The 2025 Territorial General Election at a glance

Yukoners are getting ready to head to the polls. Here's a look at what you need to know.

Yukon Premier Mike Pemberton officially called the 2025 territorial general election for November 3. With that date creeping ever closer, CHON-FM did some digging to check on information that Yukoners should know before heading to the polls; including a full list of candidates at the bottom of the article.

CANDIDATES

There are 61 candidates confirmed for the 2025 territorial general election: 18 representing the Yukon Liberal Party, 21 representing the Yukon Party, 21 representing the Yukon NDP, and 1 independent candidate, JM Harvey in Southern Lakes district.

The Yukon Liberal Party only has 18 candidates running in this election, missing out on three electoral districts: Copperbelt North, Klondike, and Kluane. As a result, voters in those districts will be only have the option to choose either a Yukon Party or Yukon NDP candidate on their ballots.

YUKON LIBERAL PARTY

The Government of Yukon is currently formed by a Yukon Liberal Party minority of nine MLAs. Of those nine, eight current Liberal MLAs announced that they would not seek re-election, making lots of space for new faces such as Carcross/Tagish First Nation citizen Cynthia James and Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Councillor Debra-Leigh Reti.

Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and Selkirk First Nation citizen Jeremy Harper is the only Liberal MLA running for re-election, along with Yukon Premier Mike Pemberton, who was elected Liberal Leader in June after former Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai announced that he would step down from the role.

YUKON PARTY

The Yukon Party is currently in the role of Official Opposition at they Yukon Legislative Assembly. Led by Currie Dixon, the Yukon Party has been preparing for the 2025 territorial election all year, announcing candidates as early as January 1.

Dixon is joined by some familiar faces for this election, including five current Yukon Party MLAs and some new blood, including six First Nations candidates: Tr'ondk Hwech'in citizen Richard Nagano, Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation citizen Cory Bellmore, Ta’an Kwäch’än Council citizen Doris Anderson, Carcross/Tagish First Nation citizen Rose Sellars, Kaska citizen Tyler Porter, and Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation citizen Sandra Charlie.

YUKON NDP

The Yukon NDP currently holds the role of Third Party in the Yukon Legislative Assembly. Kate White is leading the Yukon NDP into the election, bringing with her both currently elected NDP MLAs, Lane Tredger and Annie Blake.

Much like the other parties, the Yukon NDP are bringing in some fresh faces for the election, including former White River First Nation Councillor John VanderMeer, current Kwanlin Dün First Nation Councillor Linda Moen, Ross River Dena Council citizen Josie O’Brien, and Champagne and Aishihik citizen Dustin McKenzie-Hubbard.

PLATFORMS

While platforms will continue to roll out throughout the campaign process, various priorities have been brought to the forefront.

The Yukon Liberal Party, for instance, has five pillars in its platform. Its top priority is housing, with Premier Pemberton pledging to ensure every Yukoner has a place to call home at an announcement in Carcross. The other four pillars include healthcare, affordability, reconciliation, and the economy.

The Yukon NDP has made several campaign promises regarding healthcare, including its Family Doctor Guarantee, which would address over 10,000 Yukoners in need of primary care, 4,000 of whom are on the waitlist. In terms of affordability, White has also pledged to work with the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate to restore the Rural Nutrition Program and expand school food programs so every child has access to healthy meals.

The Yukon Party also has a focus on affordability, notably promising to cut the Yukon Energy Corporation’s planned 34 per cent increase to power rates in the territory. Dixon also pledged to build First Nations relations through Yukon Forums, support public safety and emergency services, and build more homes.

These highlights are just a small taste of the parties’ platforms and priorities. Their respective websites have more information available on these and other aspects of their platforms for voters to read.

PLEBISCITE VOTE

In addition to voting for their MLA, Yukoners will also have the option to cast a plebiscite vote regarding the voting system in the Yukon. The additional ballot will ask the question: “Should the way members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly are elected be changed from the current system of first past the post to a different system of ranked vote?” and Yukoners can vote Yes or No.

The current system is known as “first-past-the-post,” where voters make one choice, and the candidate with the most votes wins.

A ranked vote would allow voters to select a first- and second-choice on a ballot with three candidates. Once the totals for the first-choice are counted, the candidate with the fewest votes would be eliminated, and the second-choice votes are counted to determine the winner.

According to a media release from the Executive Council Office, the plebiscite vote is non-binding and will not result in an immediate change to the voting system in future elections, but it helps to gauge opinions and receive public input on electoral reform before any decisions are made.

MORE INFORMATION

Election day is November 3, but there are options for those who wish to vote differently.

While the deadline to apply for mail-out special ballots is fast approaching (October 21 at 8 p.m.), anyone can vote in-person by special ballot at any Returning Office until October 31 at 8 p.m. Returning offices are open Monday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Advance polls will also be open October 26 and 27, for those who want to avoid the election day crowds on November 3. Polling places are open on each of those days from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information on voting options, returning offices, polling locations, the plebiscite vote, and to register to vote, visit electionsyukon.ca/

CANDIDATES BY DISTRICT

Copperbelt North – Currie Dixon (YP), Matthew Lien (NDP)

Copperbelt South – Derek Yap (YLP), Scott Kent (YP), Robin Reid-Faser (NDP)

Klondike – Richard Nagano (YP), Brent McDonald (NDP)

Kluane – Wade Istchenko (YP), John VanderMeer (NDP)

Lake Laberge – Tom Amson (YLP), Brad Cathers (YP), Kai Miller (NDP)

Marsh Lake-Mount Lorne-Golden Horn – James Rowberry (YLP) Jen Gemhair (YP), Kevin Kennedy (NDP)

Mayo-Tatchun – Jeremy Harper (YLP), Cory Bellmore (YP), Colin Prentice (NDP)

Mountainview – Jon Weller (YLP), Peter Grundmanis (YP), Linda Moen (NDP)

Porter Creek Centre – Louis Gagnon (YLP), Ted Laking (YP), Hilary Smith (NDP)

Porter Creek North – Jacklyn Stockstill (YLP), Doris Anderson (YP), Chris Dunbar (NDP)

Porter Creek South – Harjit Mavi (YLP), Adam Gerle (YP), Dario Paola (NDP)

Riverdale North – Mark Kelly (YLP), Rose Sellars (YP), Carmen Gustafson (NDP)

Riverdale South – Sunny Patch (YLP), Aurora Viernes (YP), Justin Ziegler (NDP)

Southern Lakes – Cynthia James (YLP), Tyler Porter (YP) Tip Evans (NDP), Jim Harvey (Ind)

Takhini – Abdullah Khalid (YLP), Logan Freese (YP), Kate White (NDP)

Vuntut Gwitchin – Debra-Leigh Reti (YLP), Sandra Charlie (YP), Annie Blake (NDP)

Watson Lake-Ross River-Faro – Lael Lund (YLP), Patti McLeod (YP), Josie O’Brien (NDP)

Whistle Bend North – Beverly Cooper (YLP), Yvonne Clarke (YP), Tiara Topps (NDP)

Whistle Bend South – Vida Pelayo (YLP), Linda Benoit (YP), Dustin McKenzie-Hubbard (NDP)

Whitehorse Centre – Mellisa Kwok (YLP), Keith Jacobsen (YP), Lane Tredger (NDP)

Whitehorse West – Mike Pemberton (YLP), Laura Lang (YP), Katherine McCallum (NDP)