The leader of the Yukon New Democrats is challenging her opponents in the Whitehorse Centre byelection to take a stand on protecting the Peel River watershed.

Although the watershed is far from the riding, NDP Leader Liz Hanson said residents tell her it's a key issue in the campaign.

"People have asked me as recently as last night, 'Where do I stand on this issue?' she said.

"I've been clear where I stand, and so I think it's incumbent upon the other candidates to also be clear because people want to know. They don't want to have these wishy-washy statements about, 'Well I support land use planning' and then it stops."

A proposed management plan for the watershed drafted by the Peel Watershed Planning Commission calls for 80 per cent of the watershed to be protected from mineral staking and other industrial development.

Some people are calling for the entire 67,000-square kilometer area in northeastern Yukon to be off-limits to development, while those who want to explore for minerals in the area say 80 per cent protection is already too much.

Liberals, NDP support protection

Hanson said her party supports the protection plan presented by the commission.

Kirk Cameron — the Liberal candidate in the riding — said he and his party have already gone on record in support of the recommendation.

Cameron said he is also hearing about the issue from voters.

"They're saying on the one hand, 'Yes, protect that,' but at the same time, let's look at the other planning areas and regions in the territory and make sure that we don't hamper our ability to progress over the long term in an economic sense."

He said it's now up to Yukoners to make the tough decisions that will see them into the future.

"We have to be very careful that we make decisions that are in our best interest, that we can do that now because that jurisdiction rests with Yukon."

A worker at Yukon Party candidate Mike Nixon's office told CBC News Nixon was busy with his other businesses and likely would not return calls on the issue any time soon.

The Whitehorse Centre vote takes place December 13.