Members of Mr. Bell's enriched Grade 10 class, who had gallery seats for the legislative assembly's fall season opener Thursday, got more pomp than circumstance from the Yukon's elected representatives.

Not long after the class settled in, the gloves were off and students were treated to a withering back-and-forth of barbs.

"Well, I can see we're right back at it," said Opposition Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell, in what would be a characterization of the negative tone that encompassed question period.

Mitchell opened by attacking the government on failing to position the territory to weather the economic downturn and on Watson Lake's unfinished multi-care facility's new multmillion-dollar hospital redesign.

"So let me ask the minister what he intends to do with what is now being referred to as the ‘Watson Lake sinkhole'," Mitchell challenged.

Public Works Minister Archie Lang held the government line that the planned hospital project is "not over-budget" and that it is "a work in progress."

In 2005, work began on what was envisioned as a multi-care facility to be joined with the existing hospital. To date, an unfinished building shell occupies the site.

Premier Dennis Fentie, who is Watson Lake's MLA, told the Star expenditures to date on the project are $4.2 million.

However, Mitchell did not buy it.

"Who knows what the real cost of the facility is - somewhere between $5 million and $10 million?" he asked.

"Now, we see that there is a $25-million call for a proposed hospital."

But it was questions on the economy that dominated proceedings.

"Mr. Speaker, the member has no credibility when it comes to an economy," Fentie said after Mitchell charged the premier had no plan "to keep Yukoners working."

"What spending priorities will this government advance and what incentives does this government intend to put in place?" asked Mitchell.

The most heated exchange came when Hardy challenged the premier to a debate on the NDP's contribution to the economy "anytime, anywhere."

"Mr. Speaker, I am always a little nervous of accepting economic advice from the NDP," chided Fentie.

"We all know, historically and the evidence is everywhere, of the difficulty the NDP has when it comes to managing an economy," said the premier, who is a former NDP caucus member.

Visibly upset, Hardy leaned over his desk waving a letter signed by "85 economists" warning that "Complacent expressions of faith in our 'fundamentals,' and other varieties of economic denial, will not protect Canadians from the coming storm."

Fentie countered that the government will accept advice "relevant to the issue," then credited his Yukon Party for the drop in unemployment in the territory.

Hardy wants the government to resuscitate the Yukon Council on the Economy and Environment (YCEE), an advisory body reared under the 1996-2000 NDP government of Piers McDonald that has since fallen dormant.

"For some reason, this premier has blocked its ability to advise him, and I don't understand why he's doing it," Hardy said.

Comprised of appointed members from business and industry and first nations groups, the council filed its last annual report in 2004.

In contrast, Fentie announced yesterday he will hold "roundtable discussions" with "key stakeholders" as well as "striking an internal committee of deputy ministers, chaired by (himself))," to keep an economic vigil.

Where Fentie and Hardy may differ on what type of consultation could provide the best economic advice, Fentie made good on part of the NDP leader's charge he is getting his talking points from Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Similar to during the federal election campaign, when Harper offered stock tips instead of concern in the early days of the crumbling U.S. sub-prime mortgage banks,

Fentie shared some of his investment savvy Thursday.

"This is not the time to panic and sell," he said, suggesting that government buyouts around the world would likely stabilize the marketplace.

"There are a lot of initiatives - unprecedented initiatives - taking place on the global market today, investing hundreds of billions of dollars back into the system to make credit available."

Today, Mitchell again hammered the premier for using "buzzwords... that do not instill confidence.

"Yukoners expected a financial statement in the form of a supplemental budget laying out a spending and action plan for the coming months," Mitchell said in a press release.

"Instead, all we got was a last-minute news release."

And so ended a lively but relatively inconsequential first round of legislative debate in the first of the 28-day fall sitting of the assembly.

Several bills tabled ... .