Ed. note: this is an analysis of the New Democrats’ leader and campaign.

Kate White is a people person.

No more, no less.

White, of course, is the leader of the Yukon New Democratic Party. This is her first election campaign as leader after 10 years as an MLA.

Under her direction, the party has taken a sharp turn to the left of centre, distancing itself from more moderate former approaches under other leaders. It’s not something you will ever find her apologizing for, even if turns out to be a flawed strategy for winning office.

The mood among the NDP is enthusiastic and optimistic... traits White values quite highly. Likely more than experience.

She likes to refer to her “incredible team of candidates” quite often.

She’s built what she hopes will be a winning slate with them, and if not, at least, to quote the Frank Sinatra song, she did it her way.

“I want to work for people,” she declared. “I want to deliver results that actually make life better for the people around me.

“The deal people are getting right now isn’t a fair one. That’s why I’m running. People need real solutions to the housing crisis and better access to health care.

“But the burden of paying for that shouldn’t fall on regular people – with higher fees or with cuts to other services that matter to them.

“That’s why I’m going to ask people who have more, to pay a little more to look after their neighbors, and have those who fly in to the Yukon but live elsewhere pay their share of Yukon services. That’s how we’re going to deliver for people.”

That’s a good summation of her political beliefs and the party platform as a whole. White is very much a visionary thinker. That’s her comfort zone.

To many people, that also leaves the lingering impression that she’s not a details person. White would dispute that... anytime, anywhere.

“I’m not naive,” she declared at a recent news conference when the subject was broached by reporters. “I know things come with a price tag.”

Opponents often accuse her of not costing policies out, or not thinking things through.

To White, that’s a symbol of what she would term “old-school thinking”.

She wants to leave such things behind.

So why should people want her to be premier of the Yukon?

“Because they want their housing to be more affordable and the health care they use and the schools where they send their kids to be better,” she said matter-of-factly.

“People voted for the Liberals last time because they were tired of Yukon Party neglect. And those people are feeling let down. The Liberals haven’t delivered for them. I’m going to get real results for people.”

As noted earlier, White has definitely shifted the party further to the left of centre than it has historically been.

White didn’t directly answer the question of where she sees herself on the political spectrum. It’s almost as if it’s an irrelevant question to her, and perhaps it is.

“I represent everyday people who think we could all look after each other a little better than we do right now. Nobody wants to see their family and their neighbours get left behind while people who already have a lot continue to profit.

“I think there’s a better way to do things. That’s why our platform asks people who make over $250,000 and fly-in/fly-out workers to pay a little more,” she said.

“I think a lot of people – no matter who you’ve voted for before – think that sounds like a fairer deal.”

White sees politics through a particular prism. She has a strong inclination to be what could be called a socialist populist, an unusual combination in Canadian politics.

She has at least a smidgeon of former federal NDP leader Jack Layton’s magic. She appeals to many, many people through her larger than life public persona ... likely far more than will actually vote for her.

That universal charm is something that sets her apart from her competitors.

Currie Dixon of the Yukon Party shares some of the same personality traits, but he’s far more restrained and ... well ... conservative.

Liberal Leader Sandy Silver has a more stand-offish, reserved personality. It’s an interesting contrast of ebullience vs gravitas, and of partisanship versus populism.

“The future I see is one where life is a little more affordable for regular people and everyone can get the services they need – like health care – without digging into their wallet,” White said.

“I don’t want anyone to put off the care they need because they can’t afford it or can’t access it.

“That’s why we’re going to cover dental and prescription medication for people not already covered and beef up health care services in communities by recruiting and training more providers.

It’s clear that White sees her political – and personal – identity as simply being “one of the people.

“I’m a tradesperson – a red seal baker. I’ve run a small business and I know what it’s like to compete with big companies.

“I went to F.H. Collins (Secondary School) growing up and I travelled the world before choosing to come home.

“I’ve worked at mines and in corrections. To this day, I’m a mountain biking coach and I love to see kids’ smiles after a challenging trail.”

White is fond of calling this election as a “fork in the trail.”

One path leads back to the status quo, she has said. Another leads to a different and more egalitarian future, from her perspective.

It’s clear she has no fondness for the status quo. Early in the campaign, she ruffled the feathers of Liberal candidates when she referred to the party as being comprised of “the men in suits.”

With a number of women in cabinet positions in the Liberal government, the party took umbrage to that notion.

It was quick to point those ministers out, along with a good number of female candidates it’s recruited for this election.

White didn’t back down, nor did she apparently pay much attention to the criticism.

Above all, the territorial housing crisis is never far from her mind.

“It’s real and everyone is feeling it. I’ve talked to parents who are worried their adult children will never be able to move out.

“I’ve heard about businesses whose employees can’t find an affordable home here. I’ve talked to people whose rent has gone up 20 per cent or 30 per cent at a time.

“And one of the things I love about the Yukon is that even people who do have stable housing are worried about people who don’t. The housing crisis is hurting people,” she said.

“The Liberals aren’t delivering solutions and we know the Yukon Party don’t think government should have anything to do with building housing for people. We’ve got a plan to build more affordable units for rent and for ownership, to cap how much people’s rent can go up, and free up more lots for development.”

Early on, the Star asked White if her plans were to win the election or make a political statement with the campaign.

She rather fiercely told a reporter, “I’m in this to win.”

White has repeated that several times, and that certitude prompted a rather blunt question: Will you stay on if the party is defeated?

“Absolutely! As long as the folks in Takhini-Kopper King want me to fight for them, I’ll be there. The housing crisis won’t solve itself and I’m not about to back down. People need a safe, affordable place to live and I think that’s worth fighting for.”