Back in December the federal court ruled that Ottawa should have consulted an Alberta First Nation over the gutting of environmental safeguards, stuffed into one of the federal Conservatives’ omnibus budget laws. Remember how those omnibus acts led to the Idle No More movement and protests across Canada?
Well, one hopes the Yukon government has read that court ruling, so that taxpayers can avoid losing a legal battle which will bring more uncertainty to investors.
Yukon First Nation chiefs have promised to sue over Bill S-6, the federal bill that would overhaul our environmental laws and enable Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski and his Ottawa friends to change the negotiated environmental assessment regime established under the Yukon final agreements. S-6 was introduced by the unelected Senator Daniel Lang and is now before a parliamentary committee.
The law is that any government has to consult affected First Nations before introducing any legislative changes. We have heard repeatedly that Yukoners and First Nations were not consulted on the major changes asked for by the Pas!
Another legal challenge and untold costs! Welcome to enriching more Vancouver lawyers! Meanwhile, we cannot afford to maintain a Revenue Canada office in Whitehorse or to keep Dredge No. 4 open to tourists.
It make me fume!
Stella Mcpherson
Whitehorse