With the territory's largest-ever budget now law and the legislature adjourned for five months, the two sides are accusing each other of poor conduct during the sitting.

In a post-session press conference this morning, Premier Dennis Fentie attacked the opposition for how and what it debated in the legislature this spring.

Noting his government introduced the largest budget in the territory's history $705 million Fentie said the opposition should have spent more time debating it.

'They chose not to debate the budget line by line,' said Fentie.

It's possible to debate each single figure in the budget if so chosen but the opposition chose to focus on general debate for each department and to save time by skipping line by line.

'They make that choice. That's their strategy,' the premier said about the opposition.

Fentie felt the opposition let Yukoners down by not going into this intricate debate.

The premier also accused the opposition of being 'mired in negativity' and political rhetoric.

The opposition said the premier used the session to attack them.

NDP Leader Todd Hardy has not seen such 'a performance of abuse' as the one which came firing out of Fentie's mouth during the session.

'I will not be intimidated by the abuse he's (dishing out).'

Hardy said this was the government's standard tact to attack the opposition instead of answering questions.

'What seems to be the problem is Mr. Fentie has a very (difficult) time being accountable,' said Hardy.

Liberal Leader Pat Duncan also felt Fentie was not willing to actually answer questions.

'They're not giving an answer,' said Duncan. 'He's taken the theory, it's not question period, it's message period,' to new lows.'

Fentie was asked why his government didn't always answer questions. He replied that it did, and that the opposition just didn't like the answers.

On top of that, Hardy pointed out that traditionally, the committee of the whole, where members less formally debate legislation, is where there is less battling back and forth and more straightforward questions and answers than the question period.

However, with Fentie, Hardy saw him continue the attacks and non-answers into the committee.

Hardy said it looks to him that Fentie doesn't want anybody doubting nor questioning his decisions.

'He truly and firmly believes it's his way or the highway, if you put it in crass terms,' said the NDP head.

He thinks Fentie's view is: ''Frankly, the public and opposition should shut up and stay out of his way until the next election.''

That is a mistake, said the NDP leader.

'He seems to have a difficult time recognizing that he is a caretaker,' said Hardy. He pointed out that Fentie is spending money which belongs to all Yukoners, not just the premier.

'We have to keep in mind this is not ours.'

As for the issue of being mired in negativity, it was pointed out to the premier that sometimes issues are brought forward by opposition members because of concerns from constituents, even though they may be considered negative by the government.

Fentie said bringing forward issues is not negative, but added introducing these concerns into the legislature is just one route available to the opposition, as opposed to something less public. He said bringing them into the house may be counterproductive.

'How is it counterproductive if you see the government change their mind?' asked Duncan.

She said the government made changes after issues were brought up in the legislature on more than one occasion this session.

Those changes included:

• giving adopted babies from outside Canada health care immediately;

• bringing in a neutral party to assist in the problem with the owners of reindeer who aren't able to sell any livestock due to government regulations; and

• the immediate investigation of a confidentiality breach with the territory's workers' compensation board.

'If the opposition didn't do their job, why did the government change?' she said.

Duncan also pointed out that of course the opposition will bring forward contrary views to the government's.

'The opposition's job is to oppose hello,' said Duncan.

While there was a concern with the government, Hardy said one cabinet minister stood out as the best one to deal with and one who stayed away from the abusive attacks Community Services Minister Glenn Hart.

'He's the one that managed to stay out of that,' said Hardy. 'I would rather deal with Mr. Hart.'

As for what could be improved for the future, Fentie said his government could improve how it makes decisions in the daily dealings of the legislature.

The next sitting of the legislature will be this fall. Traditionally the fall sitting starts in October.

The fall sitting will deal with new legislation and, as Fentie hinted today, likely a supplementary budget.