Silver also announced Friday that he will not seek a 4th term as MLA in the 2025 election. Visibly emotional, Silver told reporters on Friday that his tenure as prime minister was “the best job of my life.” “The Klondike Liberals, we did what people said was impossible and we did it precisely,” he said. According to a news release from the Liberal caucus, Silver asked the party to launch a leadership conference. The Yukon Liberal Party “is pleased that Sandy is committed to continuing to represent the people of Dawson City and to work tirelessly with his Liberal colleagues to make the Yukon a better place to live,” the release said. The party will set rules and timetable for leadership elections, it says. “There will be an update on this process as soon as possible.”
Deliberate timing
Silver said that when he realized he wasn’t ready to run again, he had to tell the Liberal Party so he could start planning a leadership race. “The timing is to give the party the respect it deserves to have a new leader in place and build some support,” he said. Yukon Party Leader Cary Dixon thanked Silver for his service as premier, particularly through the COVID-19 pandemic. But Dixon said the Yukon government has been carried away by the last election. “The last six months have seen the prime minister largely excluded from his position and the government has been in a period of stagnation,” Dixon said. NDP Leader Kate White in a file photo from 2021. (Wayne Vallevand/ CBC) In May, the Yukon Party issued a press release calling on Silver to draw up protocol for any cabinet vying to replace him. Dixon repeated that call on Friday, saying it was inappropriate for ministers to use their position to boost their leadership campaigns. NDP Leader Kate White said the most important work the Liberals have done since the last election was the result of a confidence and supply agreement with her party, including raising the minimum wage and capping residential rent increases. White said she was “partly surprised and not surprised” that Silver announced his resignation. “I don’t think anyone would be surprised at this point if someone currently elected chose not to run in the next election…” he said. “I know I’m committed and I’m here for several more years, but I understand where he’s coming from.”
A tearful goodbye
John Stryker, the minister of energy, mines and resources, said he heard the news that Silver was leaving shortly before the media conference. He said, with obvious emotion in his voice, that the first thought that came to mind was gratitude. “It was an honor to work with him,” Stryker said. “I just think he gave a lot for the Yukon and [it’s] It’s truly a privilege to work with him.” Stryker said many of his colleagues were equally emotional. John Streicker, Yukon’s minister of community services, in a 2018 file photo. (Chris Wideyer/CBC) “We have a strong relationship as a team and we think he’s done a lot for this place,” Stryker said. “He did us proud.” Richard Mostyn, the community services minister, was also visibly tearful, calling Silver an “outstanding leader”. “I’ve seen leaders since ’89, when I first got here, and there are a few that stand out,” Mostyn said. “It took off in a place where we’re actually leading the country on so many fronts.” Asked if they would throw their hats in the ring for party leadership, both Mostyn and Streicker declined to answer. “This is not the time,” said Mostyn. “I’m processing this.”
Back to Dawson City
Silver said he plans to return to Dawson City, his home of 25 years. A former teacher, he said he gave a graduation speech at Dawson’s Robert Service School this year and estimated he knew only 20 percent of the students. “My friends have always been there for me, but their kids are growing up and I can’t see that,” she said. Yukon Premier Sandy Silver in Dawson City this summer, where she drank the 100,000th sourtoe cocktail served at the Downtown Hotel. (Northern Vision Development) Silver was first elected as the MLA for Klondike in 2011. He is currently serving his third consecutive term for the riding. Silver is the first MLA for Klondike to serve as premier. In 2012, Silver took over a Yukon Liberal Party that was on life support. Previous leader Arthur Mitchell lost his own seat in the 2011 election. Vuntut Gwitchin MLA Darius Elias later left the group to sit as an independentthen joined the ruling Yukon Party. Four years later, Argyros and the Liberals came to power, ending 14 years of Yukon Party rule. The Liberals jumped from one seat to 11th. In 2021, the Liberals called a snap election, hoping to win a second majority as prime ministers had done elsewhere. The move failed: the Liberals were down to eight seatsaffiliated with the Yukon party. By convention, the Liberals had the right to continue in power. They did so by signing a confidence and supply agreement with the NDP, which runs until next January.
