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Premier loses deputy chief of staff

The Yukon Party isn’t saying much, other than that Jonas Smith left his post late last week.

The Yukon Party isn’t saying much, other than that Jonas Smith left his post late last week.

“(He) chose it was time to move on,” said cabinet spokesperson Dan Macdonald.

Smith served as Pasloski’s campaign manager during the 2011 territorial election. After the victory he worked as the premier’s executive assistant.

Smith was briefly named chief of staff in early 2015. But, in a confusing turn of events, Pasloski announced just one day later that it had been a temporary post, and that Michael Hale would hold the job on a permanent basis. Smith was then given the title deputy chief of staff - a job that hadn’t existed until then.

Smith’s departure comes at a time when all political parties are ramping up for the next territorial election.

Pasloski must call an election by this fall. Both opposition parties have already begun to announce potential candidates.