At almost any given time on Day 2 of a five-day open house on the Peel plan, Yukon government officials easily outnumbered members of the inquiring public.
Sometimes by as many as seven or eight to one.
Sometimes by as many as seven or eight to one.
That ratio seemed to intimidate some people who came in expecting a more balanced affair.
Especially if they hadn't followed the process closely and were simply seaching for more information to help them understand the muddled world of Peel land use planning.
Others were fine with the one-on-one structure – it was the answers they didn't like.
Especially if they hadn't followed the process closely and were simply seaching for more information to help them understand the muddled world of Peel land use planning.
Others were fine with the one-on-one structure – it was the answers they didn't like.
Whitehorse resident Chris Pinter came looking to learn more about all sides of this contentious debate before providing his input.
"I want to know what all the groups are saying and when I come here to learn about it, I'm getting 'what's your opinion?' so the government is asking me for feedback but they don't seem to be willing to share what those opinions are," he said in an interviews.
"It’s kind of frustrating because I really want to give my feedback but I can’t. I’m not going to without some kind of knowledge.”
"I want to know what all the groups are saying and when I come here to learn about it, I'm getting 'what's your opinion?' so the government is asking me for feedback but they don't seem to be willing to share what those opinions are," he said in an interviews.
"It’s kind of frustrating because I really want to give my feedback but I can’t. I’m not going to without some kind of knowledge.”
Several people were surprised to find the government and the conservation groups were not in the same hotel meeting room as they had expected they'd be.
“But I was sure that’s what they said on the radio this morning,” said one disappointed man.
The government’s open house is on one side of the Gold Rush Inn's saloon - in the General Store - while the conservation groups are on the other, in the Parlour Room.
The government’s open house is on one side of the Gold Rush Inn's saloon - in the General Store - while the conservation groups are on the other, in the Parlour Room.
Both have sandwich boards on the sidewalk outside to draw in visitors and many people were hitting one then the other, in no particular order, as they tried to make some sense of it all.
Although the information at the two places is markedly different, questions dominated discussion at both.
Why doesn’t the government just accept the Final Recommended Plan?
Although the information at the two places is markedly different, questions dominated discussion at both.
Why doesn’t the government just accept the Final Recommended Plan?
Why does the open house end at 7 p.m., making it difficult for working people to participate?
Has a tote road ever been decommissioned in the history of mining in the Yukon?
How many Yukoners work in the existing mines?
How temporary is a temporary bridge across a river in the Peel?
How temporary is a temporary bridge across a river in the Peel?
Why won’t the government post peoples’ comments on its website until late February or early March?
What part of the Umbrella Final Agreement is the government violating and why is it picking a fight with First Nations?
Why is the government determined to open up the Peel to industrial development right now?
Why even bother with a land use plan?
Why even bother with a land use plan?
“I think the whole Peel should be opened up for development,” said one guy.
He blamed the government for letting the Peel land use plan get out of hand when it came to the issue of protection. They should have seen "this" coming.
He blamed the government for letting the Peel land use plan get out of hand when it came to the issue of protection. They should have seen "this" coming.
About 30 people attended Tuesday's open house, a few more than the first day.
The Whitehorse open house runs until Friday Nov. 30. It goes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Conservation groups are also holding a public meeting on the Peel Wednesday, Nov. 28 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Gold Rush Inn.
The government is holding an open house in Mayo on Dec. 3 at the Curling Club and in Dawson on Dec. 4 at the Downtown Hotel.
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