Yukoners who sign up to become members of the territorial NDP are officially signing up to be members of the federal party as well, thanks to a motion passed by the territorial party at its spring convention on Saturday.

Max Fraser introduced the motion to reconcile the question of whether or not new members were signing up solely for the Yukon NDP or for both the territorial and federal parties.

"This needs to be clarified,” he said at the meeting.

Although the motion was just passed, Mount Lorne MLA Steve Cardiff said he's been selling memberships for 20 to 25 years, and has always understood that when people join the territorial party, they automatically became a member of the federal part.

"We're all of the same mind. The values and the goals and what we stand for are consistent, I believe, federally and territorially and in the provinces,” Cardiff said in an interview today.

"I don't have a problem being a member federally and territorially. I think it's a good thing, actually, because it makes us more united.”

Not everyone agreed with Cardiff's view, however. Former NDP president Boyd Pyper called the move discriminatory.

"This is an inclusive party,” he said during debate at the convention. "It is not OK to exclude people because they don't like the federal party.”

Yukon NDP Leader Liz Hanson said debate over the issue was "healthy” and won't stop people from supporting the NDP territorially, even if they don't want to be part of the federal party.

"But to be a member and to participate in the decision-making process and the formation of policy and platform, then it is important that you be clear about where you allegiances stand,” she said in an interview today.

Hanson noted the motion will not change how the party operates and will not affect donations, as the territorial and federal parties remain separate legal entities.

When donations are made, it must be specified whether the money is going toward the territorial party or the federal party.

Other territorial and provincial NDP groups appear to have similar membership processes, Hanson said.

Based on information available on their websites, the Saskatchewan NDP seems to have a similar process to the Yukon NDP, while it appears that signing up for the Manitoba, Alberta or PEI NDP will only get you membership with the provincial party.

Online information on membership for other territorial and provincial NDP was unclear.

Hanson doesn't believe the clarification in membership policy will have any effect on membership.

"I think that people joining the Yukon NDP want to see the Yukon NDP become government, and they're focused on the Yukon NDP as a territorial party,” she said.