WHITEHORSE — Yukon Premier Sandy Silver has announced a territorial election on April 12. 

Silver said in a brief statement that he asked the territory's commissioner to dissolve the legislative assembly today. 

He has been the premier of Yukon since 2016 when his Liberal party formed government with a majority, beating the Yukon Party, which had ruled for 14 years. 

Yukon's opposition parties have criticized the prospect of an election, with Yukon Party finance critic Brad Cathers claiming the government used the territory's recent budget to try to win favour with voters.

All three of the major Yukon political parties have spent the last few months announcing candidates either seeking re-election or running for election as the Nov. 18 deadline loomed to call the territorial vote. 

At the time of dissolution, the Liberal party had 11 seats, the Yukon Party had six and the New Democrats had two.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2021.

The Canadian Press

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