Thursday’s opening of the 34th legislature was not the only one-day session on record. They are rare though.

But that’s the way Premier Sandy Silver wanted it.

Silver simply wanted to jumpstart the wheels of government by getting Members of the Legislative Assembly appointed to the various standing committees of the legislature, so that they could get on with doing what they were elected to do. That’s what he said.

What he didn’t want was to bring forward any business under the shadow of the current territorial budget he had nothing to do with. That fiscal blueprint was delivered nine months ago by the former Yukon Party government.

Silver said the legislature will reconvene in March when his Liberals will bring forward their own financial strategy to carry the territory forward in the 2017-2018 fiscal year, and beyond.

Thursday’s sitting was largely ceremonial, beginning with Sergeant-in-Arms Doris McLean delivering the mace to the legislature, as more than 100 people filled the gallery to witness the day.

In keeping with parliamentary tradition, Commissioner Doug Phillips entered the assembly escorted by an RCMP officer and a member of the armed forces, but said nothing.

It was the clerk of the assembly who informed the legislature that he had been commanded by the commissioner to inform the house the commissioner would not address the assembly until it had elected a Speaker. And then Phillips left.

Seconds later, the premier was on his feet nominating Riverdale North MLA Nils Clarke as Speaker, with the support of both opposition parties.

Interim Yukon Party Leader Stacey Hassard approached Clarke to welcome him with a handshake, as did MLA Kate White on behalf of the New Democrats.

In his first address to the legislative assembly, Clarke humourously informed his elected colleagues and the audience the Speaker’s chair is not always the best seat in the house.

There was time in history, he said, when the position might have brought peril, such as in 1535, when Speaker Thomas More had his head chopped off after he lost favour with his longtime friend, King Henry XIII.

In a more solemn moment, the Speaker of the 34th legislature thanked former Yukon Party Speakers Ted Staffin and David Laxton for insights into the position. And he called upon the MLAs to work effectively.

“To the honourable members, I ask that you conduct yourselves in debate not only with vigour, creativity, industriousness and passion – which is expected of you – but also with the decorum befitting the special public office that you have been elected to by your fellow citizens,” said Clarke.

“Ultimately, how you treat one another will, in large measure, determine the worth that Yukoners convey upon you and on this legislative assembly.”

Clarke then asked the clerk to inform the commissioner that a Speaker had been selected, and that the legislature was now ready to hear the Speech from the Throne.

Throne speeches are prepared by the premier and are delivered by the commissioner. Generally, they’re lengthy, as they outline the government’s goals and aspirations for their term in office.

Phillips read what was probably one of the shortest on record.

It touched briefly on how the roles and responsibilities of the Yukon government have grown since the territory achieved governing independence from Ottawa with the beginning of party politics in 1978.

It mentioned how many First Nations have become self-governing, and how the Yukon as a whole has matured and its ability to represent itself on the national stage has grown over the last 38 years.

“Over the next two months, my government will be carrying out a review of spending priorities,” said Phillips, reading the Speech from the Throne.

“This review will provide the basis for an appropriation bill for the coming fiscal year, which the government will present to the house in March, along with the supplementary estimates for the current year.

“At that time, my government will also present a Speech from the Throne that will set out in more detail the government’s priorities and its legislative proposals.

“The agenda for this session is to put the machinery of the legislative assembly in place.”

Before the legislature went on with the business of appointing a deputy speaker and members of the legisature’s standing committees, Silver, Hassard and White were provided an opportunity to reply to the throne speech.

“It’s a different view over here,” Silver began, looking across the floor to where he had sat as the lone Liberal for the past five years. “I have to say that I’ve always had friends in this legislative assembly; it’s nice to have colleagues on this side.”

Following a quick congratulations, Hassard became critical of Silver’s decision to hold just a one-day sessions, and for not providing time for question period – an important aspect of holding the government accountable.

Hassard expressed hope the Liberal government would strive to achieve economic prosperity, in much the same way the Yukon Party committed to during last fall’s election campaign.

But he also expressed despair with what he described as unilateral decisions by the Liberal government in Ottawa that are affecting the territory. Examples are the decision to impose a carbon tax and the recent ban on new drilling leases in the Beaufort Sea.

“Mr. Speaker, in the short time that this government has been in power, we have seen either silence or defence of Ottawa’s decisions,” Hassard said.

“I believe that this is dangerous, and may, in the long term, weaken the powers that so many territorial governments have fought for previously.”

White, the NDP MLA for Takhini-Kopper King, told the legislature she has learned much in her first term in office over the last five years while a member of the-then official Opposition.

White said she has seen both sides of the Yukon government. She has seen government policies make life difficult for Yukoners, and she’s also seen government help lift up people.

“So, in my view, if there is one thing that any government, no matter their political stripe, must make a priority, is to make life better for the people we represent — the people of the Yukon,” White said in her response to the speech. “That’s what it comes down to.”

(NDP Leader Liz Hanson is out of the territory due to a family illness.)

In an interview outside the legislative assembly after the gallery had emptied and the lights went dark, White said she’s ready and willing to work hand-in-hand with the new government, to give the Liberals a chance. Already, she said, she’s optimistic.

White said as an official critic over the last five years, it took her four years before the Yukon Party government would permit her to meet face-to-face with a minister. She said she actually met with two ministers that year.

“It was a big year,” she said sarcastically.

White said while it took a while for Silver to appoint his cabinet, she’s already met once with Community Services Minister John Streicker.

The last five years in the legislative assembly under the Yukon Party were filled with acrimony, with “lateral violence,” she said.

In reference to Hassard’s concern that Silver will not stand up to Ottawa, White said that’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black, alluding to how the Yukon Party cozied up to former prime minister Stephen Harper.

It was in partnership that the two dismantled the territory’s environmental assessment legislation, she pointed out.

As a cheerleader by nature, White said, she’s optimistic she’ll be able to advance a number of files she’s been working on over the last five years with the assistance of the new government.

Hassard said in an interview following the session that while he may not always agree with the new government, he is willing to work co-operatively to advance Yukoners’ interests.

He said he has no issue with a close Liberal relationship between Whitehorse and Ottawa, and in fact sees it as a plus. But the premier must put the Yukon’s interests first in matters such as the carbon tax, health care and the federal transfer payments, he said.

“It is important to stand up for Yukoners when they have those conversations,” Hassard said.

“We do not always have to agree ... we do have to get along. We all have to play in the same sandbox together.”

In his response to his own speech, Silver said his party will govern with accountability, and a mind and a door open to hear what Yukoners have to say.

He and his colleagues have committed to governing with respect, he told the legislature.

“I am truly honoured that Yukoners have entrusted us with a mandate to govern the territory. In the coming years, we will work with energy and diligence to fulfill our commitments to the people of Yukon. We have committed to a respectful and collaborative relationship with Yukon First Nations,” the premier said.

“Tomorrow, I, along with other ministers and government MLAs, will meet with the grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations and Yukon First Nation chiefs from across the territory for our first Yukon Forum.”

In a interview in the cabinet offices following the sitting – which lasted one hour and 14 minutes – the premier said the leader of the official Opposition doesn’t have to worry about him standing up for Yukoners.

He is already standing, he said, suggesting anybody who has any doubt can check to see how the Yukon stood and continues to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the provinces against Ottawa in the ongoing national debate over health care funding.

He said he has stressed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the importance of involving the Yukon in decisions that affect the North.

“He said he agreed,” Silver said. “We will see if that happens.”

Silver defended the decision to go with a short, one-day session as necessary to provide time for the Liberal team to prepare its first budget, and to avoid having to answer questions about a budget prepared by the previous government.

See editorial in opinion section.