The drama over the territorial election results for the Vuntut Gwitchin riding is over. For the moment, anyway.

Following a judicial review late Monday afternoon at the Whitehorse courthouse which led to a drawing of lots to break the 78-78 tie in ballots, Annie Blake of the NDP emerged as the winner and MLA-designate.

She defeated Pauline Frost, the Liberal minister of Health and Social Services and Environment.

The NDP’s gain casts a new wrinkle for the incoming government, likely to be led by Premier Sandy Silver’s Liberals.

The final results from the April 12 election leave the Liberals with eight seats, the Yukon Party with eight seats and the NDP with three seats.

Monday’s review of the 156 ballots took nearly 90 minutes before the process went to a drawing of lots.

Chief electoral officer Max Harvey unfolded the lot and displayed Annie Blake’s name to all parties in attendance.

Blake said she was almost overwhelmed by the outcome of the election.

“In all honesty, I feel overwhelmed and I feel relieved this process is complete and wrapped up. I feel that the democratic process has been followed and I feel that its timely to give ourself space and start moving on as a community.

“I think I’ve learned a new level of stress,” Blake added. “I’ve learned so much about myself and my community.”

When she was asked how she sees her election as MLA impacting the muddled election picture that gives the NDP three seats in a minority government situation, Blake said, “That’s a Kate White question. It’s a lot to take in.”

Blake said her immediate priority would be to reach out to the community and try to build some bridges and to create more of a consensus on issues.

Blake has worked as a social worker for a decade. She currently serves as the director of Health and Social Programs for the Vuntut Gwitchin government, where she oversees the delivery of health and social services to Old Crow residents.

Blake has previously worked for the Council of Yukon First Nations, the First Nations Health Programs of the Yukon Hospital Corp., Kaushee’s Place and the Yukon Child and Youth Advocate.

Frost required several minutes before she would speak to reporters following her loss.

“I feel really great, actually,” she told the assembled media. “I feel great about the process. I think we followed the Elections Act to the T on my team.”

She pointed at the division in the community of Old Crow as a potential reason for her loss.

“Clearly, the community is divided, right? I respect the individuals who voted. The majority prevails.”

Frost refused to discuss the implications of her loss for the Liberal party.

“It’s not up for me to talk about what that means for the party, it’s up to the leader. You need to ask him.”

Frost refused to rule out further legal action contesting the election.

“Clearly, we will review the process and the election and see how it all played out. I wouldn’t say I’m disappointed. It depends on how you define a winner, and I think I’ve gained a lot of respect among Yukoners and individuals in my community. I see myself as a winner.”

The only other time a tie vote in a riding was broken by the drawing of lots was also in the Vuntut Gwitchin riding, in 1996. The name of the NDP’s Robert Bruce was drawn over that of the Yukon Party Esau Schafer.

That resulted in a successful legal challenge that saw Bruce elected in a 1997 byelection.

“When you have an election that is this close, you always want to look at the checks and balances,” said Frost, who is the only cabinet minister to lose her seat in the election.

“As of today, the process unfolded as it should. What happens tomorrow and around the corner, we’ll see what happens when we get there,” Frost said.

It remains to be seen how the murky minority scenario plays out, but Silver said Monday he has met with Commissioner Angélique Bernard and has asked for a chance to form a government.

The support of the NDP is likely to be key to his success in maintaining a stable government.

Potentially, the NDP could also strike a deal with the Yukon Party, giving it enough support to possibly form a government.

The Yukon Party did not offer a candidate in Vuntut Gwitchin.