Revised — In a widely-anticipated move, Premier Sandy Silver has dissolved the legislature and called a general territorial election.

Silver made the announcement during a news conference at 1:15 Friday afternoon at the Whitehorse Wharf with a gaggle of Liberal candidates in tow.

“We have supported and kept Yukoners safe through a global pandemic,” the Liberal leader said.

“We have the best economy in Canada and we have dramatically improved relations with Yukon First Nation governments.

“We are at a crossroads. Now it will be up to voters to decide what path they want to go down.

“We have been monitoring the COVID situation, waiting for the situation to be safe enough to hold an election. With the strong vaccine uptake and measures in place to stop importation of the virus, I believe that time is now.”

The government is in the fifth year of its mandate, and had to call an election by mid-November at the latest.

“Yukoners have shown great confidence in our government since we took office,” said Silver.

“We humbly ask that you continue your support for our team and re-elect a Liberal government so we can keep the good work going.”

It was obvious by mid-morning Friday the election would be called.

Jeanie McLean, the minister of Tourism and Culture and other portfolios, had an advertisement urging her re-election posted on her Facebook page, as did Liberal candidate Staci McIntosh.

The office of the chief electoral officer told the Star there was nothing improper about that advertising. There are no set rules as to when candidates can begin campaigning.

Silver spent most of the news conference looking to the past and outlining what he considered to be the accomplishments of the Liberals over their term in office since late 2016.

On March 4, the government introduced an election-style, $1.8-billion budget with a record amount of more $420 million in capital spending included on projects across the Yukon.

The campaign will be a unique one, as it will be carried out with strict health regulations in place due to the pandemic and an official state of emergency in effect. Silver announced a 90-day extension of that state on March 3.

It remains to be seen how the candidates will have to adapt to those controls.

Silver said the Liberals planned on continuing with the traditional door-to-door campaign during the election, under the tightened rules issued by the chief electoral officer.

The party is also planning to utilize new methods, such as Zoom, to maximize its public exposure. It planned a news conference with that technology for late this morning.

Silver faced a number of questions from the media – including a very pointed query from CBC reporter Chris Windeyer.

He noted that Silver had been asked repeatedly about when the election would be called, including several times last week alone.

“So you obviously weren’t telling the truth about that,” Windeyer bluntly told the premier.

Silver bristled a little at that question, saying it wasn’t accurate.

The Liberal caucus hadn’t decided on a date until last Thursday night, Silver said, and it was a joint decision.

He attributed the swift enactment of that caucus consensus on the perception that neither of the opposition parties would support the budget.

At dissolution, the Liberals had 10 seats (including Speaker Nils Clarke’s), the Yukon Party six and the New Democrats two. Don Hutton left the Liberal caucus last Monday to sit as the chamber’s lone independent MLA.