The North will stay the course after Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) Premier Joe Handley leaves politics, the Yukon's premier says.

Premier Dennis Fentie said in an interview this morning that he and Nunavut premier Paul Okalik will work with whoever takes over the reigns of government from Handley, who has announced he is retiring from politics.

'We have just heard that Premier (Joe) Handley will not run in the upcoming election.

'He's chosen to step out of the political arena and we wish him well.'

Fentie said he's worked closely with Handley over the past few years to further northern issues, and that the outgoing premier's contribution will be missed.

'He was a stalwart for the North, we're old friends, good neighbours and good partners.'

Handley, who was first elected in 1999, announced this week that he would not be running for re-election when N.W.T. voters go to the polls on October 1.

Fentie said the retiring of Handley will not affect the progress of the Northern Vision, a strategy to aid in negotiations with Ottawa unveiled by the three northern premiers earlier this year.

The Northern Vision outlines a framework for the North with a focus on sovereignty, sustainable communities, climate change and circumpolar regions.

The strategy, which calls for adaptation measures to be researched and adopted to adjust to climate change, received unanimous support from the leaders at the Western Premiers Conference this summer.

The strategy was endorsed by leaders from all 10 provinces last week at the meeting of Council of the Federation, which met in Moncton, New Brunswick.

'We're not going to change our course at all,' Fentie said.

'There's no reason to be concerned with anything changing in that regard.'