Premier Dennis Fentie hung onto the reins of power at the ruling Yukon Party's annual convention Saturday, but the political survivor and architect of back-to-back majority governments promised a leadership election for party faithful early next year.

This morning, Fentie denied that pledge is aimed at shoring up support for his continued stewardship of the right-of-centre party, which he has led since June 2002.

"I know what (a leadership election) can do for a party,” said Fentie, who used his election to the party's helm as a springboard to victory against then-Liberal leader Pat Duncan's short-lived majority government that fall.

"That leadership election generated a massive interest in the Yukon Party ... leadership races for the right reasons are a way to generate momentum, and timing is the most difficult strategy to try and incorporate in any plan.”

An election must be called prior to the fall of 2011, when the Yukon Party's mandate expires; however, the opposition parties are girding for an earlier trip to the polls.

Both the Liberals and NDP believe the government's $1.075-billion budget for this fiscal year will produce a huge spending deficit.

Combined with acrimony amongst Yukon Party members over Brad Cathers' 2009 bombshell resignation from the caucus fuelled speculation the party would either turf Fentie or that he would call an early election to avoid facing voters with budget cuts rather than generous spending promises.

Speaking from his Watson Lake riding this morning, Fentie said he was feeling good after surviving the party's spring convention – each of which offers delegates an opportunity to replace a sitting leader – and said he has no plans to call an election before the fall of 2011.

But the 59-year-old former trucker and current Finance minister would not say whether he'll run in the Yukon Party's next leadership election.

"The job I've got right now is to lead the government, party and the territory; all things will evolve according to the plan,” said Fentie.

Media were barred from the Yukon Party's entire convention and garnered only brief comments from Fentie and others, including Cathers, during breaks in proceedings.

Fentie confirmed he has invited Cathers to rejoin the party's caucus.

The Lake Laberge MLA, who on May 19 survived a bid to remove him as the riding's representative and candidate in any future election, said today he would accept the "olive branch” but has no immediate intentions of returning to sit with the government.

"It depends on what my constituents say about it,” he told the Star this morning.

"The majority of (Yukon Party) members in Lake Laberge indicated their support for my actions, and continuing to sit as an independent,” Cathers said. "Again, I don't want to slam any doors.”

When the former Energy, Mines and Resources minister quit the cabinet and caucus to sit as an independent last August, Cathers said he could not serve under a leader who lied to his caucus and then the public about negotiations with ATCO; first to sell the Yukon Energy Corp. assets, then to privatize the public utility.

The Yukon Party's constitution stipulates six delegates from each of the territory's 18 ridings can be nominated to attend the party's annual convention, for a total of 108.

However, Fentie's fate was decided by just 66 delegates with 13 proxy votes, and some ridings did not send any delegates.

Other party business saw a new executive elected. They include Carel Alexander, who replaces Linda Hillier as president; Graham Lang, who replaces Roxanne Vallevand as vice-president; Mike Nixon remains treasurer and Debbie Younker replaces Jess Staffen as treasurer.