It came as no surprise to NDP Leader Todd Hardy and Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell when Premier Dennis Fentie issued a more-than $257-million money supply bill on Wednesday.

The warrant was issued the same day Fentie announced the legislature would reconvene March 30. It authorizes up to $257,148,000 to be spent on government operations from April 1, the start of the new fiscal year, to April 30.

'It's one in a series of continued disappointments,' Mitchell said in an interview.

The Yukon Party government has issued the warrants for the past three years.

Such warrants should be in place for emergency situations or when a government is in transition and there is a timing issue, such as was the case in the April 2000 election when the Liberals defeated the reigning NDP government , said Mitchell.

He and Hardy argued the legislature should have been recalled earlier so the budget or at least an interim money supply bill, which would provide funding until the new budget is passed, could be debated.

Mitchell would have liked to see the legislature recalled at least a week or two previous to the March 30 date that's been set. He also said there's no reason there can't be more warning about when the legislature will reconvene.

The amount of political benefit that comes with less warning is so minimal, there's not a lot to be gained from it, said Mitchell.

'Why not give sufficient notification?' he questioned.

Hardy, meanwhile, would have liked to see MLAs return to the legislature at the end of February or the beginning of March.

'That would have allowed for scrutiny and debate,' he said of the budget, noting this marks the third time the government has bypassed the proper budgeting process by bringing in a special warrant.

It shows very poor planning on the part of the Yukon Party government, he said.

In addition to the 2006/2007 budget, safe communities legislation is expected to come forward during this sitting.

The legislation was proposed during the fall sitting. The NDP proposed it to target properties being used for illegal drugs, prostitution, solvent abuse, unlawful sale and consumption of alcohol, and possibly gambling dens.

Hardy noted it was the NDP, not the Yukon Party, which tabled the motion on safe communities legislation last fall. The government has been 'riding the wave' of federal funding coming in for things like the 2007 Canada Winter Games and high mineral and gas prices since taking office 3 1/2 years ago, Hardy added.

'It's easy to ride a wave,' he said.

There seems to be no long-term vision from the government for where the territory will go, he said.

'I really believe this territory is at a crossroads,' said Hardy.

An Alaska Highway gas pipeline, for example, could have positive impacts on the territory but there could also be negative impacts that also need to be looked at. No one has done the work of looking at how to mitigate negative impacts, he said.

'The list is endless,' Hardy said of other such examples.

He pointed to the forum on land issues being hosted this evening by the NDP.

With 2006 being an election year, Mitchell is expecting the Yukon Party's 2006/2007 budget could be at least at the same level or even more than last year's $784 million, given it's an election year.

Mitchell suggested a big budget could be an attempt at buying public favour.

'I think Yukoners are smarter than that though,' he said.

While the budget and safe communities legislation may become the big issues in the upcoming sitting, Mitchell said, it will likely be the next government which is left with the hard work of dealing with items like the lengthy Children's Act review and education reforms.

This morning, Fentie said he had no intention of recalling the legislature any earlier because he wanted to make sure government staff had the time to put together the best possible budget.

'Sound fiscal management takes time,' he said.

Opposition parties will have ample time to debate the budget, he also pointed out.

If he had recalled the legislature earlier, there wouldn't have been time for some members to figure out where they would be sitting, he commented again. He was referring to former NDP members Eric Fairclough and Gary McRobb, who were ousted from the party's caucus two weeks ago.

If opposition parties are opposed to the special warrant which will ensure employees are paid and other government initiatives continue, Fentie said, they should stand up and oppose it.

This year's budget will allow the government to continue embarking on the direction it set out on when it came into office in late 2002, he said.

Yukoners can expect a 'somewhat' larger budget than last year which will continue on capital investments and invest in the social safety net in education and healthcare.

Fentie also cited the safe communities legislation to be a major part of this sitting.

'This is something the assembly unanimously agreed to,' he said.