It was recently forced to release response numbers from last winter's public consultation to the Yukon News under an access to information request.
The new figures show 9,196 responses favoured accepting the Peel planning commission's land use plan while only 489 said it should be rejected.
As for the government's new plan, which it presented during the consultation under the guise of four “proposed concepts,” only 97 responses supported it.
The government's numbers were supposed to be part of its What We Heard report. An easy-to-read table of themes and figures was included in the first two drafts. By the time it was released to the public in early April “Appendix 1” had been removed, but a reference to the numbers had inadvertently remained.
The new numbers still don't include any verbal submissions made during public meetings held in Whitehorse, Mayo, Dawson City, Fort McPherson, Old Crow, Tsiigehtchic, Aklavik and Inuvik.
More than 800 people attended one of the events. Not one person who spoke publically favoured ditching the plan prepared by the commission after six years and $1.5 million worth of work.
More than 800 people attended one of the events. Not one person who spoke publically favoured ditching the plan prepared by the commission after six years and $1.5 million worth of work.
When the government was asked about what it heard from the public, it tried to pretend the response was anything but clear-cut.
Although these new results come as no surprise - independent analysis of the public feedback produced similar findings - they do raise more questions about the government's handling of the Peel file.
Although these new results come as no surprise - independent analysis of the public feedback produced similar findings - they do raise more questions about the government's handling of the Peel file.
Discussions about the future of the wilderness watershed moved behind closed doors last spring.
The government says it's meeting with the four affected First Nations - Na-cho Nyak Dun, Tr'ondek Hwech'in, Vuntut Gwitchin and the Gwich'in Tribal Council.
The government says it's meeting with the four affected First Nations - Na-cho Nyak Dun, Tr'ondek Hwech'in, Vuntut Gwitchin and the Gwich'in Tribal Council.
It has presented its position and is waiting for a response.
First Nations say the government has violated the Umbrella Final Agreement by waltzing in with a new plan at this late stage.That treaty sets out the process for regional land use planning in the territory.
They've threatened to take the Yukon government to court if it rejects the commission's plan.
Several weeks ago there was a change of command at the department in charge of the Peel plan. Brad Cathers was replaced as minister of energy, mines and resources by former Yukon Chamber of Mines executive director Scott Kent.
Click here to see the first draft of the government's table of numbers and click here to view the final draft.
To read the final What We Heard report, click here.
Several weeks ago there was a change of command at the department in charge of the Peel plan. Brad Cathers was replaced as minister of energy, mines and resources by former Yukon Chamber of Mines executive director Scott Kent.
Click here to see the first draft of the government's table of numbers and click here to view the final draft.
To read the final What We Heard report, click here.
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