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Don't underestimate the value of wilderness

Don't underestimate the value of wilderness Open letter to Premier Darrell Pasloski: I am compelled to answer your e-mail, which was addressed to the Yukon public in regards to the Peel watershed plan, as it arrived into my in-box in the privacy of my h

Open letter to Premier Darrell Pasloski:

I am compelled to answer your e-mail, which was addressed to the Yukon public in regards to the Peel watershed plan, as it arrived into my in-box in the privacy of my home.

The Yukon as I see it is a new Yukon. It is bursting with paddlers, bikers, hikers, climbers, runners, mushers, skiers, hunters, fishers, and generally a healthy and young population. This is a real and very unique area and a world attraction that you have your trigger finger on. I have lived here 15 years and love it as it is, our wilderness is the attraction!

As a life-long business person, I am not against economic development at all, quite the contrary, but the Yukon Territory is the most sought after environment for people to live in, and has the potential to be even more so if it is properly planned out and taken care of.

I hope your vision is of the same, and not one of just a resource city such as Fort St. John, Fort McMurray, or Fort Nelson. If so, then you are so wrong and your legacy as premier will be as a follower, and not as leader who thinks out of the box and truly makes Yukon a great place to as you say “live and raise a family.” What does it matter how B.C. does things? Yukon is truly unique to anywhere, and your window of opportunity is now.

The boom and bust of resource extraction is nothing new and leaves many, people with nothing and bankrupt. Only a few find wealth but will take it with them when they leave.

You’ve had many chances to get on the right path Mr. Premier, but for whatever reason you and your government continues on your own agenda, and more so now as you have disputed the intelligence of a Yukon Supreme Court judge.

Alan Young

Lake Laberge