The Great Peel Guessing Game

What lies in the store for the Peel watershed? Only the Yukon government knows for sure and it's still not telling.

When quizzed about the mineral staking ban, which is set to expire on New Year's Eve, the government failed to provide any clear answers.

Here is that Dec. 19 exchange, the last day of the fall sitting of the legislature.

NDP MLA Kate White: The land use planning process for the Peel watershed engaged an unprecedented number of Yukoners. The result of this collective effort is the final recommended plan for the Peel watershed, a balanced plan that sees 55% of the pristine watershed protected.
In developing the final recommended plan, the Peel Watershed Planning Commission heard from First Nation people and their governments, from the mining and tourism industries, from hunters and trappers, from youth and seniors, and from many, many other Yukoners. The commission was successful in its efforts to ensure that the Peel planning process was thorough, open, respectful and inclusive. It is something that all Yukoners can be proud of. 
Will the government recognize the enthusiasm, the commitment and the good faith of all those who participated in the Peel land use planning process and accept the final recommended Peel plan as it was written?

Environment Minister Currie Dixon: Our position on this particular issue hasn’t changed. We have previously indicated that the approach we think is in the best interest of all Yukoners is to modify the final recommended plan submitted by the commission. We’ve suggested that modifications that allow for the use of the highest level of protection in some areas, including the creation of parks or protected areas, is important and also new tools to manage the footprint of any potential activity, including natural resource exploration, are appropriate for other areas. That is the preferred approach that we are taking.
We have been working very hard to meet our consultation obligations as outlined in the Umbrella Final Agreement with the affected First Nations, and we want to exhaust every possible opportunity to come up with a land use plan for the entire watershed region that is supported by all parties of the process.
Our intention is to have a land use plan in place before the staking withdrawal expires later this month. If we are not able to accomplish that, one of the tools that we have is to extend that withdrawal. That is, of course, something we will consider at the appropriate time.
As we have indicated previously, we want to arrive at a land use plan that is balanced, that balances the need for special protection of key areas in the Peel watershed region, but also allows for reasonable, responsible and sustainable development of our natural resources. It allows those folks in various industries that could be doing work up there to conduct their business and do it in a responsible manner that respects the environment. 

Kate White: Yukoners young and old continue to raise their voices in defence of the Peel watershed and the final recommended plan. More than nine years into the planning processes, widespread concern for the Peel watershed has not faltered. We are privileged to be the stewards of this magnificent watershed, but I fear that this privilege has been taken from the Yukon public by a government that just won’t listen. At this 11th hour, the fate of the Peel watershed is known only to this government.
Out of respect for the four affected First Nations and all Yukoners, will the minister assure this House that the Yukon Party government will not release their final plan for the Peel watershed during the holiday season?

EMR Minister Scott Kent: As mentioned by my colleague, the minister of environment, in his initial response. We are looking to bring a modified plan that not only respects the environmental and ecological integrity of the Peel watershed as well as the traditional uses, but also respects those individuals who earn their living working in the resource industry.
I know there are number of Yukoners who gathered here today to voice their concerns about the Peel watershed and are in support of the final recommended plan. I can assure this House that I talk to individuals on a daily basis in this community and throughout the Yukon who earn a living from the resource-extraction industry, and they would like to see opportunities for them to continue to earn a living here in the Yukon and continue to raise their families here. These aren’t nameless, faceless corporations. They are our friends. They are our families. They are the individuals we know from the hockey rinks, the coffee shops and the grocery stores. These are real Yukoners who are looking to ensure that they have opportunities to continue to provide food for their families and continue to live in the Yukon and raise their families here.

Kate White: The final recommended plan allows for development in 45% of the Peel watershed. The moratorium on new mineral, oil and gas claims in the Peel watershed will expire in 12 days, on December 31. Until today, I’ve been repeatedly told that it would be premature to announce any decision to extend the moratorium under the Quartz Mining Act and the Placer Mining Act.
The four affected First Nations, the citizens here the gallery and everyone who participated in the Peel planning process for the last nine years want to know, will the government commit today to an extension of the interim staking withdrawal in the Peel watershed until the final recommended Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan is put in place?

Scott Kent: What we want to do is exhaust every opportunity to come up with the land use plan for the entire Peel watershed area that is supported by all of the parties to the process.
Our intention is to have a land use plan in place before the staking withdrawal expires. If we are not able to accomplish that, one of the tools we have is to extend that withdrawal, and that is something that we would consider at the appropriate time. I know the Member for Riverdale South did a tribute today to people who work over the holidays, and thankfully the minister of environment and I are two of those individuals who will be working through the Christmas holidays.