Yukon Party names shadow cabinet, ready for new role in opposition

The Yukon Party's new interim leader is putting on a brave face as his party prepares to take on a new role in the legislative assembly — as the official opposition. The party's MLAs were sworn in on Tuesday at the legislative assembly in Whitehorse. 

Leader Stacey Hassard also announced his shadow cabinet on Wednesday morning, to serve as critics of specific government departments.

The new Liberal government, led by Sandy Silver, will be sworn in on Saturday.

"We're elected by the people to do a job, and so we just show up in the morning to do the job. What side of the gallery or what side of the assembly you're on ... it's just the way it is," Hassard said.

The six Yukon Party MLAs will be seeing the legislative assembly from an entirely new perspective — none of them have ever sat in opposition. Their party led the territory for 14 years before being ousted by the Liberals in this month's election.  

Carbon tax main priority, Hassard says

Hassard was named interim party leader after Darrell Pasloski lost his seat in the election and stepped down as leader. Hassard will serve until a successor is chosen next year at the Yukon Party's AGM.

• Stacey Hassard named interim leader of Yukon Party

• After election defeat, Yukon Party faces changes in leadership, legislature

Hassard says his party's goal is to "ensure that the government spends taxpayers' dollars responsibly.

"It didn't sound like the Liberal platform had a lot of depth in it. You know, we didn't hear a lot of solutions to the problems," he said.

Asked what his party's priority issues will be in opposition, Hassard echoed the message from the Yukon Party's election campaign.

"Probably carbon tax. That would be number one," he said.

He also downplays any talk of "rebuilding" the party after its election loss. He says Yukon Party support is still strong, and several seats were lost by just a handful of votes.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with our party. You know, we weren't decimated. We weren't blown out."

From ministers to critics

Hassard and four of the party's other MLAs have experience in the legislature, some as government ministers. Geraldine Van Bibber is the party's only new MLA.

The opposition's shadow cabinet is as follows:

• Stacey Hassard — highways and public works, executive council office, French language services directorate, public service commission
• Brad Cathers — justice, finance, energy, mines and resources (agriculture, forestry and lands), protective services
• Wade Istchenko — environment, housing, liquor, lotteries, Yukon Energy Corp., Yukon Development Corp.
• Scott Kent — community services, economic development, energy, mines and resources (including oil and gas)
• Patti McLeod — health and social services, women's directorate, Yukon Workers Compensation Health and Safety Board
• Geraldine Van Bibber — education, Aboriginal relations, tourism and culture. 

The new Liberal cabinet will be announced on Saturday, when the government is sworn in.

The previous opposition party, the NDP, was demoted to third party status in the Nov. 7 vote. The party's two MLAs (leader Liz Hanson and Kate White) were sworn in last week.