With one week to go, 'bold' platform leaves Yukon Party leader optimistic

Yukon Party leader Darrell Pasloski says he's optimistic with one week to go in an election campaign that will decide whether he gets a second term as premier.

Pasloski spent Saturday in Watson Lake, Yukon, visiting a seniors residence as well as welcoming local voters with free coffee at a grocery store in the community.

He said the party's platform and its promises are now all available to the public and the focus of his campaign will now shift towards making sure his supporters get out to vote on Nov. 7.

"We're hearing that from our candidates, people who have been shopping, looking and listening, are now beginning to make their decision and I believe that looking at what each party has to offer, we're going forward with an experience of having one term of government under our belt with some incredible new candidates joining our team and a platform that is bold and has commitments, and specific commitments in areas right across our spectrum," said Pasloski.

He continued his anti-carbon-tax crusade in Watson Lake where he reminded people that the high cost of energy in the territory would become even higher with a carbon tax.

 "While the other parties are now talking about how they're going to spend the new tax money, what they're forgetting is that this is about lowering emissions and our plan will significantly reduce our emissions," said Pasloski who has promised to spend $100 million retro-fitting public buildings to make them more energy efficient.

14 years of Yukon Party rule

That appealed to local resident Doug Kearns who spent some time chatting with Pasloski.

"Jobs and the economy are very important, not so much the environment," Kearns said. "I'd sooner see jobs. We got lots of trees."

Others in the community, however, like Liberal Party supporter John McDonald, said Watson Lake and the territory need a change after 14 years of Yukon Party rule.

"We need a government that's more transparent than what we've had, instead of finding out things after the fact. I think the government should talk to the citizens in the Yukon."

Others in Watson Lake have lost all faith in politicians and the political system.

Elizabeth Lutz said she doesn't care about the election.

"Nobody really keeps their word... they make promises that they can't keep," she said. "At the end, they just want to get in."