A handful of new MLAs posed their first questions in the legislature Monday afternoon.

They brought to the surface some of the most controversial issues from October's election, like the future of the Peel watershed, housing and the economy.

And although members— for the most part — kept up the decorum in the room, it was hard to miss those first few loaded remarks from a few MLAs.

Jim Tredger, the NDP MLA for Mayo-Tatchun, brought up what party leader Liz Hanson called "the elephant in the room” last week: the Peel.

He wanted to know when the planning process would get back on track.

The final decision was supposed to be made by November, and that timeline has been missed, he said.

Brad Cathers, the government's house leader and the Lake Laberge MLA, told Tredger he was wrong. There was some delay, he said, but that was due to the election.

Cathers said he has sent a letter to the four affected First Nations chiefs with a proposed new timeline and they have replied. Cathers planned to table the letters during this afternoon's sitting.

Tredger asked Cathers again when the public will know the government's position on the Peel.

"Again, I have to correct the members understanding with regard to the process,” said Cathers.

"I know that he has been relying to a large extent on the political rhetoric to guide his understanding of the process. Unfortunately, the NDP has not properly understood some of the details pertaining to this plan.”

Cathers mimicked what Premier Darrell Pasloski said over and over during the election campaign: the debate has become unnecessarily polarized and politicized.

"The debate has also at times lost touch with reality,” he said. "It's time to shift the debate from whether to protect the environment in the Peel, to how to best protect the Peel while allowing the responsible use.”

Hanson stuck to her housing beat.

She asked what the government's plan is to alleviate the crisis this winter.

Scott Kent, the minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corp., was quick to tout the government's past accomplishments. However, he did not reveal anything beyond his party's plan to release land for affordable housing and working with First Nations.

The premier responded to his first question Monday. Interim Liberal Leader Darius Elias wanted to know what Pasloski's plan is to keep the economy strong when countries all over the world are facing massive debt crises.

"What we plan to do is continue to keep moving the economy forward; that's the best recipe for success,” Pasloski said.

He asked members to refer to his party's campaign platform to see how investment in infrastructure and diversifying the economy would keep the territory well out of the red.

When Elias' voice rose, Pasloski asked him to leave the hockey analogies for another day.

"Keep those elbows down,” the premier urged.

Klondike MLA Sandy Silver wanted to know why there is no money earmarked for a new recreation centre in Dawson City in the supplementary budget docments tabled last Thursday.

"In the recent election campaign, the now-premier came to Dawson and told people that they were getting a new recreation centre if they voted for the Yukon Party,” Silver said. "Why is there no money in the budget?”

Community Services Minister Elaine Taylor referred to the $4 million the government is contributing to the current recreation schedule.

She said this is the first supplementary budget of a five-year term, and that and the government is committed to working with the City of Dawson.