Yukon NDP Leader Todd Hardy expects more about the North will be coming out of Ottawa following meetings he had in the nation's capital Sunday and Monday.

Hardy is on his way back to the territory after taking part in meetings with other NDP leaders from across the country. Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton arranged the gathering.

Along with meetings among other NDP leaders and Layton, Hardy also had a separate breakfast session with Northwest Territories NDP MP Dennis Bevington and Michelle Gillis, a Nunavut federal NDP executive member.

Both territories operate under a non-partisan legislature, which means there is no NDP representation at the territorial level.

During the breakfast meeting, Hardy said the three reached on agreement that on common issues to the North, they would work together to increase awareness of the North and make the region's voice stronger in Parliament.

While Hardy said the agreement will likely provide a stronger voice for the North, Bevington is already working hard on that.

'He's already, in many ways, doing a lot of stuff for the North,' Hardy said.

He pointed out it was Bevington who first brought forward the issue of raising the northern residency deduction on income tax.

Hardy also pointed out that many provinces have northern regions which reflect many of the same issues the territories face.

In discussions among all the territorial/provincial leaders and Layton, there were a number of concerns around the tax cuts by the Harper government, which Hardy argued could in turn mean a cut to services.

Describing the Conservative government as taking a 'right-wing, American-style' approach, Hardy said he doesn't believe it reflects the values of most Canadians.

There was also a lot of concern around the slow-down in manufacturing that has seen thousands of job losses in Ontario and Quebec due to the high Canadian dollar that's impacted trade with the U.S.

As the federal government revenues shrink from that, that will likely mean less money coming to the North, Hardy pointed out.

He argued that in good economic times, the territorial government should be planning for how it will deal with an economic downturn.

Hardy believes to do that, the government needs to look at ways to help diversify the economy, looking beyond the traditional economic engines.

'I don't see that diversification,' he said, after noting that by diversifying the economy when one part of it experiences a downturn, other parts of the economy can keep running.

It almost seems the territorial government is 'sleep-walking' through an economic boom rather than planning for the future, he added.

There have been many opportunities lost around initiatives such as building a youth shelter and housing, he said.

With some of the financial messes the territory is in, money could be tied up for years to come, he pointed out.

Hardy was set to return to the territory today.