The federal leader of the NDP made sure to show his support for the local candidate as his tour made a short stop in Whitehorse.

Jack Layton arrived around 5:00 yesterday afternoon aboard the jet with his name emblazoned on it. Layton attended a barbecue at the headquarters of Yukon NDP candidate Pam Boyde. About 250 people gathered for the event.

After talking with people for a few hours, Layton headed off back down the runway before 9 p.m., on his way to Vancouver.

During an interview, Layton talked about coming to visit the Yukon.

'I am here to give a lot of support to Pam,' he said.

'We're really, really happy that she's our candidate here. And she's been very involved in helping to plan the election nationally because she's on our federal council.'

This was his third visit since he entered the NDP leadership race in 2002.

'I feel I know the Yukon better than quite a few other regions because I've had a chance to be here quite a number of times,' said Layton. He's also come up here for Federation of Canadian Municipalities events.

The leader said to get Yukoners to support Boyde, they have to look at the federal party of which the current MP, Larry Bagnell, is a member.

'I think what we have to point out is the Liberals are suffering from this kind of culture of arrogance and corrupt behaviour that Canadians need to send a message that they can't carry on with that attitude,' Layton said.

Layton said it is important to have a Yukon MP who 'speaks for the Yukon in the House of Commons and isn't an emissary of Ottawa here. And most Liberal MPs have had to take that role.'

Layton believes it is time for a strong voice and thinks Boyde can be that voice for the Yukon.

Layton believes his government could help the Yukon by investing money into the territory, instead of handing out huge tax cuts to large corporations, something Yukoners don't reap many benefits from since there are few large businesses based here.

The New Democrat boss said Ottawa could put money into infrastructure like bridges, roads and sewers, because the money that is needed is higher per person than in areas with higher populations.

'I believe that Yukoners are a can-do people and therefore, should have a government that believes in investing to make things happen. And the Liberals have been much more interested in giving huge tax cuts to the very largest corporations than they have been in investing in communities that would allow for economic development.'

Layton said the NDP would put in an economic development plan and spend money to help improve the territory's economy. Currently, the Yukon has no such fund although it has been promised by the Liberal government.

Layton also wants to take a serious look at the impact of climate change and how to deal with it.

'(That) is very, very important for the people of the Yukon because the impact is enormous and it's already being experienced,' said Layton.

'We need to work in the southern cities to slow down our emissions so that it can be tempered here but we also need to assist in the adaptation process that is inevitably going to happen.'

When asked about supporting mining, a big industry in the Yukon, Layton noted the environment could be protected and jobs could be created by cleaning up abandoned sites.

'The mining could certainly be carried on,' he added.

'Our view will be to be fair and balanced,' between the environment and resource communities.

Nationally, Layton has laid out eight major commitments he would work on if elected prime minister.

Those commitments are:

• jobs in green economy;

• investment and innovation in health care;

• investment in communities, including infrastructure;

• investment in education to combat high tuition;

• make life more affordable through tax cuts for most Canadians and cutting GST off family essentials like kids' clothes and remove all taxes for people making $15,000 or less while raising taxes for people making more than $250,000;

• having an independent voice internationally, speaking out against missile defence and on trade issues. Layton believes Canada has been weak-kneed on trade matters like softwood lumber;

• integrity in government in light of scandalous behaviour of the current government;

• balanced budgets every year, which he noted is something new for the federal New Democrats.

On the last plank in the platform, Layton said the New Democrats need to 'look Canadians in the eye' and let them know the party is proposing modest steps and can accomplish their goals.

The NDP can increase spending in some areas while still balancing budgets because, according to Layton, the Liberals have each year 'dramatically' underestimated the surpluses, leaving extra money in the kitty at the end of the year.

'It's just a question of being pragmatic,' he said.

Layton does not want a minority government. He wants a majority of New Democrats.

He said that is the easiest way to achieve the party's eight major commitments.

As well, Layton said he favours changing how Canada elects its politicians to proportional representation. In proportional representation, seats are not handed to whoever has the most votes in that riding.

Instead, each party gets the same percentage of total seats as the percentage of total votes they received.

'The best way for those who want to see proportional representation, would be to throw a vote, cast a vote, for us because we will have seats and we'll be able to have influence on that whether it's in government or minority Parliament or even as a strong opposition party,' Layton said.

'True, it certainly would help us but I think the more important thing is it would prevent what has gone on in the last three elections which is 60 per cent of Canadians, six out of 10, saying they don't want the Liberals and yet the Liberals get a majority of the seats,' said Layton.

'There is something definitely wrong there because a majority of Canadians are saying that they don't agree with the government's direction and yet the government gets to carry on.'

Layton believes these distorted results have led the Liberals into believing they can carry on without a majority of Canadians and this had led to some of the scandals like the misuse of $250 million in sponsorship.

'That's what happens when the government becomes a little too sure of itself, a little too arrogant and believes it doesn't actually have to have Canadians on its side.'

A major focus for Layton is on the environment and he's doing that while the Green Party of Canada runs a candidate in every riding for the first time. He was asked how does he work to keep the Green party from splitting the vote on the left.

'I think we present our record as a party that has emphasized environmental issues; as a party that's able to get MPs elected and therefore able to make a difference in the House; and as people get to know my background. My background has been in implementing environmental solutions,' he said.

'People have a chance, particularly Greens have a chance, to look at that opportunity.'

Layton said his party is lucky to have the former Green party leader, Joan Russow, as a card-carrying New Democrat, as well as other former Green members.

On top of those people, Layton said the NDP has a number of notable people from the environmental community supporting it.

'For example, Pam (Boyde) is well known for work on environmental education and so on here.'

The NDP leader believes there is more attention from voters on environmental issues.

'I think that voters, as they look for a way to express that concern in the most positive way in this election, I think a lot of them are looking at the NDP,' he said.

He added that the Green party appears to be trying to distance itself from being viewed as a left-wing party.

Yesterday marked the end of two weeks of campaigning with just three to go. Layton's very positive about what he sees happening with his party.

'We have a lot more members and they're really getting active. A lot of young people have joined, particularly because of our environmental stand, our stand on peace, our stand against missile defence,' he said. 'That sort of youthful energy is really invigorating our party compared to last time.'

The NDP is making a resurgence this election, with polls reporting its support between 16 and 22 per cent of decided Canadians. That tops the 8.5 per cent it had in 2000. The last time the NDP had 20 per cent or more of the total vote was in the 1988 election.

'I think what we're finding is there is a real sense that people (are) quite unhappy with the Liberals and a sense that they are looking for something else. And more of them have the door open to thinking about the NDP on the national scene than we've seen in a long time.'