Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell wants to put $250 into the pockets of Yukoners at tax time.

'This means more money in Yukoners' pockets,' Mitchell told a Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday. 'I think the public knows what they want to spend their money on.'

He added Yukoners would rather spend their money themselves than have the government do it for them.

'Lowering taxes benefits everyone and puts people first,' said Mitchell.

A Liberal government would introduce an amendment to the Yukon's Income Tax Act in the spring of 2007 that would eliminate the first $250 paid in Yukon income tax by individuals, he added.

The proposed program would likely cost about $5 million a year, said Mitchell.

'We have an $800-million budget,' said Mitchell. 'We can find $5 million a year to take the lowest-paid Yukoners, who primarily this will help.

'It will help everybody, but there are some people this would eliminate the Yukon tax for, and those are the people that this will make a meaningful difference in their lives.'

Mitchell said this is a concrete way for a government to help the territory's economy.

More money in Yukoners' pockets will provide a stimulus to the economy, because individuals will likely spend the money locally, he said.

The money will help a variety of issues, said Mitchell, citing the costs of day care, fuel and home heating as an example.

'We aren't telling Yukoners what their most important need is. We're saying, You know better than government does that you're struggling with some high costs today.''

Mitchell said the Liberals haven't made any decisions on whether this would have an impact on the $150-energy rebate the Income Tax Act was amended to provide to low-income Yukoners last year.

The program, however, wouldn't have a negative impact on individuals already getting money back from their tax returns, said Mitchell.

'We're not looking to give with one hand and take away with another.'

Acting NDP Leader Steve Cardiff attended the luncheon and told the Star the Liberals' proposal is interesting, but he's skeptical.

Mitchell didn't provide the luncheon with any details, said Cardiff.

'He says he's really good at keeping books, but he didn't provide any costing on that.'

Mitchell's 10-page and almost 30-minute address to the luncheon focused predominantly on the economy.

'We're not in any way going to do anything to hurt the economy. We want to continue to grow it,' said Mitchell.

There is a great deal of fear mongering currently going on about how a change of government could impact the economic future of the territory, said Mitchell.

But the current economic climate has very little to do with the work of the Yukon Party and much more to do with historic lows in interest rates in North America, global trends regarding mineral prices and huge amounts of federal cash flowing to the territory in transfer payments as well as money leading up to the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

Mitchell also hit on the Liberals' stance on the environment, saying the party would make addressing climate change a top priority.

A Liberal government would develop a comprehensive climate change action plan and ensure the Yukon is reducing its fair share of greenhouse gases, he said.

It's a commitment the Yukon Party made last week when Premier Dennis Fentie unveiled the government's climate change strategy which is meant to act as a framework to create an action plan.

'We want economic development that will respect our environment,' said Mitchell. 'After all, it's our environment that's the main attraction for our tourism industry.'

Mitchell also drew reference to the Porcupine caribou herd. He criticized the current government's stance on its protection and for not doing enough to push the cause in Washington or Ottawa.

'We must do more to let the world know about the risks to this treasure, and it starts by hosting a Porcupine caribou summit to drive international awareness and develop a co-ordinated approach to protect this priceless heritage,' he said.

'The Liberal party is trying to claim ground on things the NDP has fought for,' said Cardiff.

Vuntut Gwitchin MLA Lorraine Peter has been going down to Washington for years to push the cause, said Cardiff. Mitchell has only made one trip to the American capital.

The Liberals would also improve on the current permitting process, said Mitchell, and put greater emphasis on sustainable community economic development.

But Yukoners' top priority is ethical leadership, said Mitchell. Ethics and integrity are the cornerstone of the Liberals' campaign and what the party is building its platform around.

'I believe honesty and integrity are paramount in government, so government must be more open, more transparent and more accountable,' said the Liberal leader.

'The Liberals don't have any credibility when it comes to ethics and integrity,' said Cardiff.

The Liberals voted against all the pieces of legislation tabled by the NDP over the last four years, said Cardiff, including legislative reform, floor-crossing and whistle blower acts.

'Why is it now so important when they couldn't support it before?' asked Cardiff.

The Liberals would bring forward a Yukon Ethics and Accountability Act, said Mitchell. It would address politicians carrying government debt, and serious criminal convictions.

A Liberal government would also 'clean up' government contracting and address the current prevalence of sole-sourced contracting, he said.

The Liberals also want to make changes to how appointments to government boards are made, he said.

'Only 16 per cent of Yukoners think their government is ethical,' Mitchell told the 48 attendees, which included many Liberal candidates for the Oct. 10 election.

'That is just embarrassing. We must do better. We deserve better, and under my leadership, we will do better.'

Social issues and partnerships with first nations were not mentioned in Mitchell's address.

He told the Star he has made public statements on both previously and the party's stance is already on the record.

The five pillars of the Liberals' platform draw reference to both, but details have not yet been released.