Sidney Alexander "Sandy" Silver (born October 15, 1969) is a Canadian politician, who served as the ninth premier of Yukon from 2016 to 2023. He was first elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the 2011 election,[1] and was re-elected in 2016. He represents the electoral district of Klondike and previously served as Leader of the Yukon Liberal Party.
Sandy Silver | |
|---|---|
 Silver in 2017 | |
| 9th Premier of Yukon Minister of Finance | |
| In office December 3, 2016 – January 14, 2023 | |
| Deputy | Ranj Pillai Tracy-Anne McPhee |
| Commissioner | Doug Phillips Angélique Bernard |
| Preceded by | Darrell Pasloski |
| Succeeded by | Ranj Pillai |
| Leader of the Yukon Liberal Party | |
| In office August 17, 2012 – January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Darius Elias |
| Succeeded by | Ranj Pillai |
| Member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly for Klondike | |
| Assumed office October 11, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Nordick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sidney Alexander Silver October 15, 1969 Antigonish, Nova Scotia |
| Political party | Yukon Liberal Party |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Political career
edit33rd Assembly
editSilver was first elected on October 11, 2011, defeating incumbent Yukon Party Cabinet minister Steve Nordick in the rural Yukon riding of Klondike. It was the only gain for the Yukon Liberal Party that election, which saw its caucus reduced to two seats (Silver and Darius Elias) and its leader, Arthur Mitchell defeated.
As a member of the assembly, Sandy Silver sat on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Standing Committee on Appointments to Major Government Board and Committees, and the Members’ Services Board. He also served on the Select Committee on Whistle-blower Protection and the Select Committee Regarding the Risks and Benefits of Hydraulic Fracturing.[2]
On August 17, 2012, Silver became interim leader of the Yukon Liberal Party following the resignation of Darius Elias, who quit the Liberals to sit as an Independent and leaving Silver as the lone Liberal MLA in the legislative assembly.[3] Elias would later cross the floor to sit with the governing Yukon Party.
Silver became the permanent leader of the Yukon Liberal Party by acclamation in February 2014.[4]
34th Assembly
editSilver led the Liberals to a majority government in the 2016 election, taking his party from his single seat in the legislature to 11 of 19.[5] It was also the party's strongest-ever showing in rural Yukon, where the Liberals took four of eight seats. Silver himself won the most votes and the highest share of support than any other candidate on election night. His party had campaigned on a platform that advocated for economic diversification, environmental protection, and improving First Nations relations.[6]
Silver and his Cabinet was sworn in on December 3, 2016. His seven-member cabinet consisted of four men and three women.[7] Silver himself assumed the portfolios of Minister of Finance and Minister of the Executive Council Office, in addition to Premier. He is currently also a member of the Members' Services Board.[2]
35th Assembly
editSilver led the Liberals into the 2021 territorial election. The party won 8 seats, an exact tie with the Yukon Party. The Liberals lost the popular vote overall to the Yukon Party. Silver was personally elected in the district of Klondike.[8] Silver announced his intent to form a minority government despite the tie.[9] On April 23, the Liberals were sworn in with a minority government.[10] On April 28, the NDP announced that they had entered into a formal agreement with the Liberals.
On September 9, 2022, Silver announced his intention to resign as premier and party leader, staying on until the party elected a successor. He also announced he would not be running for re-election to his riding of Klondike in the next election.[11] He was succeeded by Ranj Pillai.[12]
Personal life
editOriginally from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Silver has lived in Dawson City since 1998. Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, he was a high school math teacher at Robert Service School in Dawson. He holds degrees in math and psychology from St. Francis Xavier University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Maine.[13]
Electoral record
edit| 2021 Yukon general election: Klondike | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Sandy Silver | 526 | 47.2 | -11.9 | ||||
| Yukon Party | Charlie Dagostin | 364 | 32.7 | +1.3 | ||||
| New Democratic | Chris Clarke | 224 | 20.1 | +10.6 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 1,114 | |||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -0.07 | ||||||
Source(s) | ||||||||
Yukon general election, 2016
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Sandy Silver | 687 | 59.1% | +10.3% | |
| Yukon Party | Brad Whitelaw | 365 | 31.4% | -5.8% | |
| NDP | Jay Farr | 111 | 9.5% | -4.0% | |
| Total | 1,163 | 100.0% | – | ||
Yukon general election, 2011
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Sandy Silver | 530 | 48.8% | +34.1% | |
| Yukon Party | Steve Nordick | 404 | 37.2% | -7.9% | |
| NDP | Jorn Meir | 147 | 13.5% | -19.6% | |
| Total | 1,085 | 100.0% | – | ||
References
edit- ^ Yukon Votes 2011: Klondike CBC News, October 11, 2011.
- ^ a b Sandy Silver, Yukon Legislative Assembly. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ^ Elias quits the liberals. Yukon News, August 17, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
- ^ "Sandy Silver named new Yukon Liberal Party leader". CBC News, February 11, 2014.
- ^ "Once a lonely Liberal, outgoing Yukon Premier Sandy Silver reflects on six years at the top". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
...the Liberals sweeping to power with a majority in 2016, winning 11 of the legislature's 19 seats ...
- ^ Be Heard, Yukon Liberal Party Platform, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ^ "Office of the Premier". yukon.ca. August 15, 2018.
- ^ "With no clear winner, Yukon's election-night intrigue will linger | CBC News".
- ^ "Yukon NDP win final riding by rare drawing of lots, maintaining Liberal, Yukon Party tie in assembly". CBC. 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
- ^ "Yukon Liberals set to be sworn-in as party aims to form minority government". CTVNews. April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Yukon Premier Sandy Silver to step down, asks Liberal Party to find a new leader". CBC News. 2022-09-09. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
- ^ Chris Windeyer (9 January 2023). "Ranj Pillai, acclaimed as Yukon Liberal leader, becomes premier this weekend". CBC. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Sandy Silver, Liberal Leader, Yukon Liberal Party. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ^ Unofficial Results, Klondike Elections Yukon, November 7, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2017
- ^ Report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Yukon on the 2011 General Election Elections Yukon, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2017