As blasting continues for the Hamilton Boulevard extension, more figurative blasting found its way to the Yukon legislature Tuesday when NDP MLA John Edzerza took Community Service Minister Glenn Hart to task about the new roadway.

'My question to the acting premier is: why did the Yukon government elbow (the) Kwanlin Dun (First Nation) out of the Hamilton Boulevard extension?' asked Edzerza, who represents McIntyre-Takhini.

He went on to argue both during question period and in speaking to reporters that the territory used a loop-hole in the memorandum of understanding with the city to get out of working with the first nation on the project.

'Here was a golden opportunity,' Edzerza said of the first nation working on a $15-million project.

Under the first nation's final agreement, there is a commitment to provide jobs and business opportunities to first nations people.

Instead, he said, the route was diverted around Kwanlin Dun land and at the '11th hour', the first nation was told there would be no opportunity for it to work on the project.

The original plan had seen the route placed next to Kwanlin Dun land.

While Edzerza stated it is a 'classic case of bullying,' he took back the comment when Speaker Ted Staffen told him it was inappropriate.

During question period, Hart continued to state he's satisfied the government has lived up to its obligations under the KDFN's final agreement.

'What we had was inclusion working with the first nation to try to get the route to go through an area adjacent to their specific lands, which would benefit both of us directly,' Hart said.

'It involved getting some additional land from the first nation set aside so we could make the roadway meet the appropriate standard in order to have the extension go through their area.

'That did not arise, thus an alternative route was given and we have assured the members of the Kwanlin Dun that they are able to get onto that route, should they plan to develop that area in the future they would be able to hook onto that line at a future date.'

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Hart said there was no mechanism in place to transfer the land within a reasonable amount of time, which led to the route being reconfigured.

Edzerza argued the changes will likely impact the government's relationship with the first nation. Hart said the government was 'fully up front' on the situation, has signed other deals and is working on other projects with the first nation.

The government is 'very cognizant' of the agreement, he argued.

Edzerza said he could see the first nation potentially taking the matter to court.

He also stated that he hopes the city can see how it was used by the territory.

He pointed out the first nation has supported local businesses over the years, bringing funds to businesses in the territory when the economy wasn't doing well in the 1990s.

The first nation could have chosen to purchase supplies from Outside for its projects rather than supporting local businesses, he said.

The work will link Hamilton Boulevard to the Alaska Highway near Robert Service Way.