Yukon election called for Oct. 11

Yukon residents will go to the polls Oct. 11, after Premier Darrell Pasloski announced an election call Friday at a Yukon Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

His predecessor, Dennis Fentie, declared he was dropping the writ for the previous election at the same event in 2006.

It makes Yukon the seventh province or territory to hold its election within a five-week span this fall. The Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador are all have elections scheduled for between Oct. 3 and Nov. 7.

Pasloski had to dissolve the legislature by Oct. 16, which marks the five-year constitutional limit.

He heads into the campaign as the newest party leader, having been chosen in May to replace retiring premier and Yukon Party chief Dennis Fentie. He will also be seeking his first election to public office, since he has been governing without a seat in the legislature.

Currently, the Yukon Party holds 11 seats, the Liberals under leader Arthur Mitchell have five, the Liz Hanson-led NDP has one and one riding is vacant.

The Yukon Party is looking to win its third consecutive majority.