Protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, water protection and other green issues seemed to be on the mind of more than 60 voters who turned to an environment election forum hosted by the Keep It Clean, Keep It Green, Keep It Wild Coalition Monday night at the Yukon Inn.

The coalition is made up of numerous environmental and youth organizations.

Representing the NDP at the event was Peter Lesniak who's seeking the seat in Riverdale South in next Tuesday's election while the Liberals were represented by their Whitehorse West candidate Mike Walton. Finally Patrick Rouble, who's seeking a second term in the Southern Lakes riding, was on hand to represent the Yukon Party.

'What we all know is that we need clean air and clean water,' Lesniak said in his opening statements.

An NDP government would put the environment on par with economic and social issues. It's a commitment which goes beyond Oct. 10, he said.

As questions came forward from the audience, Lesniak was quick to state an NDP government would establish new protected areas for the Three Rivers Wilderness Watersheds.

While Walton said the Liberals would establish protected areas as recommended by the land use planning council, Rouble stated a Yukon Party government will continue to identify areas that need protection and work through the process.

All three candidates noted the importance of protecting water quality in the Yukon throughout the forum.

Walton pointed to the Liberals' plan for a water strategy, with Rouble stating the Yukon Party wants a process that would protect all water in the territory.

An NDP government, Lesniak said, would ensure good water treatment for all communities.

'This situation in Champagne is scandalous,' he said.

Radiation was recently detected in well water in Champagne.

Rouble continued to go over the work the Yukon Party has done over the past four years on the environment, stressing his party has taken a balanced approach to building the economy and working to protect the environment.

In an effort to protect the Porcupine caribou herd in the north Yukon which calve in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), for example, the Yukon Party would continue to lobby American politicians against drilling in the range. The Yukon Party, including Rouble, himself has taken the message of how important the herd is to the people of Old Crow, to the Alaskan and American government, he said.

The Liberals would start a Porcupine caribou board and work with the board to take steps to protect the herd, Walton said. The Liberals are also proposing to host an international summit on the caribou.

Lesniak said his party would work with the four first nations who depend on the caribou to develop a process for the protection of places like ANWR.

When an audience member brought up a clause in the NAFTA agreement which he believes could impact ANWR, Walton was the only candidate aware of it and noted there may be room for a diplomatic challanges to be made if the U.S. hasn't fulfilled certain obligations.

Everything from ATV use to mining was also brought up, but the three candidates summed up their ideas when the final question came forward about their visions for the Yukon.

'(We've worked) to get the economy back on track and respect the environment,' said Rouble, noting he wants to see healthy communities and work with all Yukoners on a 'bright and prosperous future'.

Lesniak gave voters a choice noting the territory could take the route places like Alberta and Alaska have taken on extensive development or go in another direction, with the NDP that would involve Yukoners in a discussion on where they want the territory to go.

'The Yukon is at a critical crossroads,' he said.

Finally, Walton said he sees a future where there's an understanding of cultural and economic realities drawn from the land base in the Yukon.