Premier Ranj Pillai has named an interim successor to Michael Prochazka, the deputy minister who was killed in a vehicle accident last Friday south of Whitehorse.

“With the sudden passing of deputy minister of Environment Michael Prochazka, Premier Ranj Pillai has implemented interim leadership measures to ensure continuity and stability in the Department of Environment’s operations,” the government said in a statement this morning.

“Effective immediately, Briar Young will serve in the role of deputy minister of Environment until a permanent replacement is appointed. Briar Young has more than 24 years of experience in environmental management and natural resource regulation, holding various positions in the public and private sectors.”

Deputy ministers, including presidents of government corporations, are the most senior public servants in the government. They are responsible for the departments’ or corporations’ budget, day-to-day operations and program development.

Deputy ministers serve at the pleasure of the premier.

Young moved to the Yukon in 2008 with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, where he managed the Oceans and Habitat program for the Yukon and Transboundary Rivers area.

He joined the territorial government in 2013 and served in numerous positions in the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources before joining Environment in 2023 as the assistant deputy minister of environmental sustainability.

Environment Minister Nils Clarke was injured in last Friday’s Alaska Highway collision, and was flown to Vancouver for hospital treatment.