Darrell Pasloski, the Yukon's Conservative candidate, played second fiddle to Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl this morning, during a news conference where Strahl spent more time defending party policy than lauding the local candidate.

"Obviously, I'm pretty excited at the prospect of having Darrell in a caucus on the government side of the house, going to bat for Yukoners," Strahl began, before touting the Conservatives' "real love affair with the North."

Despite grumblings from the local media that Pasloski, who skipped last Thursday's all-candidates forum in Dawson City, has been reticent with reporters, those in attendance were more interested in questioning Strahl.

"I think we've got a pretty good track record in the last 2 1/2 years," Strahl responded when asked what his party has done for first nations while in power.

"We've extended coverage of the Canadian Human Rights Act for first nations living on reserve, they've not had that for 30 years ... that's a big step."

Strahl also talked of the Conservatives' $330-million commitment to improve water quality in first nations' communities and its attempt to extend matrimonial property rights for first nations, "something they've never had in the history of Canada."

Last March, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government introduced legislation that would ensure women on first nations reserves have property rights in the event their spouse dies or they get divorced.

However, this legislation died on the order paper after Parliament was dissolved this month, paving the way for the Oct. 14 election.

Strahl, a candidate in B.C.'s Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon, also defended his party's approach to Arctic sovereignty and northern development, while little of the plan would directly affect the Yukon.

"None of it applies to everyone, like a policy on manufacturing may or may not apply to Whitehorse ... (and) for sure, there's a difference between Yukon and Nunavut and our policies are reflective of that," Strahl said.

The maturity of the Yukon's governance structure makes for different dynamics between the territory and Ottawa, he added.

"Our relationship with the Yukon government, with (Council of Yukon First Nations) grand chief (Andy) Carvill and the first nations here ... deals at a far different level than we do in other jurisdictions," Strahl said. "The government here is well on its way to running its own ship."

On the question of recent federal cuts to arts and culture, Strahl said funding in that department has risen eight per cent under the Conservative regime.

When Pasloski's handler signaled time was short, approximately 25 minutes into the press conference, Strahl steered talk back toward Pasloski.

"If you can call on the resources and wisdom from your local member of Parliament in a caucus meeting, everything gets run through (that person), so that filter really becomes your policy filter," Strahl said before making reference to Liberal incumbent Larry Bagnell, who has been outside the proverbial government tent, rather than within.

"Right now, I make the best decision I can with the best information I have, but it's without that applicable member of Parliament because he's just not there," Strahl said.

And it was a theme Pasloski attempted to build on in the dying minutes of the media gathering.

"An integral part of representing this riding is ... (having) the ability to listen to people in the communities because there are situations and problems unique to each community," Pasloski said.

"As minister Strahl was saying, being able to have that heartbeat of what the issues are, so that you can go back to caucus and truly represent the riding in an impactful way."

According to Pasloski, people from the communities he has visited are supportive of the Conservative party.

"They like the lower taxes, less GST, personal taxes are lower ... they like that (Conservatives) are paying the debt down," Pasloski said.

"What they don't like is what they're hearing from the Liberal party, is this new permanent (carbon) tax, which will dramatically increase the cost of everything."

While the Liberal party said it would increase taxes on fossil fuels as part of its 'Green Shift', the Conservatives have promised to remove the excise tax on diesel and home heating fuel.