The writ is dropped.

Premier Dennis Fentie announced to a chamber luncheon this afternoon he would visit Commissioner Geraldine Van Bibber to drop the writ for the territorial election.

The polling date will be Oct. 10, nine days before municipal elections are held throughout the territory.

In a 25-minute speech at this afternoon's luncheon, Fentie reminded attendees, comprised mostly of MLAs, legislature employees and the business community, of the work the Yukon Party has done over its almost four-year mandate.

He highlighted the economy, the environment, a pan-northern collaborative approach, relationships with first nations, and social issues in his address.

'The Yukon Party was given a mandate to take the helm, and then steer the territory's economy in a positive direction,' Fentie said.

The governing party's four years has not been without its challenges, he said, but his party has demonstrated the leadership Yukoners were demanding when the Liberals were ousted in the 2002 election.

Fentie is now asking Yukoners 'to imagine tomorrow.

'The other parties mean well, but they offer a different direction. They offer the misguided thinking that created the problems of the past that we have all spent four years to resolve,' he told the luncheon delegates.

'They will offer yesterday, we will offer you the Yukon of tomorrow. I invite you to imagine tomorrow, and together we will make it happen.'

Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell said this afternoon the Oct. 10 deadline has presented an option to Yukoners.

'First off, all Yukoners have a choice on Oct. 10. I think that choice comes down to honesty and integrity.

'As premier, I would put ethics on the agenda,' Mitchell said.

He said he feels issues such as the environment, child care and education have been largely ignored over the Yukon Party's mandate.

'We believe government should be about people and not projects,' he said.

'It's time to elect a government that will put people first.'

Speaking from his hospital room this afternoon, NDP Leader Todd Hardy said he was disappointed in the premier's decision to call an early election. However, as of Thursday afternoon, his doctors had determined his leukemia condition was in full remission.

He said he would likely be returning to the Yukon for the last half of the campaign.

'Yesterday, my doctors came and informed me that they are not able to find a single leukemia cell in my body,' the NDP leader said.

'My hope is I will be back to participate in an important part of this election (campaigning).'

Hardy said while he believes he will be ready for the campaign ahead, he is disappointed with Fentie's announcement. The premier recently visited him in the hospital.

'I have to admit I'm a little disappointed,' Hardy said. 'Mr. Fentie had indicated to me and the Yukon public he would have liked to see every leader fully participatory for the election.

'However, it's his decision. I've never asked him for anything, and I never will.'

Fentie said calling the election for Oct. 10 is the most informed decision he is able to make as leader and in the public interest.

He told a press conference following the announcement that he wanted to inform the business community first, because it was them who pushed his party into power in the 2002 election.

Throughout his Yukon Party's mandate, the government has demonstrated political will, he said.

'We've demonstrated we do not deviate. We've stuck to our plan. No matter what has come our way, we have not been deflected.'

The premier said his visit to Hardy only confirmed that the other political leader may not be prepared to fight a campaign no matter when the writ was dropped.

'Considering his very difficult health situation, there's absolutely no guarantees even if we waited until Nov. 4, Mr. Hardy would be able to conduct a campaign,' he said. 'The decision he makes in regards to this will be his to make alone.'

He further added the pending territorial municipal elections were not a major consideration in the election call.

'It's not an issue for Yukoners, because I think Yukoners are much more politically astute to know the difference between a municipal and a general election in this territory.'

Fentie is encouraging Yukoners to re-elect his government. He said the territory's tendency to vote out governments has created political instability in the Yukon since 1989.

That has damaged the territory's ability to grow, prosper, to deal with social programs and issues, said Fentie.

'I have a message for the electorate: the decision they make on Oct. 10 is going to be a vital decision. That decision they make in the election will dictate Yukon's future,' he said.