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Mineral exploration outfit fined

Mineral exploration outfit fined A Vancouver-based exploration company has been fined $1,000 for failing to report the shooting of a black bear. Coast Mountain Geological Ltd.

A Vancouver-based exploration company has been fined $1,000 for failing to report the shooting of a black bear.

Coast Mountain Geological Ltd. was hunting for gold in the Mount Nansen area, near Carmacks, last summer when the camp was visited by a nuisance bear on Aug. 21.

The workers believed it was dangerous and shot it, said company president Gary Schellenberg. Afterwards, workers buried the bear because they were afraid it would attract a grizzly.

They never reported the kill as is required under the Wildlife Act. The manager at the time didn’t know the rules, said Schellenberg.

“A mistake was made,” he said.

The company pleaded guilty to the charge in territorial court on Tuesday. It’s since changed its policies to ensure this won’t happen again, said Schellenberg.

“We feel it’s an issue that’s been dealt with and dealt with fairly.”

Legislature reopens March 15

The Yukon’s legislature will reconvene for its spring sitting on March 15.

Premier Darrell Pasloski will table the territorial budget for the next fiscal year. And the government plans to unveil “a number” of unspecified legislative proposals, it says in a news release.

The government’s newly-announced position on the Peel River watershed is sure to result in plenty of debate as will the territory’s consideration of opening up the Whitehorse Trough to oil and gas development.

Following a brief warm-up round this winter, the coming sitting will be the first real chance for the Yukon’s new batch of MLAs to perform on the floor of the house.

Ross River rec centre planned

The Yukon government plans to spend $7 million to build a new recreation centre in Ross River this summer.

The new single-storey facility will stand in the same spot as the old rink, which burned down in March 2011.

The new rink will include a hockey arena and a multipurpose area for other recreational and sports programming.

These plans, touted by Community Services Minister Elaine Taylor in an announcement on Wednesday, haven’t yet been approved by the Yukon’s legislative assembly.

Construction could start this spring if the designs meet the community’s approval. Completion is expected in 2013.

Developers vie for Mountainview lot

Fourteen developers have expressed interest in building rental units for the Yukon government in Whitehorse.

A 4.24-hectare lot on the corner of Range Road and Mountainview Drive is the focus of the plans, but the territory may use the project as a template for other affordable-housing starts.

The government aims to release the lot to developers this spring, as part of Premier Darrell Pasloski’s election pledge to encourage more affordable housing in Whitehorse.

Of the submissions, 11 came from Yukon companies or non-profits. Three came from Outside firms. Some proposed that the territory subsidize either construction or operating costs.

Proposals range from “high-end” units to mobile homes. (John Thompson)