Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai announces resignation

Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai has shocked many by announcing his resignation on Wednesday. He stated that he will remain in office until a new leader is chosen. Pillai described his two-year tenure as premier as the greatest honor of his life but acknowledged that his time in the role has come to an end. He emphasized that he knew it was time to step down.

The territory is gearing up for an election later this year, as mandated by the Yukon’s fixed election date law. The vote must take place no later than November 3rd. Pillai has been serving as premier since January 2023, taking over after former premier Sandy Silver resigned. Throughout his time in office, he faced pressure from the opposition Yukon Party to call for an election.

Reflecting on his political journey, Pillai shared that he started volunteering for the Yukon Liberal Party in 2003, eventually becoming party president. He went on to be elected to Whitehorse City Council in 2009 and later to the Legislative Assembly representing the Whitehorse riding of Porter Creek South in 2016. The Liberals achieved a majority government under former premier Sandy Silver that year, ending the Yukon Party’s 14-year rule.

Pillai was appointed deputy premier and held various ministerial portfolios, including energy, mines and resources, economic development, and tourism and culture. When Silver stepped down as premier and party leader in 2022, Pillai was the sole candidate to seek the leadership position.

In his resignation announcement, Pillai expressed gratitude to his family for their support and sacrifices. He mentioned his plans to focus on improving healthcare and addressing the threat of U.S. tariffs for the remainder of his term. After leaving office, he looks forward to spending more time with his family, including his aging parents, and potentially exploring opportunities with the Armed Forces.

The Yukon Liberal Party’s executive will begin the process of selecting a new leader, including organizing a leadership convention and setting criteria for potential candidates. The Yukon Party acknowledged Pillai’s departure as a surprise and wished him well in his future endeavors. However, they criticized the Liberal government’s record and Pillai for choosing to resign rather than face voters.

The NDP Leader Kate White, whose party has supported the minority Liberal government through a confidence and supply agreement, commented positively on her working relationship with Pillai. She predicted that the upcoming election would be a two-party race between the Yukon NDP and the Yukon Party.

In conclusion, Pillai’s resignation marks the end of an era for the Yukon Liberal Party, prompting the need for a new leader to guide the territory through the upcoming election and beyond.