In a surprise move Wednesday, Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai announced he’s stepping down.
Pillai told reporters at a news conference that he plans to stay on until a new leader is selected.
He called his two years as premier “the greatest honour of my life,” but said his time in the role “has come to an end.”
“You know when you know,” he said.
The territory is headed for an election sometime later this year. Under the Yukon’s fixed election date law, the vote must take place no later than Nov. 3.
Pillai has served as premier since January 2023. He ran unopposed for the Liberal leadership after former premier Sandy Silver resigned.
He’s also faced repeated calls from the opposition Yukon Party to call an election since he took power.
Party volunteer to city councillor to MLA
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Pillai reflected on his political career and his path to the premier’s office. He said he began volunteering for the Yukon Liberal Party in 2003 and soon after became party president.
In 2009, Pillai was elected to Whitehorse City Council, becoming “the first elected councillor north of 60 who looked like me,” he recalled. He served one term on council before again turning to territorial politics.
In 2016, Pillai was elected to the Legislative Assembly representing the Whitehorse riding of Porter Creek South. The Liberals swept to power that year, going from a single seat in the assembly to a majority government under former premier Sandy Silver. The party’s win that year ended 14 years of Yukon Party rule.
Silver then appointed Pillai deputy premier and minister of energy, mines and resources, economic development, and tourism and culture.
When Silver decided to step down as premier and party leader in 2022, Pillai was the only person to seek the job. Reflecting on that decision on Wednesday, Pillai recalled sitting with his teenaged son one day by the Yukon River and talking about it.
“He told me that it is important that people understand that someone who looks like us can do this job, can represent all Yukoners,” the premier recalled, appearing to choke up a bit.
Pillai thanked his family for supporting him and making sacrifices.
“The work of a premier and minister is all-consuming, which means considerable time away from those that are closest to you. And I didn’t understand that at the time, but I get it now,” Pillai said.
Pillai said that he plans to focus on improvements to health care and the threat posed by U.S. tariffs for the rest of his term.
After that, he said he anticipates spending more time with his family, including his aging parents. He also mused about potentially working for the Armed Forces in some capacity.
Pillai choosing to ‘quit rather than face voters,’ opposition says
In a news release, the Yukon Liberal Party said its executive would be meeting later on Wednesday to begin the process of selecting a new leader. That will include planning a leadership convention and deciding on the requirements for potential leadership candidates.
The Yukon Party also issued a brief news release on Wednesday about Pillai’s departure, calling it a “surprise” and wishing the premier well “in his future endeavours.”
The Official Opposition party then sets aside the niceties to lambaste the Liberals for their record in government, and Pillai himself for opting to “quit rather than face voters.”
“Over the last 9 years, the Liberal government has plunged the Yukon into record-setting debt, overseen the worst-performing economy in 2024, led our health care system to the brink of collapse, and seen a skyrocketing wave of crime,” the Yukon Party release states.
It also says that Pillai is leaving the territory “essentially leaderless,” at a critical time for the country.
NDP Leader Kate White also had relatively little to say about Pillai’s time as premier. White’s party has effectively propped up the minority Liberal government since 2021, with a confidence and supply agreement.
She said she learned of Pillai’s resignation as she got off a plane in Vancouver and her phone “blew up” with messages.
“I can say that the working relationship was good and and you know, I think I’ll leave it to others to talk about his role as premier. But yeah, I appreciate the work we did together,” she said.
White also had a prediction about what awaits the next Liberal leader in the upcoming election campaign.
“I think this resignation really shows that this election is a two-party race,” White said.
“Between the Yukon NDP and the Yukon Party.”
