The Yukon's premier has made it clear he wants the Northwest Territories' pipeline finished before construction on the Alaska Highway line ever starts.

While on CBC Newsworld's TV show Politics last Friday, Fentie told host Don Newman the Yukon wants the Mackenzie Valley pipeline, which travels through the N.W.T., to be completed first.

Fentie has said he supports the construction of both lines. This, however, is believed to be the first time he has ever said he wants the Mackenzie line completed before work begins on building the Alaska Highway pipeline, which would travel through the Yukon.

'It's so frustrating because the sell-out's complete. Who spoke for the Yukon? Not the guy whose plane fare we paid,' Liberal Leader Pat Duncan said in an interview Tuesday.

'Mr. Fentie's comments set the Alaska Highway project back considerably.'

While she was premier from 2000 to 2002, Duncan fought for the Alaska Highway, wanting to get it built before the N.W.T. route.

Her concern was that if the N.W.T. route was built first, there was a chance the Alaska Highway line would never be laid.

She said that's not necessarily a concern now. Her big issue at this point is that this is sending a message to Ottawa to not worry about pushing for the Alaska route.

'He simply laid down and said, Go ahead, that's fine, work on that one first,' she said.

'Yukoners want and need a champion in Ottawa.'

She said Fentie has allowed the Yukon's priorities to be shoved to the side.

NDP Leader Todd Hardy was also surprised by Fentie's comments to Newman.

'What is the justification in saying that?' the New Democrat asked Tuesday.

Hardy doesn't see what benefit there would be for the Yukon in the Mackenzie Valley pipeline, which would carry natural gas from the N.W.T. to points south.

The NDP boss' other concern is that Fentie is putting this stance forward in Ottawa when he hasn't made Yukoners aware of what he thinks on the matter.

'Mr. Fentie seems to be a lot freer with his comments outside of the Yukon.'

This is a problem for Hardy.

He said the premier should be accountable to Yukoners first, not the prime minister nor the national media.

'He's making comments that are catching people by surprise in the territory.'

In an interview earlier Tuesday, Fentie defended his comments on Politics.

He said the producers who own the natural gas in Alaska's North Slope and the N.W.T.'s Mackenzie Delta have already set the timetables for completing the two projects, with the Mackenzie going first.

He said the two projects cannot be built at the same time because of how much money and resources they require.

The point of his comment was to let Ottawa know that they cannot delay in permitting the Mackenzie pipeline. Any delays on that timetable, said Fentie, would push back the Alaska Highway project.

'We're saying to Ottawa, You can't allow delays in the Mackenzie line to be extended too long,'' he said.