Pasloski wins Yukon election

Yorkton native Darrell Pasloski secured his position as premier of the Yukon in a decisive territorial election on October 11.

Pasloski, a Yorkton-raised pharmacist who owned and operated a Shopper's Drug Mart franchise in the city from 1987 to 1991, was voted leader of the ruling Yukon Party-and thus premier of the territory -this spring. But he led from outside the legislature, having never been elected to an official seat.

That changed last Tuesday, when the Yukon Party won 11 out of the territory's 19 seats, including Pasloski's own Mountainview riding.

It's the first time in history that a party has formed a majority government in the Yukon for three successive terms.

In the months after replacing controversial premier Dennis Fentie, Pasloski reinvigorated his right-leaning party with a cautious message of unification and reconciliation.

In the territorial election, the Yukon's strong economy bolstered the incumbent party's campaign. Pasloski promised to build on the territory's prosperity while addressing housing and environmental issues.