The NDP opted to debate the state of Yukon's economy last Wednesday, the first opposition motion day of the fall sitting.

The official Opposition brought forward a motion urging "the Yukon government to build an inclusive, diversified and strong economy with good jobs and opportunities for all.”

The NDP offered a 12-step plan for achieving that goal, starting with completing regional land use plans to create economic certainty.

The NDP also called on the government to:

• partner with First Nations governments on economic development by fully representing and honouring final agreements;

• stimulate a green economy and build a renewable energy future;

• support tourism and avoid decisions that "tarnish” the territory's tourism brand;

• lessen dependence on extractive industries;

• generate more value from those industries by lessening reliance on fly-in/fly-out labour;

• recognize the importance of a vibrant arts community for our economy;

• implement policy to improve access, speed, and prices of telecommunications;

• improve management of capital projects;

• increase small and local business' access to capital and government contracts;

• target job creation measures for rural Yukon; and

• create more skills training within our educational system.

NDP Leader Liz Hanson spoke for the majority of the lengthy debate, touching on the various aspects of her party's motion.

"We're looking for political leadership. That's what Yukoners need: political leadership,” Hanson said.

"It's easy to govern in times of plenty, and these last few years have been times of plenty across the North, although it must be said that there has not been a natural economic trickle-down of benefits of economic growth,” she continued.

After offering an economic "snapshot” of the territory based the 2013 economic outlook, Hanson began to address the 12 items of the NDP's economic plan, speaking for close to three hours.

Following her closing comments, Environment and Economic Development Minister Currie Dixon rose to propose an amendment to the motion.

"The problem is that it lists off 12 particular points and highlights 12 specific industries or methods for growing the economy. That list is notable for its omissions,” Dixon said.

The motion doesn't mention the knowledge economy, the oil and gas industry, nor the exploration industry, he added.

His amendment had the motion read simply: "that this house urges the Yukon government to continue to build an inclusive, diversified and strong economy with good jobs and opportunities for all.”

Jan Stick, the NDP's house leader, rose to speak against the amendment on behalf of the party.

"First, I would go to the words adding "to continue” because that would suggest that this government is currently doing everything it can to continue "...to build an inclusive, diversified and strong economy with good jobs and opportunities for all,” she began.

Stick argued that while the list may not have specifically named every relevant industry, they were included by virtue of the various priorities listed.

Debate on the motion and the amendment to the motion was adjourned when the house rose for the day at 5:30 p.m.