Opposition leaders are sure to keep Premier Dennis Fentie's government on the hot seat when the legislative assembly reconvenes Thursday afternoon.

While the value of the government's multimillion-dollar failed commercial paper investment is unknown amidst the collapse of U.S. sub prime mortgage markets, add confusion over infrastructure spending. That developed after it was announced the incomplete multi-care facility in Watson Lake would become the territory's newest hospital.

"We need a much better explanation of what's going on at Watson Lake (and the) failed Watson Lake multi-care facility," Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell said today of the truncated project.

"Why and how did the government put out a $25-million tender for a hospital? It seems very ad hoc."

Mitchell also wants to know how the government plans to safeguard the territory's economy in light of the financial crisis - shock waves of which are being felt worldwide.

"There's no force field around the Yukon; we've got mining, mineral exploration, tourism and government spending," said Mitchell.

"It's particularly timely considering the financial upheavals in the world, and if our customers are facing hard times, of course it affects our economy, so I want to know what the government has planned to make up for shortfalls."

As for the Asset Backed Commercial Paper (ABCP) venture that has tied up $36.5 million for the next eight years, while the government has maintained it has not lost anything, Mitchell disagrees.

"All sorts of private companies (involved in ABCP) have taken write downs to reflect the current values and they may take additional write downs to reflect the current value," he said.

NDP Leader Todd Hardy shares Mitchell's economic worries. He told the Star this morning his party will hold a press conference Wednesday to announce its grievances with the current regime.

"We're going to be laying out clearly the main issues facing the Yukon people and Fentie's government's lack of attention to these areas," he said.

After the meltdown of U.S. stock markets precipitated a domino effect felt around the world, Hardy's call for a meeting to discuss what the Yukon could do to bolster its own economy fell on deaf ears.

"We've already called for a summit of local leaders, business and labour groups to chart a course through these rough waters and Fentie has dismissed this," said Hardy.

From the premier's perspective, all governments in the country should be concerned with recent international finance developments, and the Yukon is no different, Hardy said.

"It is a fact that the Yukon economy is on the positive side of the equation and a lot of that can be attributed to our overall position fiscally, in terms of our presence on the national stage, in terms of all the work we've been doing to further the Yukon internationally," he said.

"So we go forward with a positive outlook but maintaining a steady hand and the voice of reason in the forefront ... we've gone from running a deficit to having a surplus."

While mining investment is up more than tenfold from 1996 and unemployment rates remain below the national average, the cost of fuel continues to rise, notwithstanding the recent drop of gasoline prices .

The Oct. 17 cancellation of a multimillion-dollar deal to mine tungsten, between North American Tungsten and a Chinese firm, has added to the uncertainty.

Nevertheless, Fentie said his government has been strong on all fronts and will maintain its prudence.

"What we demonstrated is our continued efforts to grow the economy, while being strong on the social side," said Fentie, citing the government's commitment to day care subsidies and progress being made on climate change.

It's a long list and a forward-looking plan."

But for Mitchell, the current government has neglected education reform, "which has morphed into 'New Horizons'... instead of addressing why students are failing and are not where they should be at."

As well, Mitchell wants to see something permanent established to deal with youth homelessness in Whitehorse.

"The current process of using a cell phone for (homeless) youth to contact, then putting them into a detox centre for the night is not a best practices solution," he said. "And something permanent needs to be provided."