Peel different than Whitehorse Trough: Pasloski
Ian Stewart/Yukon News
A hiker surveys the view at Bonnet Plume Lake in the Peel watershed area.
The Yukon government didn’t have a position on oil and gas exploration in the Whitehorse Trough before a request came from industry in January, Premier Darrell Pasloski told media and First Nation chiefs after Friday’s Yukon Forum.
That is the main difference between this issue and the Peel land use plan, he said.
“We had a position on the Peel and we didn’t have a position on oil and gas,” said Pasloski.
The forum, a meeting between the Yukon government and First Nation leaders, was held just a day after the territory announced it was putting oil and gas development in the Whitehorse Trough on hold until after the next election.
Public opinion played a part in that decision, said Brad Cathers, the minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, when he made the surprise announcement.
The public has also been speaking up for protection of the Peel. But Pasloski said the difference between the two isn’t public opinion, but rather government opinion.
“When it comes to the oil and gas, this wasn’t something that we expected,” he said. “It’s not something that we, as a government, had planned as part of our energy strategy going forward. I think most people know that we have been focusing in southeast Yukon and the Eagle Plains area.
“On the Peel, we did state publicly that we felt that there wasn’t a balance. We thought that Yukoners didn’t want to pick winners and losers, that they in fact would like to see that we have a pristine wilderness and a strong economy.”
But Yukon conservationists see the Whitehorse Trough decision as a “success” for the public’s ability to sway government policy.
In a joint CPAWS Yukon and Yukon Conservation Society news release, they say it is a hopeful sign for the final decision on protecting the Peel.
“The announcement came as a surprise to many, in light of the government’s approach to land use planning in the Yukon,” said CPAWS president Jill Pangman in the release. “We are hopeful that this will be the start of a positive new trend in the government listening to its people.”
“This gives us hope going into the final round of consultations on the Peel,” said Lewis Rifkind, of the Yukon Conservation Society.
Yukon chiefs are also holding onto hope - and their sense of humour.
Tr’ondek Hwech’in Chief Eddie Taylor told Friday’s gathering that he almost fell out of his chair when he heard the Yukon government had put oil and gas exploration in the Whitehorse Trough on hold.
“I’d like to fall out of my chair again,” Taylor said coyly, looking over at Pasloski.
Taylor confirmed that the eight Peel principles the territory released in February went against the plan and the process that First Nations had agreed to.
But Pasloski continued to recite the refrain that his government is following the process and expects to begin a final round of consultations before spring is done.
While the Peel land use plan continues to drag on, a new commission has started work on a plan for the Dawson region.
Taylor, whose First Nation is central to both plans, said he would like to have confidence that the government will listen to the Yukon public.
“I’d sure like to trust the government,” the chief said. “But honestly, time will tell.”
Land use planning was one of three main topics at Friday’s meeting between the territorial government and First Nations.
They agreed money is running out and more is needed since so far only one plan has been finalized.
They decided to use what’s left and then go together to Ottawa to ask for more.
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7 Comments
If you look at the seats the Yukon Party received, their seats mainly came from Whitehorse voters. So of course they would shut down oil and gas in their ridings until after the next election. Who has the seats in Old Crow, Mayo and Dawson? Not the Yukon Party, so why would they worry about these votes as much as their own ridings? So what will happen after the next election will the Yukon Party do the same as what they did in the Peel? Voters please be aware.
First of all, I am a Yukon party member, and I full support our mining industry from placer ops in Dawson all the way to Wolvering.
However, I also full support the Peel River PLanning Commissions recomendations.
My MLA told me, to my face during last springs campaign that they (the YP) were going to wait until all the public consultation was finished before offering an opinion. Now I don’t think my MLA lied to me, but someone sure lied to him, and thats what ticks me off.
We can afford to take it easy on the Peel. We have more mines and proposed mines than we can handle right now. Western Coppers Casino project alone will be a game changer for the Yukon.
Lets follow the Planning Commissions recomendations. Its money in the bank both ways.
Hmmm, I recall Mr Pasloski refusing to state their position during the election. They knew that if they had stated the position announced after the election, they would have lost. During the election, He accused others of “politicizing” the issue. They deliberately misled Yukoners prior to the election. Now the Cons are now engaged in rewriting history, redefing the “mandate”.
As I said in response to the earlier article with Brad Cather’s decision:
An incredible red herring….wow…and we’re all duped once again and Brad looks like the hero. Who were the interested companies in the gas and oil anyway? Any access to information there?
And this is so much different than the Peel Darrel? Apples and oranges just Because you said you didn’t know this was coming? Why do I find this so very hard to believe. It shames you to pull stunts like this.
Deflect the issue of the Peel by throwing out this idea of oil and gas in Brad’s riding and come up smelling like a rose. Now we’re lead to believe the Yukon Party acts in good conscience for the people?..or just for themselves and their corporate interests.
I find it all way too convenient and we’re lead along like we think we made a difference. Tell me I am wrong Darrell/Brad.
If the Peel was in Cathers riding it would be fully protected. Noone votes for the Yukon Party in the northern Yukon, so they will open to up to full development. They only listen to people when they have something to lose.
Oil and Gas is different from the Peel because oil and gas companies have made neglible political contributions to the Yukon Party.
so mr premier, during the election, did you or did you not have a position on the Peel? If you did, you mislead the electorate during the election.
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