The new prime minister promised a new economic development strategy for the North in Monday's throne speech.

But local and national politicians differ on whether there is really any substance to that commitment.

Governor General Adrienne Clarkson read the speech from the throne in Ottawa. This was the first speech written by a government headed up by Prime Minister Paul Martin.

The speech talked about the government dealing with regional and rural development.

'It will develop a northern strategy, ensuring that economic development related to energy and mining is brought on stream in partnership with northern Canadians, based on stewardship of our most fragile northern ecosystems,' the speech read.

For the Yukon's Liberal MP, Larry Bagnell, the announcement gives some direction to the project he is working on.

In December, Bagnell was appointed as the parliamentary secretary to the minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development with special focus on northern economic development.

'I was very excited about that; it sort of gives me my mandate,' Bagnell said today in an interview from Ottawa.

With his parliamentary secretary position, Bagnell will be working on the northern strategy.

The MP also liked the fact the statement mentioned protecting the environment as well as improving the economy.

'We're cautiously optimistic on such issues as the northern strategy,' Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie said this morning, responding to the throne speech.

Fentie said the Yukon needs 'strategic investment of money and requires the federal government's involvement.

'We need Ottawa to recognize the Yukon, for example, is a treasure trove of resources,' the premier said.

But opposition politicians in Ottawa were not sold on the prime minister's commitment to northern development.

John Duncan, the Indian and Northern Affairs critic for the new Conservative party, called the statements in the throne speech pertaining to the North as very non-specific.

'There's no meat on the bone here,' Duncan said this morning in an interview from Ottawa.

'There's obviously some very specific things that need to occur.'

NDP Leader Jack Layton, also speaking to the Star from Ottawa, complained about the lack of clarity on the northern economic strategy.

'Where's the beef?' Layton wondered.

The New Democratic leader was concerned about the fact the speech only talks about economic development for energy and mining.

'It leaves everything else out,' he said.

Fentie was asked if he was concerned the speech mainly focused on energy and mining development in the Yukon.

'No, not really, because there's a lot of that we as a territorial government can do,' said Fentie. 'That doesn't preclude us from focusing on other areas.'

He added to do more on economic development than just on energy and mining, there would have to be some funding deal with Ottawa in place. This would be a type of economic development fund.

Bagnell said the statement does not mean the economic development strategy would be focused solely on energy and mining.

'I don't see it limited to that at all,' the MP said.'I'm sure that there (is) not going to be limited (to) that economy itself.'

He added the throne speech does talk about the modern economy.

Layton wonders if the focus on energy and mining means Martin just wants to pump fuels out of the North so they can be burned down south and 'melt the North'.

He believes Martin let the North down by not trying to deal with climate change.

'A complete absence of a plan for Kyoto is devastating for the North,' said Layton.

The Kyoto accord is an international pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions the previous prime minister, Jean Chretien, promised to implement. Greenhouse gases have been linked to causing climate change.

Layton said the North is most affected because of the warming of the region and the high cost of importing fossil fuels like diesel into the territories hurt the pocketbooks of local citizens.

The NDP leader wants to see some commitment to new, renewable types of energy, like wind and solar, to help the North on this front 'so we don't see the North melt.'

The speech does speak about Canadians working on 'green technologies' and that 'Canada will respect its commitments to the Kyoto accord on climate change'.

The opposition politicians are also concerned that what Martin has promised in his throne speech may not come to fruition

'In actual fact, nothing will transpire between the delivery of this document and the election,' said Duncan, the MP for Vancouver Island North who was elected under the Canadian Alliance banner.

He said the Conservative party is concerned the Liberal party is using the pre-election speech to 'inoculate the government from criticisms' so that when people complain, the government can point to the speech to show what it is doing. But in actuality, said Duncan, nothing will likely be done before the election.

But at least one of the promises is already in effect, Bagnell countered.

The speech promises a 'new deal' with municipalities.

'The government of Canada is prepared now, as a down payment, to act in its own jurisdiction by providing all municipalities with full relief from the portion of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) they now pay,' the speech stated.

According to the statement, this will mean an extra $7 billion for Canada's municipalities over the next 10 years.

Bagnell said Ottawa stopped charging municipalities GST as of last Sunday.

'Some things are being put in place right away.'

Whitehorse Mayor Ernie Bourassa was happy with the prime minister's announcement.

'It's just one less expense that municipalities will be faced with,' the mayor said today.

For 2004, Bourassa believes Whitehorse would have spent about $380,000 on the GST, thanks mainly to construction on the multiplex.

In a regular year, the city would spend $150,000 to $200,000 on the tax.

'It is a significant amount of money for us,' Bourassa said of the savings.

This may mean in the future, the city may be able to bring in smaller tax increases than planned, for example, the mayor said.

Fentie was also encouraged by what the speech said about aboriginal people. He said it shows Ottawa recognizes its responsibilities with indigenous people in terms of health care, education and making first nations capable of taking care of their people through a number of areas like economic development and addictions treatment.

The premier called on Ottawa to recognize that responsibility during meetings he had last week with Martin and Indian Affairs Minister Andy Mitchell.

Bagnell said 'there's a lot of things for aboriginal people' in the speech, including assisting children, as well as helping first nations citizens with education and training.

He said the speech demonstrates the federal government wants to try to close the gap in terms of social and economic status between non-natives and the country's indigenous people.

The prime minister is showing the gap 'is not acceptable' by putting that in the speech, said Bagnell.

See related stories, pages 8, 12.