David Laxton resigns as Yukon Speaker, Patti McLeod takes over

Yukon MLAs have elected a new Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, after David Laxtonunexpectedly resigned from the post on Tuesday.

A statement from the Yukon Party on Tuesday said Laxtonwas giving up his position as Speaker for "personal reasons." He's been Speakersince the last territorial election, in 2011.

"I have decided at this time, I need to step back from this role and focus on personal matters," Laxton is quoted in statement.

The Porter Creek Centre MLA has also left the governing Yukon Party caucus to sit as an Independent MLA.

MLAsvotedTuesday afternoon to install Watson Lake MLA PattiMcLeodas the new Speaker. She was immediately sworn in.

McLeod was first elected in 2011 and has previously served as Deputy Speaker. She will fulfilher new role until the nextterritorial election later this year.