According to the NDP platform, Yukoners can count the party's commitments on one hand.

During a news conference featuring nine of the NDP's election candidates and leader Todd Hardy on speaker phone from his hospital room in Vancouver, the party unveiled its platform this morning at the Yukon Inn.

The six-page document is titled Commitments You Can Count On.

It revolves around five key subheadings: a strong economy, a healthy environment; better child care, health care and housing; successful, supportive communities; expanded education and job training; and honest, hardworking government.

'This is a balanced and thoughtful agenda. It's a responsible affordable agenda and it's a visionary agenda in some areas,' said Hardy.

He still doesn't know when he will be returning to the territory from St. Paul's Hospital, where he is receiving treatment for leukemia.

'It will make a positive difference in people's lives and the future development of the Yukon,' Hardy said of the platform.

Some of the platform items have already been announced by the NDP, including:

• the creation of a Yukon Economic Council, jointly chaired by by the three party leaders to set the economic direction of the territory;

• an immediate increase in child care funding to ensure access to quality care provided by professional and properly paid staff;

• a Yukon-wide ban on smoking in all buildings accessible to the public or where employees are required to work;

• an immediate increase in the food allowance as the first step in a creation of an anti-poverty action plan;

• the immediate construction of a new $20-million correctional facility;

• the elimination of fees for cultural, recreational and curriculum-related activities in schools; and

• support for community-based literacy programs through the Community Development Fund.

Other items in the document address interests and legislation put forward by the NDP during its last four years on the opposition benches of the legislature, including:

• a commitment to move forward with a climate change action plan;

• a commitment to not allow coalbed methane extraction in the territory;

• to improve the Children's Act and establish a Child Protection Co-ordinator position, similar to a child advocate in other jurisdictions;

• continued tough action against drug houses, bootlegging and illegal activity, which is already addressed in the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act;

  • completing the review of the Education Act;

• a university of the Yukon; and,

-� moving forward with legislative reform within 18 months and whistleblower legislation within two years.

The platform included reference to several new items. The line-items will have their complete details released as the campaign works toward its Oct. 10 voting date, said Hardy.

Highlights of the new commitments include:

• a primary health care guarantee to ensure all Yukoners are able to reach the first point of contact in relation to physical and mental health within the territory;

• a territorial referendum on electoral reform within three years;

• new conflict of interest legislation and financial disclosure rules for MLAs, ministers and senior officials;

• shifting more government jobs and services to rural communities and implementing local hire and purchase policies; and,

• increasing the supply of affordable building lots.

'Yukon people can count on the NDP,' said Hardy. 'I keep my word. I expect nothing less from the excellent candidates who are representing the NDP in this election as well.'

Many of the line-items in the platform remain vague, though Hardy and his candidate representatives took the time to highlight some details in relation to health care, water quality and treatment in Yukon communities, the balance needed between the economy and environment, land disposition and relations with first nations.

Dollar figures have also not yet been attached to any of the NDP election commitments.

'If you're looking for something simplistic, one big splashy announcement, one big price tag announcement you're in the wrong room,' said Hardy.

The NDP is the first party to release its platform in full.

The Liberals have been rolling out various components of its five-pronged approach, which is directed at: creating a more open, transparent and accountable government; creating partnerships with first nations to live up to the spirit of the Umbrella Final Agreement; finding a balance between the economy and the environment; ensuring quality of life and equal opportunity for all Yukoners; and, promoting healthy and productive opportunities.

The cornerstone of the Liberal campaign is ethics and integrity, Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell has stated previously.

'I believe that honesty, integrity and high ethical standards are the most important things that government can offer its citizens,' said Mitchell. 'It all comes down to choosing a government that puts ethics at the top of the priority list.'

Meanwhile, the Yukon Party has been asking voters to 'Imagine Tomorrow' and has unveiled announcements on climate change, wildlife management, day care, health care and social programs.

'The other parties mean well, but they offer a different direction,' Yukon Party Leader Dennis Fentie has said.

'They offer the misguided thinking that created the problems of the past that we have all spent four years to resolve. They will offer yesterday; we will offer you the Yukon of tomorrow.

Hardy said he still believes the real choice for voters is the NDP or the Yukon Party.

'The real choices are between the NDP and Yukon Party when it comes to philosophical differences on how they see the Yukon,' he said. 'That's the differences. That we have different visions.'

The Yukon Party has also not made announcements regarding the cost of their campaign-proposed programs. Fentie has said not throwing out numbers during an election is the most fiscally responsible way to conduct a campaign.

The Liberals, however, have attached budget figures to almost every announcement made during the campaign.

'Frankly, it's a cash bag. A cash bag as usual,' said Hardy of the Liberal tactic.

'They're just pulling money out of the air and throwing money at the issue,' Fentie agreed previously.

Hardy said Yukoners can count on the NDP.

'That's all five commitments,' he said. 'When we say you can count on us, that's exactly what we mean.'