It appears politicians in Yukon are moving forward following the April 12 territorial election that finished in a tie between the two leading parties–a vote that saw the final standings decided a week later in a drawing of lots.
On Wednesday, Yukon Liberal Party Leader Sandy Silver and New Democratic Party Leader Kate White announced they had reached an agreement to work together to govern after the final tally showed the Liberals and the Yukon Party holding eight seats apiece and the NDP holding three in the 19-seat legislature.
Silver and White stopped short of calling it a coalition, settling on the word “agreement.”
“The sky’s the limit, as far as what we want to accomplish together. And we’re going to start with this and we’ll see where it goes,” Silver said.
The agreement will be in effect until Jan. 31, 2023.
Silver said White was the only party leader to call him on election night and that’s when they began talking about working collaboratively.
“Yukoners want to see certainty, and so this agreement brings certainty,” he said.
Silver said he’s willing to see how the agreement plays out and his hope is that it could be extended “based upon a positive working relationship.”
White committed her party to passing Silver’s budget, and other confidence bills.
“But I will not stop saying what I believe,” she said.
“This agreement outlines a new way for the government to work, with meaningful contribution and collaboration at every step,” she said.
Frost, the Liberals’ former health minister, has since filed a petition that alleges two voters in the riding were ineligible to cast ballots.
With files from CBC News, The Canadian Press
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