Peel makes political closing time

Dozens of Peel watershed supporters made it through security to fill the benches of the Yukon legislature’s public gallery Thursday.

They wanted to send a message to the government one more time.

Stripped of any cell phones and Protect the Peel t-shirts they might have been carrying by two burly security guards at the entrance, they took their seats and tried to be quiet.

But they had a hard time containing themselves once the political wrangling got into full swing.

They couldn’t resist clapping when they liked what was being said and heckling when they didn’t. Several tried standing to show off the Protect Democracy, the Plan, the Peel t-shirts they were wearing but were immediately threatened with eviction.

The sound of horns honking in support of the Peel, by drivers passing by outside, also added a little spark to the normally staid chamber.

NDP Mayo-Tatchun MLA Jim Tredger led Question Period off with a little primer on the Peel plan.

“Yukoners from all walks of life participated in good faith in the Peel watershed land use planning process. First Nations participated in good faith. Thousands of hours and over $1 million was spent to arrive at a final recommended Peel Watershed Regional Land Use Plan,” he began.

Now the Yukon Party government has turned its back on all that and written its own plan, said Tredger.

He then asked Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Brad Cathers to drop the new plan and confine the current consultations to the final recommended plan.

Cathers totally ignored the request. Instead he launched into a speech on the 2010 Peel consultations, dismissing the results because only a small percentage of Yukoners took part and then deriding the NDP for its math.

Undeterred, Tredger carried on.

The government’s “twisting of the final agreement process” has not only rankled the affected First Nations, the opposition and the public - even industry has expressed doubts and concerns, he said.

“Now the Yukon Land Use Planning Council has said the government’s sell job of the radically amended plan is contrary to the final agreements and is doing irreparable harm to land use planning in the Yukon,” said Tredger.

“Why is this government so determined to undermine the land use planning and economic certainty by creating confrontation, division and expensive court battles when any good government would work co-operatively to build a stronger and more sustainable future for your children?”

Again Cathers dodged the question, preferring to attack the NDP and repeat his earlier comments about the 2010 consultations.

Refusing to be bullied, Tredger tried another tact.

The Peel is a jewel that could provide an opportunity to support economic diversification and sustainable development if it's protected, he said.

“Instead we are faced with division, costly court battles and economic uncertainty,” he said. “Violating final agreements, pushing First Nation governments and all Yukoners to court does nothing good for our economy. It is unnecessary and inexcusable.

“This Yukon Party government is abandoning land use planning,” he said, and again asked the government to withdraw its “backdoor attempt to unilaterally rewrite the Peel land use plan.”

For a third time Cathers refused to deal with the question and instead took aim at wilderness tourism in the Peel.

He then pulled out a February 2011 news release which said the government didn't like the earlier recommended plan.

And finally he brought up the election.

“I’ve reminded members of the premier’s statement at the leaders’ forum during the 2011 election campaign and the very strong criticisms of the plan, including the characterization about the financial costs of implementing the recommended plan and characterizing it as picking winners and losers,” Cathers said.

“We are continuing to follow the process. We are continuing to follow our commitments in the 2011 election campaign. “

This was the last day of this sitting.

Before the afternoon was done the government had also passed the controversial oil and gas act amendments. The changes take away the Kaska’s veto over activity in the southeast Yukon and also opens the door to fracking in the territory.