CBC projects minority government in Yukon election, winner too close to call

By night’s end, the Liberals and the Yukon Party were each projected to win eight seats, meaning the Liberals would fall short of winning a second majority government. The Yukon Party was projected to hold onto six seats it held before the election, and gain two more at the expense of the Liberals. Kate White’s NDP meanwhile was set to hold at least two seats in the legislative assembly.

The lead in many ridings see-sawed all evening as results came in, but it was clear early on that either the Liberals or Yukon Party would come out on top, and the NDP would maintain third-party status. 

The final seat count now hinges on the Vuntut Gwitchin riding, where Liberal incumbent Pauline Frost and NDP challenger Annie Blake were both projected to win 78 votes — a tie that may trigger an automatic recount after vote counts are certified on Tuesday.

Under Yukon’s Elections Act, a recount that results in a tie “shall be decided immediately by the drawing of lots by the returning officer in the presence of the judge and any candidate or agent present at the time.” 

“Until we know the results of Old Crow [in the Vuntut Gwitchin riding], it’s a hard speech to be making really,” said a subdued Silver at his campaign headquarters in Dawson City on late Monday night.

Dixon, speaking at his campaign headquarters in Whitehorse, also said he would wait for final results from Vuntut Gwitchin, but said that whatever the outcome there, Silver’s Liberals have not yet been defeated.

“My understanding is that the Liberals will have the first opportunity to form government,” Dixon said. 

CBC News projected wins for Dixon in his Copperbelt North riding, ousting Liberal incumbent Ted Adel. The Yukon Party was also projected to pick up another seat in Porter Creek Centre, with Yvonne Clarke ousting Liberal Paolo Gallina.

The Yukon Party’s Scott Kent (Copperbelt South), Wade Istchenko (Kluane), Geraldine Van Bibber (Porter Creek North), Brad Cathers (Lake Laberge), Patti McLeod (Watson Lake) and Stacey Hassard (Pelly-Nisutlin) were all projected to win re-election in their ridings.

Liberal leader Sandy Silver was projected to hold his Klondike seat, while Jeremy Harper is projected to win back the Mayo-Tatchun riding for the party. That seat was won by Liberal Don Hutton in 2016, but he left the party to sit as an independent on the eve of the election call last month.

The Liberals were also projected to hold onto seats held by several cabinet ministers in Silver’s government, including Tracy McPhee (Riverdale South), John Streicker (Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes), Ranj Pillai (Porter Creek South) and Richard Mostyn (Whitehorse West). Liberal Nils Clarke, speaker in the last legislative assembly, was also projected to win his Riverdale North riding.

And CBC News is projecting a tie in Vuntut Gwitchin, between Liberal incumbent Pauline Frost and NDP challenger Annie Blake, both with 78 votes. There was no Yukon Party candidate in Vuntut Gwitchin, which is Yukon’s northernmost riding and the one with the fewest electors. 

Kate White’s NDP was projected to hold onto the two seats it had before the dissolution of the last assembly, including White’s riding of Takhini-Kopper King. Emily Tredger was projected to hang onto Whitehorse Centre, a longtime party stronghold once held by former leader Liz Hanson.

Sandy Silver’s Liberal Party was hoping for what would be a historic second term as a majority government. Yukon’s only previous Liberal government, in the early 2000s, was ousted after one term.

Meanwhile Currie Dixon, leading the Yukon Party through an election for the first time, is hoping to return his party to power after five years on the opposition benches. Silver’s win in 2016 brought an end to 14 consecutive years of Yukon Party rule.

And the NDP’s White, also helming her party through an election for the first time, was hoping to see her party rebound after its losses in 2016, when it was reduced from Official Opposition to third-party status in the legislature.

Silver was at his riding headquarters in Dawson City on Monday evening to watch the results come in. A few party supporters started to gather there shortly after polls closed. Silver lingered outside, speaking with constituents.

Dixon was at his Whitehorse campaign headquarters on Monday night, while White and the NDP gathered at the Guild Hall, also in Whitehorse. 

Chief electoral officer Max Harvey has said that, with the territory’s growing population, there are almost 4,500 to 5,000 more electors than in 2016. In that year, 18,840 Yukoners cast a ballot, representing a turnout of about 76.4 per cent.

This year, a total of 7,668 Yukon electors either cast their vote in advance polls last weekend or were issued a special ballot, up from 6,251 in 2016, Elections Yukon said Saturday.

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