is becoming a central theme of the Yukon Party's leadership race, which drew a third contender this morning.

Darrell Pasloski, the territory's runner-up Conservative candidate in the 2008 federal election, announced he wants to helm the territory's right-of-centre political force.

"It takes a team to run a government, and that is my leadership style,” Pasloski told media during a press conference at the Gold Rush Inn.

"I will be taking a collaborative ‘Team Yukon' approach.”

Pasloski joins Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon and Rod Taylor, the outgoing chair of the Tourism Industry Association Yukon, in the race to replace Fentie, who continues to dodge questions about his own political future.

Asked if he would bow out of the party's May 28 contest were Fentie to defend his leadership, Pasloski said he's determined.

"I play to win, I've made the commitment, and I'm campaigning to become the leader of the Yukon Party,” Pasloski said. He was flanked by his campaign manager, Darren Parsons, and wife Tammie Pasloski.

When Kenyon announced his leadership bid last week, the cabinet minister criticized Fentie's topdown management and pledged to take a collaborative approach.

Taylor also alluded to Fentie's combative politics during an interview with the Star Monday, and today, Pasloski was beating a similar drum.

"I believe in and endorse the concept of ministerial responsibility, which is of fundamental importance to the proper functioning of our democracy,” Pasloski said.

Opposition parties have slammed Fentie for his dictatorial style – most notably the failed privatization bid of Yukon Energy and slashing the Department of Environment's submission to the Peel Planning Commission. The leadership race has brought similar criticisms from party faithful.

But when Pasloski was pressed for his opinion on how much of the 68,000-square-kilometre Peel watershed should be protected, the Yukon Party leadership hopeful's response mirrored Fentie's position.

"It's in a process that's clearly defined by chapter 11 of the Umbrella Final Agreement,” said Pasloski. "It looks for protection and economic growth – what we want to see is a balance.”

The Peel Planning Commission has recommended that 80 per cent of the watershed be off-limits to resource exploration and extraction and affected First Nations and environmentalist lobbies want to see the entire watershed protected.

And similar to Fentie's trumpeting of the $71-million federal investment in the $160-million Mayo B hydro expansion and Pelly to Stewart crossings grid-connection, today Pasloski also took credit for luring cash from Ottawa.

"My previous political experience includes helping to secure funding for one of the largest construction projects in the history of the Yukon,” Pasloski said.

Asked about his involvement, Pasloski said he made a commitment to Yukoners during his failed bid to be the territory's MP three years ago.

"I said I would deliver the project if elected ... quite honestly, it was a win-win,” he said. "I didn't win the election, but the federal government came through.”

Pasloski said the territory is at a crossroads after two consecutive majority Yukon Party governments and expanded on the current government's "pathway to prosperity” slogan.

"Let's turn the pathway into a permanent roadway,” he said.

Fentie was unavailable for comment this morning.