Whitehorse, YT – Currie Dixon was sworn in Saturday as the Yukon’s 12th premier, where he introduced a new eight-member cabinet during a ceremony at the Yukon Arts Centre.
Dixon will also serve as Minister of the Executive Council Office and Finance Minister.
His cabinet includes Cory Bellmore in Community Services; Linda Benoit in Highways and Public Works; Brad Cathers in Health and Social Services; Jen Gehmair in Economic Development, Tourism and Culture, the Public Service Commission and the Liquor Corporation; Wade Istchenko in Environment; Scott Kent in Education and Housing; Ted Laking in Energy, Mines and Resources and the territory’s energy corporations; and Laura Lang in Justice, French Language Services, Women and Gender Equity, and the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Dixon says his first act will be to ask the commissioner to recall the legislature for a short sitting before Christmas. He says the focus of the sitting will be on a supplementary budget to account for spending approved through special warrants by the previous government.
“It’s required for us to account for as a result of their use of special warrants,” said Dixon. “Once we go back into the legislature, we’ll have the opportunity to outline some of our near term priorities as well.”
Dixon says the short fall sitting will likely run six to eight days and he plans to consult opposition parties on timing and briefings.
The ceremony follows a territorial election on Nov. 3, which saw the Yukon Party form a majority government with 14 of 21 seats. The previously governing Liberals were reduced to one seat and the Yukon NDP will form the official opposition with six seats.
The Yukon NDP’s shadow cabinet features Leader Kate White will serve as critic for Finance, Health and Social Services, the Executive Council Office and the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board. Lane Tredger takes on Environment, Housing and the territory’s energy corporations. Linda Moen will handle Education, Women and Gender Equity and the Public Service Commission.
Brent McDonald is assigned to Highways and Public Works, Community Services and Youth Issues. Carmen Gustafson will cover Energy, Mines and Resources, Justice and the Liquor Corporation, while Justin Ziegler will serve as critic for Tourism and Culture, Economic Development and French Language Services.
