For 1st time in decades, Yukon Liberals will vote to choose their next party leader

For the first time in two decades, members of the Yukon Liberal Party will vote for their new party leader on Thursday night and with that, Yukon's next premier.

There are two candidates vying for the role: former Kwanlin Dün First Nation chief Doris Bill, and longtime Whitehorse businessman Mike Pemberton. 

The leadership convention became necessary after Premier Ranj Pillai announced last month that he would be resigning. 

The last contested leadership race the party experienced was in 2005, when Arthur Mitchell defeated Pat Duncan.

Pillai, and former premier Sandy Silver, were both acclaimed as party leader.

That was the impetus for Pemberton to put his name forward for the party leadership. He says he had already decided to seek a seat in the legislature in the upcoming territorial election, and was a bit "blindsided" by Pillai's decision to step down.

After Bill announced her candidacy for the leadership, Pemberton decided to put his name forward too. 

"I personally believe having another acclamation in the party would lose the party some integrity," said Pemberton. "When Doris announced she was running I had a number of phone calls asking me to maybe step up now and have an actual leadership race."

Another acclimation in the party would lose the party some integrity- Mike Pemberton, leadership candidate

Bill announced her intentions to run for the leadership just five days after Pillai's announcement.

"I'm not ready to retire," said Bill. "I've always been busy and have been working my entire life."

Bill welcomes a contested leadership race and says it's important for the party.  

"I think it has rejuvenated interest in the party," said Bill. "It has motivated people and I'm glad for that, it's great."

Both Bill and Pemberton cite community safety as a top priority for them.

"You know people don't feel safe walking on the streets," said Pemberton. "These are things that keep me awake at night."

Bill says throughout her leadership campaign, issues around community safety were a constant when she was out door-knocking.

"When you look at community safety, you have to look at the environment and you need to understand what is happening in your community, you need to bring residents along," said Bill. "It's about the community and taking ownership of its safety issues."

Both candidates say their leadership style will be centred around listening to Yukoners.

"I'm committed to helping people, it's part of my DNA," said Pemberton. "If someone needs a lift up and a hand up, I want to be that person."

Bill said she's been told that she "governs with her heart."

"Given my background, where I grew up, where I live, it gives me a different perspective. If you look at all the past premiers there's no one with the background that I have," Bill said. 

At Thursday night's convention, party members will choose their next leader by ranked preferential ballot. The next leader will then serve as premier until the next general election, which must happen before November 3.