Audrey McLaughlin, the former leader of the New Democratic Party, has emerged from a two-year absence from Canada and vocally thrown her support behind Yukon candidate Pam Boyde and the NDP for the 2006 election.

'I decided in this particular election to take a higher profile than perhaps I have before,' McLaughlin told a news conference Thursday afternoon in Whitehorse.

McLaughlin returned to the Yukon last June after having spent two years working for the National Democratic Institute in Morocco.

Since her retirement from federal politics in 1997, she has also done international work in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, but she has never become this vocal in an election campaign.

The ex-Yukon MP said her work overseas has encouraged her to speak out on behalf of the NDP this election.

Two things 'really struck' McLaughlin during her work in Morocco, she told reporters the 'absolute joy people have in being able to vote and express themselves and have that freedom' and how corruption in government 'undermines the basis of democracy.

'I have to say (when I returned to Canada), I was extremely frustrated and disappointed about the cynicism here, the apathy here of voters,' she said. 'This kind of cynicism is perhaps the greatest scandal of all that has been created by the Liberals.'

Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberal government has demonstrated corruption, lack of accountability and arrogance, added McLaughlin.

'As corruption becomes a part of a political system, it undermines any real form of democracy. Voters are not powerless. It's not just other people that change the system. It's the voters.'

Democracy is something that must be 'worked at' and needs 'care and involvement' from the governing party, she said.

'I would really challenge people who look at the news every night and weep at international events to say, I can make a difference here in Canada, too' and you can do that. We can make a difference,' McLaughlin said.

'Individuals are not powerless, caught between two difficult places, two bad choices. There's a good choice, there's a third choice the NDP. They can vote a positive choice.'

McLaughlin said she has made it her goal in this election to challenge people to 'really think about what their vote means.'

Her support has been thrown behind Boyde in the way of campaigning and developing strategy. She has also voiced a campaign ad for radio, which asks voters to 'say No' to Liberal corruption.'

McLaughlin said her message is more directed at Yukoners than it is at the rest of Canada.

NDP Leader Jack Layton 'speaks to the country, not me,' she said.

'I'm hoping that Yukoners will think very hard about their future here,' she added.

'(Liberal incumbent) Larry (Bagnell) is a nice person. I don't have any problems with Larry, but he is a Liberal. He is part of the problem, not part of the solution.

'You cannot separate yourself from party policies and what your party has done.'

McLaughlin added, 'To me what is important is voting for a party that you feel will bring that kind of integrity that has the policies that you feel will best move Canada forward.'

McLaughlin served as an MP from 1987 until 1997. In 1989, she became the first woman to lead a national party and held that post until 1995.

See letters, commentaries on election, pages 14-17.